NUAFC 1968-2018

1998
22 JUL 1998 , Edition 2, Page 9.
Goal hero Kingi's cup runneth over
The man whose goals have turned Ngaruawahia into
the most talked about soccer club in the country has risked
kicking himself out of the Chatham Cup.
Aaron Kingi is to fly to the US on August 10 for a
four-year scholarship. His club play Dunedin Technical in the
semifinal of New Zealand's FA Cup equivalent six days later.
The cup run has caught everyone by surprise, including the
Tainui 20-year-old -- who first planned to fly out this month.
Kingi -- a defender -- has scored the winning goals
in three of Ngaruawahia's five cup matches, and his brace last
weekend included one which had the 250-plus audience
gasping.
He is now asking his coach at Fairfield University,
Connecticut, for a week's grace.
The scholarship has been arranged by former All
White coach Bobby Clark and Kingi, who hopes to play
professionally in Europe, will join 15 other Kiwis in the US.
"The coach will probably give me another week
because they will only be in pre-season training then," Kingi
said today.
But there will be a twist in the tail if the Hamiltonbased
player grabs another winner in Dunedin.
"The final would definitely be out for me."
23 JUL 1998 , Edition 2, Page 1.
Times pledge kicks off United stand for Ngaruawahia's Cup bid
Waikato folk have heard the Waikato Times' call to
help get the Ngaruawahia United soccer team to the ball.
We made the challenge yesterday with a $1000
donation towards the travel costs for an August 16 match in
Dunedin, where the giant-killers play Technical in the
semifinal of the Chatham Cup.
Within hours last night, club president Maxine
Williams was at a meeting of 30 members celebrating
pledges totalling $7500. The club began the week wondering
where it could find at least $10,000.
First in was John Wills, of Ngaruawahia's
McCowan and Gerring Ltd, with a $500 donation.
The biggest pledge has come through Dunedin-born
Delta Tavern publican Jack Robson, who will bolster the
fund by $5000 with money raised through Lion Foundation
gaming machines.
More than 40 club supporters have indicated they
want to follow the team to the match.
Mrs Williams said the Waikato Times cheque
would be first to go into a bank account to be opened today.
She was overwhelmed by the support. Team coach
Jeff Coulshed took two calls with $100 donations last night.
"A lot of the support we have received is things we
can raffle."
Which is appropriate. Cup matches are a lottery.
And so far, the unfashionable club from the Northern League
first division has been a winner.
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