Big weekend!!

Hello everyone!!

This weekend is a huge weekend for Waikato Football.  No matter what we have to win the game to have a chance to advance to the playoffs.  With that being said we have other scenarios that need to take place, but most important we need the 3 pts.  We will either need Manawatu to lose to Waitakere, which is what we are hoping for.  If they lose it needs to be a 3 goal swing.  So if we win 1-0 over team wellington, we need Team Manawatu to lose 2-0.  If Manawatu gets a point this weekend they are in and then we are going to need Hawke's Bay to either lose or get a point. 

So this weekend is going to be a huge weekend.  Have lots of scenarios for us to make the playoffs, but most importantly we have to win, a draw or lose will knock us out.  So need everyone who can to watch the game.  Kickoff will be tomorrow night in the states at 8pm.  They have live play by play on the nzfc.co.nz website!  Hope everyone is doing well and wish us luck!

Cheers

mw

Sorry!!

Hey everyone want to apologize for not updating my blog in a month. But since my last update we have played a few games. It has been somewhat of a bit frustrating for me because I'll go and start one game then not even dress for the next game. Will not get the chance to play in any home games this season and I only dressed for one of the 3 homes games I have been here for.

I have played in most of the away games. Just came off of a 40min performance against Youngheart Manawatu, which we lost 1-0. With that loss it may have knocked us out of the playoffs. We need a win next weekend against Team Wellington otherwise our season will be over March 1st. Hopefully we grab that win and make the playoffs, means I get to stay in this beautiful country for a bit longer.

I hope everyone is doing well, and look forward to seeing everyone when I get back home!!

Cheers,

MW

Game

This past weekend I played in my first match. Going into game day I was surprisingly not nervous at all. We were picked up by bus and had a 2 hour drive north to Auckland to play Auckland City. On the way, since we had spectators on the bus as well, we stop at a pub and they all had a beer while some of the players on the team had lunch. Quite different than anything I was every used to. Once we made it to the stadium, which was a field with a few stands around, in the middle of a subdivision. If you wanted to clear the ball you were guaranteed to strike a house. The atmosphere was out of control, they had a fan who banged on this homemade drum during the entire 90min of the game.

But once at the field I was placed into the starting lineup at defensive midfield. Had a great warm up with the boys, but once game time started I was a bit shaking. My first pass in this league was a horrible one that went straight out of bounds. I was laughing but after that my game picked up a bit and did not have a horrible game. I was subbed after 60 min for a more attacking shape. Auckland was a very good team, I would compare them to a top usl 1 team or maybe a decent MLS team. They had an Ex-Barcelona player who played right back and they had a South Korean on the team that played in the 2002 World Cup in Korean and Japan. With that being said we only ended up losing 3-0 but it was 1-0 for most of the game.

Hope everyone is doing well and I'll keep everyone posted!

Cheers!

MW

Football

Waikato's first loss in 3 games.  It was a pretty poor showing from the boys on the team.  Not alot of action on either end but Hawke's Bay did have the better run of the play.  I was standing watching and it was hurtful to the eyes, mostly because I wanted so badly to be out there playing.  

But the big difference down here is the crowds.  The followers of the club are absolutely crazy, they chant, sing, yell, drink and just enjoy the games.  Every spectator was into the game, they were following every touch it was great.  I know I am going to love it when I get the chance to play this upcoming Saturday.  If I show well in training this week I will hopefully get the start in a defensive midfield role, because our midfield was lacking against Hawke's Bay. 

Hope everyone is doing well and I'll keep you all posted.

cheers!!

mw

Week of training

After a week of training and working my tail off. I come to find out that the transfer window does not open up until this upcoming Monday. Which means I will not be allowed to play in our match this weekend against Hawke's Bay. But after talking to some of the players and fans of the team, they have over heard that if I was able to play that I would be playing defensive midfield for the team starting out. So hopefully I can keep up my form next week in training so that I can start in the game against the bigger club of Auckland. Greg of course has the nod to start the game this weekend and I will be there cheering the lads on.

But as of tomorrow, which will be Friday for us, Hokie who is the lady that is letting up stay at her home, is taking us to the east coast beaches. The east coast is similar to our beaches in NC, at least that is what I was told. After the trip I will hopefully get photos up from our trip and maybe from this weekends game!

Cheers,

MW

First day of training

Yesterday was my first day of training. We train at the local pitch which is only about a 5min drive from where Greg and I are staying. We started out with a fitness test, called the yo yo test, sort of like the beep test but easier. I beat Greg which was nice and made it to level 18 which is where most mates on the team made it. After that we played a possession game and played 11 v 11. He place me with the starting squad in the 11 v 11 game at defensive midfield.

But overall the quality of play is not of the highest, but there are some very good players out here and I am excited for the game this weekend. Greg and I today are bout to go into Hamilton and walk around a bit and we have training again tonight and tomorrow. I'll keep yall posted and Bill I'll try and get some shots in those premier tops you sent.

Take care everyone!!

Cheers,

MW

Finally Here!

After 30 hours of traveling, I have finally arrived here in NZ. The 13 hour flight from San Francisco was probably one of the most terrible flights I have been on. It was almost 13 hours of non stop turbulence. I had a glass of water sitting on my tray and the bumps were so bad it knocked my drink over spilling it all over my pants ( made it look like I went to the bathroom in my jeans). But other than that the flight was definitely worth it. This country is absolutely beautiful, and yes I saw tons of sheep on my ride from the airport to the little town I am staying in.

For now I am off to Greg's goalkeeper training to run around a bit since I have lost an entire day of traveling. 30 hours will make anyone want to go out and run around!


"How you doin' "

mw