New Zealand football coach Ricki Herbert took time out today from World Cup preparations to return to his sporting and schooling roots to take part in launching a programme to help to foster the game at the grass roots.
The programme, Just Play, is an Oceania Football Confederation initiative and will be introduced in up to 14 south Auckland schools in partnership with the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation and Counties Manukau Sport.
Organisers said it was aimed at six to 12-year-old boys and girls, providing them with basic ball skills and building their confidence and self-esteem.
Herbert is a former pupil of Papatoetoe Central Primary School, where the launch was held, and he presented former Olympic athletics champion Sir John Walker and Manukau Mayor Len Brown with replicas of the jersey the All Whites will wear at the World Cup in South Africa next month.
Walker set up the foundation that bears his name to give young people in Manukau the same chance he said he had to chase goals through sport.
"This programme ticks all the boxes to match the foundation's strategic goals, including to one day develop future football champions and All Whites," he said.
"But most importantly, it's about our getting our young people to expect sport and activity is a natural part of their lives, to build those important building blocks that will ensure those taking part in Just Play will move naturally into club involvement."
OFC chief executive Tai Nicholas said the programme was about fostering development in the local clubs and associations.
He said the plan was for Just Play to reach 106 schools and 48,000 students in the region over the coming three years.
