NUAFC 1968-2018

2006
It's with great pleasure I welcome Marist FC to Centennial
Park today. It Is a massive honour for Ngaruawahia United to host
this friendly international fixture.
We are very spoiled to be playing the National league
Champion of the Solomon Islands in a prestige friendly, and the
magnitude of the challenge Is obvious. We are giving up a great deal
in experience and probably match fitness with Marist completing
three very tough matches in a FIFA World Club Championship
qualifying tournament with a prize purse of $1.6 million US and a
place in Tokyo...and we just scraped home 1-0 of the weekend
against Te Atatu!
Our aim will be to earn respectability and to turn in a
competitive performance. The result is of secondary Importance and
how we respond to a much quicker pace and sustained pressure will
be an interesting aspect of the game and, no doubt, a very steep
learning curve. It will us stand in in good stead for the rest of the
Northern League campaign and perhaps help us against Beachlands
Maraetai in the Chatham Cup 2nd round on Saturday.
Richard and I watched Marist play AS Piraea of Tahiti last
week and were Impressed with one or two individual performances
in what was a very difficult match for Marist against a side that could
qualify for Tokyo. Abraham Iniga and Jack Samani had some nice
touches and Iniha scored a good late consolation goal.
Having played alongside and against Batram Suri, George
Suri and Francis Wasi, I know how good the Solomon Island players
can be and the performance against Auckland City was much
improved.
This will be a tremendous &chance to forge new
relationships with the Solomon Island community and Marist FC, a
chance for our young players to measure themselves against same of
the best in Oceania and an opportunity to enjoy a unique midweek
fixture.
I have some people to think. Firstly, Seamus Marten.
Seamus has been one of the best signings we have made. His
contribution as a goalkeeper, his contribution to the team spirit and
his amazing work in Auckland hove been absolute. How he
balances his professional life with driving down from Auckland and
playing for us has me baffled. Ngaruawahia United is lucky to have
him.
Without Seamus we would not have the link to the rest of
the Oceania Confederation and, consequently, no game today.
Seamus's sterling efforts at a time when he is trying to run the
Oceania Club Championship, all for the love of the game, all for the
best interests of Ngaruawahia United, Marist FC and the Solomon
Islands, make us all truly Indebted. Every time we spoke on the
phone I could hear how stressed he was, yet he still delivered to
Ngaruawahia United without fail.
The next time you see Seamus, please make the effort to
shake his hand and say thanks. His efforts have been remarkable.
A big thank you also to our guests. Your efforts at the
Oceania Club Championships were impressive, particularly in the
game with Auckland City.
Patrick Miniti has a background in the Waikato and his
enthusiasm to help us forge a strong relationship in the Solomon
Islands has been ground breaking. Patrick is one of the games true
gentleman and his values and principles were self-evident when we
met In Auckland last week. I hope one day we can see some of the
best Solomon Islands talent turning out for Ngaruawahia
United...and maybe some of our strips and boots and equipment
and - who knows - maybe even a Ngaruawahia United team making
their way to Honiara and being seen in the wider Solomon Island
community.
Finally, a massive thank you to ALL out wonderful club
members and our President Maxine Williams who have mobilised at
the last minute to help make this fixture happen. Thank you for
recognising what a wonderful opportunity we have before us to
launch the Ngaruawahia United name internationally and to
welcome some new talented guests into our warm family
atmosphere.
As always, you are the backbone of the club and from
everyone in the first team we thank you for helping create a special
memory for us to cherish and enjoy.
• Gordon Glen Watson
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