In addition to the Leagues' new broadcast partnership with Channel 10 and Paramount+ in Australia, it's hoped this extra visibility will boost interest and investment in women's football across New Zealand. The deal includes a free-to-air component that will expose New Zealand fans to selected games from the women's competition, including their opening match against the Wanderers. Last week, it was confirmed that Sky wpuld retain the rights as the main broadcaster of the A-Leagues. Questions remain over the border situation with New Zealand, but the Phoenix are hoping both their men's and women's teams will have an opportunity to play games in front of home fans towards the back-end of their respective seasons. "But they're very happy and we are lucky they are so passionate about football. "Being away from home, what's normal to you - your family, your friends, your routine - these are young girls, so for that to be turned upside-down has taken some adjustment," Lewis said. They will be staying in accommodation at the University of Wollongong, which also provides facilities such as gyms and training fields. This has been particularly helpful for the players themselves, many of whom are young and have relocated from New Zealand to participate in the four-month-long competition.įor a largely young team, the Phoenix players have handled their relocation well.
They've really gotten behind us, we feel quite at home, embraced, and looked-after." "We've had great support from the Wollongong community: training at the Wollongong Wolves ground, access to a high-performance gym. Lewis says the team has been welcomed with open arms. The women's team will be based out of Wollongong on the New South Wales south coast. It should be appreciated in its own right: how the football is played and the talent of these players." Warm welcome from Wollongong "The game needs to be appreciated as something different that you don't have in the men's. "The Phoenix have shown their investment in the female game and female pathways not just in the game, but in administration and all levels," he said. Phoenix General Manager David Dome has also expressed his disappointment, having worked for the past few years to get the team up and running.ĭavid Dome, General Manager of the Wellington Phoenix, wants the women's game to be as appreciated as the men's. So there's a few things that have made it slightly more complicated to get the backing behind.
"That affects the sponsorship opportunities. "Also the criteria of only having so many New Zealand players in this team. "I think people have struggled a bit with the first New Zealand team playing in Australia not being in New Zealand," Lewis said. Phoenix administrators have approached banks and major corporations in the country, but none have put pen to paper.īorder restrictions means the team must also play out most of their first season in Australia, away from potential home fans and sponsors.
The club's sponsorship woes have not been through a lack of trying on their end. Wellington's women's team, coached by Gemma Lewis, has been several years in the making.
0 kommentar(er)
