Franklin County News

Herbert opens Strathalla­n academy

- STAFF REPORTER

ACG Strathalla­n will become home to the country’s newest Ricki Herbert Football Academy (RHFA) Talent Centre.

Based in Karaka, ACG Strathalla­n will become the ninth RHFA Talent Centre in New Zealand.

Former New Zealand internatio­nal and profession­al footballer and coach Ricki Herbert joined ACG Strathalla­n principal Robin Kirkham at the school to finalise the partnershi­p and meet with some of the school’s aspiring student footballer­s.

Herbert’s father, Clive, 82, a long-time football coach who lives in Papakura, visited alongside his son.

Clive is involved in the football academies, chiefly as a mentor.

The new partnershi­p will provide two coaching sessions a week with a profession­al coach from the Ricki Herbert Football Academy from October.

The curriculum, which covers all age groups from five to 18, has been developed by Herbert.

Sessions will take place at ACG Strathalla­n and schools and clubs around the area will be invited to be involved.

ACG Strathalla­n principal Robin Kirkham said the philosophy was to get as many young people as possible out there involved in football and playing games.

‘‘It gives us the opportunit­y to be a centre of excellence for football in South Auckland and pro- vide a chance for a much wider range of kids in the area to play football and access coaching at a high standard.’’

The talent centre offered opportunit­ies for children to realise their potential over a period of time, Herbert said.

‘‘It’s similar to education in that it’s often not instantane­ous, so there’s an alignment between what both the school and the centre are about.’’

Herbert said he hoped the new centre would attract aspiring players from Manurewa, Pukekohe, Drury, Waiuku, Papakura and Karaka among others.

Ricki Herbert is a former New Zealand internatio­nal and profession­al footballer who has represente­d New Zealand at FIFA World Cup Finals both as a player and as a coach.

His academies offer coaching, inter-centre competitio­ns, holiday programmes and national camps and they have partnershi­ps with top English club Fulham and football clubs in South America.

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