Wellington Phoenix and NZ Football to boost football talent

Avatar
Image credit: New Zealand Football website

Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand Football have confirmed a landmark partnership focused on nurturing and advancing the next wave of Kiwi football talent.

Supported by FIFA, this collaboration will see Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand Football working together to develop a talent system that optimises the use of each organisation’s resources. The initiative aligns with New Zealand Football’s High Performance and Talent Development Plan to support the country’s top footballers.

A key feature of the agreement includes additional scholarship opportunities for New Zealand players within the Wellington Phoenix academy, along with initiatives aimed at streamlining the player pathway from domestic competition to the A-Leagues and beyond.

Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome expressed enthusiasm for the deal.

“We believe this partnership will be a game-changer for the development of young footballers in Aotearoa,” Dome said in a joint media announcement.

“Through the investment of our owners the Phoenix academy has gone from strength-to-strength and is setting the standard for youth development in New Zealand, with graduates now playing in the world’s top leagues.

“With the support of New Zealand Football and FIFA we believe we can take the academy to a whole new level and will help more young footballers realise their dreams of playing professionally.”

New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell emphasised the opportunities this partnership will create for the sport’s development in New Zealand.

“Wellington Phoenix have a critical role to play in talent development in the player pathway and have an established record of successfully supporting players to become professional footballers, transferring them into top flight clubs around the world as well as producing All Whites and Ford Football Ferns,” Pragnell said in the media announcement.

“Following the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year, football is exploding in Aotearoa, our community club network are doing a great job in player development and our development pathway is continuing to evolve, so it is really important that we have an aligned approach across the country to support the next generation of Kiwi talent.

“With two A-League clubs now in New Zealand, there is an opportunity to ensure our professional academies are accessible and present the best opportunities towards a professional pathway for talented young players in Aotearoa.

“The NZF-Phoenix partnership in creating the first ever women’s professional team was groundbreaking, so it’s very exciting to now move forward with this collaboration that will allow New Zealand Football and the Phoenix to really maximise both of our resources and ensure we support each other for the benefit of New Zealand talent.”

This partnership marks a significant step forward for the future of New Zealand football and Wellington Phoenix with the country’s most promising talent having access to improved development pathways and better facilities.

With the added support of FIFA, New Zealand clearly have the ambition to compete on the world stage especially with a good chance to feature in the 2026 World Cup with the OFC gaining one direct spot.

This initial two-year agreement will take effect immediately.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Football Australia Announces Broadcasting Partnership with LIGR

Avatar
Image credit: Preston Lions FC

Football Australia has unveiled a partnership with Live Graphics Systems (LIGR) to establish a world-first centralised production and distribution model for over 3,500 matches annually across multiple competition tiers.

This ambitious undertaking is set to transform sports broadcasting efficiency whilst unlocking future commercial opportunities for Football Australia and its nine State and Territory Member Federations.

The collaboration comes as Football Australia prepares to kick off the Australian Championship this October.

In mid-2024, Football Australia began developing a new production strategy, defining requirements across multiple tiers of Australian football.

The strategy encompasses the Hahn Australia Cup, NSD and the top tier of Federation Competitions for both men and women (National Premier Leagues), Futsal and National Para-Football Championships included as well.

LIGR’s appointment followed a rigorous Request for Proposal (RFP) process, led by Football Australia in alliance with Member Federations, aimed at identifying a single partner capable of managing the complex scale.

LIGR, an Australian tech business recently acquired by European-based tech company Crionet, will provide technical and operational broadcast management, live monitoring and AI integration across Football Australia’s multi and single camera productions.

Additionally, LIGR’s world-leading streaming, graphics and highlights automation platform will enable seamless integration of key sponsors on broadcasts.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“This partnership marks a defining moment in Australian football and represents a paradigm shift in the way the game is produced, distributed and commercialised both in Australia and abroad,” Johnson explained via Football Australia official press release.

“By unifying production across thousands of games and multiple tiers of competition, we are not only streamlining operations but also reshaping the future of football broadcasting in this country. This is innovation at scale.

“Through this centralised model, we are building long-term operational and cost efficiencies and can focus on building sustainable revenue streams for the connected football pyramid.”

Luke McCoy, CEO of LIGR, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.

“At Crionet and LIGR, our mission is to disrupt the traditional sports production, streaming, and distribution landscape,” McCoy commented via Football Australia’s official press release.

“Our partnership with Football Australia and its State and Territory Member Federations represents a groundbreaking shift towards a truly aggregated model, marking a significant milestone for sports coverage in Australia.

“Our cutting-edge technology and innovative approach sets us apart, and we are excited to elevate the game, enhance fan engagement, and drive innovation across all levels of the sport.”

This multi-tier integration represents an unprecedented approach, as no other Australian rights holder has consolidated production across such a diverse range of competitions under a single centralised model.

This new centralised approach will allow the sport to optimise its production workflows and unlock new commercial opportunities in the evolving broadcast and streaming landscape.

An exciting development in increasing viewership and commercial viability for, as Football Australia’s 2024 National Participation Report confirmed, the most popular and fastest growing sport in the country.

Sydney FC and Arnotts Collaboration Enhances Team Spirit

Avatar
Sydney Arnotts
Image Credit: Sydney FC

Sydney FC have announced an impressive partnership with iconic Australian brand, Arnotts.

The collaboration will see Arnotts’ branding feature in a highly visible location on the back of the Sydney FC Men’s team shorts for the rest of the A-League 2024/25 season.

Sydney FC CEO Mark Aubrey expressed how valuable the partnership was to the Sky Blues.

“We are thrilled to bring Arnott’s on board as an official partner of Sydney FC,” he said via press release.

“This is a brilliant alignment between two recognised brands that specialise in creating moments that matter.”

We also both value the importance of a high performance, high integrity environment as well as standing for equality and diversity.

“I hope this will be the beginning of a long and trusted partnership, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.”

From the collaboration, both Sydney FC and Arnotts will work on a special content series featuring the “Arnotts Moments Matter” campaign.

Arnotts Group CMO Jenni Dill highlighted how excited the organisation was for the partnership.

“This partnership builds on Arnott’s desire to support Australian’s on and off the football field with healthier and delicious lunch and snacking choices,” she said in a press release.

“Whether it’s a Vita-Weat with your favourite lunchtime toppings, or a pack of Snack Right Puffs on the way to game, we look forward to inspiring Sydney FC players and fans with more tasty and convenient ways to enjoy a snack or lunch.”

Further highlighting the importance of the brand deal, Arnotts branding will not only feature on the Sydney FC Men’s kit but will also appear on the LED screens on matchdays, presenting with Arnotts with highly desirable marketing material.

The Arnotts-Sydney FC partnership is yet another major landmark deal for the club in recent months, adding to collaborations with Guaraná Antarctica and WHEN Fertility.

 

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks