The All Whites coach, who announced his 26-man squad for the Fifa World Cup on Thursday, visited Otago Boys’ High School yesterday, mingling with several footballers from the Dunedin school
The young players lapped up the opportunity to rub shoulders with the national coach who will lead the All Whites to their first Fifa World Cup in 16 years.
Otago Boys’ has produced a long line of All Whites, including Blair Scoullar, Cam Howieson, Joel Stevens and James McGarry — whose father, Mike, was also an All White, and is a teacher at Otago Boys’ and coaches the first XI — and former rector the late Clive Rennie.
Southern Football pathways manager Michael de Bono, helping shape the region’s next generation, is also a former student.
‘‘It’s part of our responsibility to try and grow the game,’’ Bazeley told the Otago Daily Times.
‘‘In my past I’ve been in federation land — I was up in fed land in Northern — I’ve been involved in development football.
‘‘You know it’s part of the responsibility of what we are as All Whites now to try and spread the word and try and grow the game and if we can get around it.
‘‘I mean, for me, I’m moving around talking about football.’’
Bazeley also spoke at a function hosted by Southern Football yesterday afternoon.
