No place like home for Nix
Return to capital a long time coming
After making their longawaited return home, Wellington Phoenix vicecaptain Alex Rufer is looking forward to giving their fans something to cheer about.
Having spent the season based in Wollongong, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, it’s been more than a year since the Phoenix played a home game.
They return to Sky Stadium on Saturday when they take on Western United in a must-win game in the race for an A-League play-off spot.
The team have failed to capitalise on opportunities in recent games, managing three draws and scoring just two goals in their last three games.
With some rival teams holding games in hand, Rufer is realistic that the Phoenix can do nothing but win their remaining four games and hope other results play out in their favour.
“It’s an extremely exciting table, there’s nine or 10 teams all there or thereabouts fighting for top six and, for us, it’s just about worrying about our games. It’s worrying about what we can do and taking it game by game.
“I think they’re all going to be cup finals from here on out so those are the games you want to play in.”
Rufer said the team’s return to Wellington will not only be great for their New Zealand players but it also gives an important opportunity for the squad’s new recruits to connect with the club’s home.
“We have a few days in Wellington for preparation leading into that game against Western United and I know that a lot of the boys are buzzing to see their family and friends at home.
“I think what’s important for us as a group is that players who wear the Wellington Phoenix jersey and represent the club can go and see what Wellington is about and connect with the fans and the city,” he said.
“For us as a group the most important thing is seeing the fans because they’ve really stood by us and they’ve shown us unbelievable support which they’ve done for many years . . . it’s been very difficult for everyone and we’re really looking forward to getting home and having a good game.”
The 24-year-old midfielder said he’s had to take on some added duties as vice-captain to keep up the team’s morale while adapting to life in Wollongong.
“I’ve tried to take as much responsibility as I can to help the team and help players who maybe have struggled to adapt or whatever it may be. The group’s done really well, it’s been very, very tough but we have adapted — we’ve got used to being here, we’ve had amazing fans here in Wollongong which has been great.”
Being away from family and friends has been hard for some players but Rufer sees the team’s resurgence over the course of the season as a sign of their resilience.
“For me, what’s been so important is that we had a few tough results during the start of the season and, as we’ve gotten on, we’ve just gotten better and better and that’s really shown the character of the group.
“It’s been really good to see.” Already an established figure in the Phoenix side, Rufer now has his eyes set on being selected as one of the senior players to join the Oly Whites at the Tokyo Olympics in July.
Rufer made his international debut for the All Whites in 2015 and has gone on to feature five times for the team alongside four appearances for the New Zealand Under23 team.
With the Oly Whites set to face South Korea, Honduras and Romania in their Olympics group, coach Danny Hay can select up to three players over the age of 23 in his squad.
At 24, Rufer would fill one of the three spots if selected and has no doubt how he’d answer if he did get a call-up.
“I know I’m an over-age player but, if I was ever asked to represent my country, I would never say no,” he said.
“It’s something that I haven’t really thought about too much . . . but if I got asked, I wouldn’t hesitate.”