Limelight doesn’t faze Sophie
Waipukurau schoolgirl Sophie Heywood says she was not daunted when she took centre stage at one of the world's biggest sporting events — the Fifa World Cup — in Russia the weekend before last.
“I just took it in my stride,” said the 8-year-old Waipukurau Primary School Year 4 pupil, who took the hand of Costa Rican striker Marco Urena, 28, as she walked out on to St Petersburg Stadium in front of a crowd of 64,468 and countless millions more TV viewers for the match against Brazil on June 23.
Along with Isabel Bristow, of Lower Hutt, Wellington, Heywood went on the sporting trip of a lifetime after winning a McDonald's-sponsored New Zealand Football competition in April.
Sophie, who had never travelled in an airplane before, took her well-travelled mother Rebecca with her after the pair had hastily arranged their passports. Rebecca said officials had whisked the girls away for a morning at the venue, also known as Krestovsky Stadium and the home of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, for rehearsals.
“Just getting to the stadium and getting to our seats was just emotional for me. The noise was so loud and intense it was just exciting.
“When Sophie got to the pitch it was quite neat to see her walking out and I was so proud,” said the teacher aide at her daughter's school, after fighting back tears that afternoon just at the thought of the billions of TV viewers taking in the footage.
“My mother even watched her in the Isle of Man [in England].”
Sophie said Urena had initially thought the CHB youngster was a Russian.
“He knew a bit of English so he asked me what my name was and all that sort of thing,” said Sophie, revealing all the hoopla didn't faze her one bit.
Before she was due to return to CHB last week, Sophie and Isabel joined a Rest of the World team to play against Brazil in a “Bamperball” game (like Nerf balls) with Ronald McDonald making a cameo appearance.
McDonald's organised everything for their six-night visit to St Petersburg, with sightseeing as well as engaging in a “soccer skills masterclass” with other lucky winners from around the world. Young Isabel claimed the limelight when she scored the first goal of the match, although Sophie chimed in with two of her own to help seal victory for the Rest of the World.
That aside, Rebecca said, they were soaking up the jawdropping sights of St Petersburg and its surrounds. “The architecture, compared to New Zealand, is so old and beautiful and a totally different style.”
She told husband Tom she could live in Russia because of the cheaper food and lifestyle, but agreed the lower incomes would be a leveller.
“All this wouldn't have been possible without McDonald's and Football NZ giving us this opportunity and my husband, Tom, staying home to look after our twin boys, so I want to give them all the biggest thank you for all they have done,” said Rebecca.