Phoenix back on home turf
New Zealand’s only professional football team flew home from Australia yesterday after spending six months across the Tasman due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the players being welcomed by friends and family at Wellington Airport were, from left, Alex Rufer, Louis Fenton and Clayton Lewis. The team plays its first game in 433 days on home turf this Saturday.
Barry Lewis cheekily sent his son, Wellington Phoenix midfielder Clayton Lewis, a text asking what time the team’s flight from Melbourne was to arrive.
He sent the message while standing outside the international arrival gate, knowing full well the team was touching down at 2.30pm yesterday.
New Zealand’s only professional football team flew home to prepare for this Saturday’s game against Western United at Sky Stadium – their first game in Wellington in 433 days.
‘‘It is great to be back in Wellington, get to see family as well.
‘‘I didn’t know [my father would be here] so it is a good surprise,’’ Clayton Lewis said.
The Phoenix were welcomed with a stirring po¯ whiri from the Nga¯ ti Po¯ neke Young Ma¯ ori Club and a speech from Wellington Mayor Andy Foster.
Clayton Lewis was appreciative of the turnout.
‘‘This welcoming has been really good and hopefully we can take all of this into the game on the weekend,’’ he said.
The Lewis family’s surprise reunion was one of many feel-good stories involving the Phoenix as players and staff made their longawaited return after spending the past six months based in Australia due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
For Lewis and his family, Saturday’s game will be particularly special. The New Zealand international joined the Phoenix at the start of the season and has never played for the team in Wellington.
Barry Lewis said the last time he saw his son play live was when he plied his trade for English club Scunthorpe United more than two years ago.
‘‘It is very special. I touched base with him earlier to say what time were you flying in, knowing too well we were already here,’’ Barry Lewis said.
‘‘It is very good to have him home and the team home, and we are looking forward to Saturday.’’
Phoenix general manager David Dome was delighted to have the team back in the capital.
He said the club was on track for its biggest crowd in a decade, with close to 13,000 tickets already sold for the first game in Wellington in 433 days.
‘‘Ticket sales continue to go really strong. We did 1000 over the weekend which is really positive and we expect 20,000. We just need to kick on this week,’’ Dome said.
‘‘The challenge is to keep the momentum going.
‘‘The team deserves a really big crowd, given everything they have sacrificed to complete the season.’’
The Phoenix will likely need to win each of their remaining four games in order to reach the A-League finals series after drawing 2-2 with Melbourne City following a double from Israeli striker Tomer Hemed.