City welcomes Junior All Whites
Mayor calls on fans to create white-out at North Harbour Stadium as Under-20 World Cup about to kick off
Festivities for the Fifa U-20 World Cup kicked off in Auckland yesterday, as the Junior All Whites were officially welcomed at Aotea Square.
About 200 people turned out to greet the New Zealand U-20 players, as well as coaches and officials from Fifa and New Zealand Football, who were welcomed by representatives of Ngati Whatua.
Despite periods of rain, eager fans joined the Auckland Girls’ Grammar 1st XI football team and players from Western Springs Football Club in football activities in the square.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown welcomed players and officials, and said the Fifa tournament was “huge for the nation. Give it heaps.”
He urged those heading to games to wear all white in support of the U-20 All Whites. “We want a white-out at North Harbour Stadium.”
MC Stephen McIvor then interviewed Junior All Whites captain Bill Tuiloma and coach Darren Bazeley.
The formal part of the welcome ended with New Zealand players lining up to hongi members of Ngati Whatua.
The team then took part in an autograph-signing session.
A “keepy-uppy’’ tournament took place earlier in the afternoon while fans waited for the players to arrive, with a lucky few catching World Cup footballs as they were kicked into the crowd.
Riley Hancock, at the event with his brother and parents, was excited about the upcoming World Cup games.
The 7-year-old, a member of Eastern Suburbs Football Club, said he was looking forward to seeing players from all around the world, “because they will be rising stars”.
George and Harry Walker, members of Western Springs Football Club, have tickets to the final at North Harbour Stadium and hope New Zealand make it that far.
The brothers, who were decked out in their All Whites football kit, would be attending all but one game at North Harbour Stadium with their parents Ralph and Anna.
George, 8, was expecting football fever at their school, Maungawhau Primary in Mt Eden.
Mrs Walker said her boys had bought their tournament tickets the minute they went on sale, marking every day off on the calender ever since.
Harry, 6, had already made his mind up on who would win Saturday’s opening game.
“Probably New Zealand, I think it’s going to be 2-1,” he said.
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nzhunder20