Jake kicks on with Phoenix academy
Former Nelson footballer Jake Williams helped New Zealand qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup after triumphing in Oceania. He spoke with
I had been running all game from left-back and when that goal went in I made a 50 yard sprint. The adrenaline rush, I thought ‘that’s us, we’re in the World Cup’. Me and the boys were in floods of tears. It meant so much. The boys are really tight-knit, we work really hard for each other and when you’re at deadlock for so long, the elation for the boys was unreal. We get to perform at the biggest stage of football for our age.
To score a goal for your country is hard to explain. There’s just this rush where you don’t know where to go or what to do, you’re just so happy that you’ve scored for the team and for your country. I was pretty honoured.
We have gym session in the morning before school then we just run through a normal school day and after that we go into a training which lasts until about 6ish. From there you have to do your little bits, whether it be the foam roller or stretching, or any little extras you can do at home.
It is difficult but you just have to work through it because you don’t know if you’re ever going to get injured and your football might go out the window, so it’s good to have a back-up. My first training session I was having to pick up Kosta Barbarouses and one minute he’s there on your shoulder and then he’s gone. That environment is next level where everything, whether it’s your first touch or your first pass, is crucial. But you work towards it and every little session helps you develop and hopefully it’ll help me get into that regular first team training.
I consider Nelson my home town and if you ask any footballer I’m sure you’ll get the same answer, that playing in front of your home town is the most amazing feeling. It was nice to see everyone as well.
Yeah for sure, I remember FTC with George Campbell, my first club team was Mapua with Andy Price and then I moved to Richmond and Nelson Suburbs with Davor Tavich. I remember the rep tournaments most clearly, they were a good time. Name: Jake Williams
Sport: Football
Occupation: Student
Date of birth: November 5 2000