Category Archives: Development & Pathways

Development & Pathways

Youth to the Fore

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After watching an entertaining summer national league, I was pleased to see again the number of younger players from Sacred Heart College, Auckland that Coach Danny Hay used over the summer season. Better still, Hoani Edwards, Coach of the winter team has carried these players on. The pathways and development strategy formed by the Club towards the younger players has proved very successful and lifted the atmosphere around the Club and supporters. To manage this scheme the Club under Danny Hay, has employed full time quality and specialist coaches, with the result of better young Lilywhites coming through on both men’s and ladies’ teams.

Hoani’s first team squad consists of 26 players which include Michael Built (Coach) and eight players currently attending Sacred Heart College, ages from 16-17 years. The average age for the squad is 20.64 years. Campbell Strong, Kingsley Sinclair, Charles Spragg and former graduate, Kelvin Kalua have all performed very well and have supported to the hilt Tim Payne (Captain) and the older players. They have all contributed to the good standard of football that the team have been playing, hence their second position on the ladder.

Credit must go to Hoani and Kane for their great efforts in coaching and preparing the lads for battle. Keep up the good work and give us old supporters something to cheer about!

by Paul Rennell

Development & Pathways

Lilywhites Development and Pathways strategy key to great start in Championship

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INTERVIEW | Championship player Jodel Liberty Shai is enjoying the #Lilywhites great start to the league campaign and confident the team can continue to thrive and develop throughout the season under the leadership of coach Jesus Bueno

Jodel said “The transformation from last season has been amazing and I put this down to the clubs #development and #pathways strategy. There are several girls from our Grade 16 Prems team and some fantastic players amongst them!”

“There is no doubt in my mind that the majority will push on to play Lotto NRFL Prems football and I suspect there are a few future Football Ferns as well.”
Talking about her own football journey Jodel said “I started playing football in England for Ossett Albion FC (now Ossett United FC) in 2006 and also represented my local County Football Association (West Riding County Football Association) for a couple of seasons, playing against other regional academy teams such as Leeds United, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough before moving to New Zealand in 2011.

Since arriving in Auckland Jodel added “I had the dream start and won the AFF Grade 14 Prems Division during my first season. I also played several representative games for Auckland Football Federation and in 2015 joined Papatoetoe AFC.”

After a solid season in the Reserves, Jodel seemed destined to make the step up to Prems before an ankle injury and subsequent operation kept her out for a year. “It was gut wrenching and I was devastated. To make it worse upon my return I really struggled with the impact training and matches had on my ankle. It probably took me another year or so to get over it both mentally and physically. In hindsight I probably returned too quickly, but was desperate to get back on the pitch and play again!”

“Having said that my time off the field turned out to be very constructive and during that period I attended the Auckland Football Federation Club Based Referee course, completed my New Zealand Football Level 2 Junior Coaching Award and coached on the AFF Holiday & Schools Programme. I found coaching a great experience, very rewarding and am keen to return, but probably not until my playing days are over and I can give it my full attention as juggling the two is tricky.

Joining Eastern Suburbs in the Championship felt like and turned out to be the perfect fit for me, it’s a great club with awesome coaches and great facilities.
Since my return and joining the #Lilywhites I certainly appreciate playing football more and don’t take it for granted. This has led to a slightly more relaxed approach to football, which I’m not sure is a good or bad thing, but it works for me and like millions of others I enjoy taking to the field each week and giving it my all!