All Whites head coach Fritz Schmid was able to make a difference in the local football community recently, making a trip to Gisborne to take a batch of budding young footballers for an exclusive training session.

Te Wharau School’s Year 5/6 football team had the chance to learn from the national coach after winning an online competition run by New Zealand Football partner MILO. 

Schmid, who earlier this year led the All Whites to consecutive wins over Chinese Taipei and India for their first back-to-back victories against non-Oceania opposition in 12 years, said it was great to see the passion for the game from the youngsters in the Central Football Federation.

Teresa Phillips, a Te Wharau pupil’s mother, entered her son’s team, Te Wharau United, into the competition.

She was at Watson Park during the football season when local representatives of Central Football were handing out free MILO drinks.

Phillips learned about the MILO competition in which the prize was a coaching session by the All Whites coach.

She was surprised but delighted to then receive a call from New Zealand Football.

“All you had to do was enter online for the chance to win," she said.

“I have four kids who all play and, would you believe it, we won.”

Phillips and other parents of children from the team were at Te Wharau School to watch Schmid put on a session that the players — and their parents — thoroughly enjoyed.

New Zealand Football and MILO formed a new partnership in March of this year as both organisations are committed to supporting active lifestyles, especially among children. 

Article added: Wednesday 19 December 2018