Two Maori Football NZ sides are all set to jet off to Sydney, Australia in the early hours of Friday morning to take on the Australian First Nations in a two match Trans-Tasman Clash of the Cultures series.

It is just the second edition of the Trans-Tasman event with the Senior Women’s side (Mauri) completing a resounding 5-0 victory at the inaugural event in 2018 while their male counterparts also won their corresponding fixture 3-2.

This year sees the introduction of Ngā Whanapoikiri Tama o Toki Toa U-14 boys’ side.

Speaking about the introduction of the U-14 Boys side and what it means, Head Coach Phillip Pickering-Parker says it is an opportunity to deepen the Clash of the Cultures Platform and open another pathway for the youth boys.

“The Australian movement have a youth tournament at their National Indigenous Championships so we saw it as another opportunity to deepen the Clash of the Cultures platform, and offer another pathway for our youth boys.

“We could have taken a youth girls squad to participate in the series as well, but the logistics, especially financial, was a huge burden.

“From my personal perspective, this boys’ team heading over is the start of growing a senior men’s team in the future.

“We need players that live the Kaupapa every day. Bringing them through from this age starts that intrinsic belief in the Kaupapa.

“Representing and preserving our tikanga is the first priority, then football will benefit,” he added.

Both Mauri and Toki Toa have been in camp since Monday and Pickering-Parker is pleased with how the build-up to the series has gone.

“The training camp has been very positive. Both camps are in a bit of secrecy given the occasion and we don’t really know what firepower they will have, so we’ve focused on developing our own playing style,” Pickering-Parker said.

“Both sets of players from the youth boys and women’s team have absorbed the information well and applied adequately.

“The wairua (spirit) is high and the prospect of the playing is exciting.”

Details: 
Saturday 19 January
Albert Butler Memorial Park

Mauri vs Mariya
12:55pm kick-off

Toki Toa vs Mariya
2:45pm kick-off

Sunday 20 January
Cringila Lions Football Club

Toki Toa vs Mariya
10:15am kick-off

Mauri vs Mariya
3pm kick-off

Mauri: 1. Brooke WYLIE, 2. Zoe THOMAS, 3. Georgia BUTLER, 4. Macy BRADY, 5. Jayden WATTS, 6. Amy MCQUOID, 7, Lauren HENRY, 8. Natasha REIRI, 9. Emily WEST, 11. Ella GOLDING, 12. Sam WARU, 13. Shae BRADY, 14. Tatjana TIMMINS-SCANLON, 15. Taelor PICKERING-PARKER, 16. Samantha BUTLER, 17. Tara JACKSON, 18. Rosa MURU, 20. Amanda WILSHIER, 21. Matina RICKARD, 22. Kalani WALTERS-HEWSON

Toki Toa: 1. Emmett CONNOLLY, 2. Kobe SWIFT, 3. Tane THOMPSON, 4. Jaymis GRUBJESIC, 5. Ronnan CRIBB, 6. Trace PEARSON, 7. Niko TARAWA, 8. Mahaki POMARE-RAKENA, 9. Thomas REIRI, 10. Lucia LOLOHEA, 11. Quinn BODGER, 12. Rico MARGISON, 13. James PITA

Story courtesy of Maori Football NZ 

Article added: Friday 18 January 2019