The U17 Football Ferns team jubilant after their win against Japan via a penalty kick by Anna Leat. The U17 Football Ferns, have put the Football world on notice with their phenomenal run at the Women's U17 FIFA World Cup. Reaching the semi-final which is the farthest any New Zealand Football team has gotten in a World Cup. To say that they did amazing would be an understatement. They made history and did it all whilst staying true to where they come from. Doing it in the most kiwi way. You see, New Zealand isn't a football country yet what these girls have done is brought attention to the fact that with heart, confidence and dire determination, really anything is possible. Arriving in South America's Uruguay, sitting on the outskirts of Argentina, their families had also journeyed with them some 10,362 km. Bringing with them a piece of home, on a trip that was predicted to only be a week long. They were labelled as the dark horses, but its something that the team proudly owns. And when you're being underestimated, that's just the motivation you need. With two big wins in pool play against Finland (1-0) and Uruguay (2-1), they knew that they were on the cusp of something truly special. The Ferns' celebrate a goal in their semi-final match against Japan. What is also intriguing are the stories' that these girls have to share. The team are made up of players originating from as far down as Arrowtown near the country's adventure capital all the way up to Hamilton. And as they did all tournament, taking on everything as it came to them, they traveled to Uruguay with not a lot of experience playing together. But it was evident that as the girls took the field, the chemistry was there. As much as their recent success has been a testament to their on-field prowess, their lives off the field as teenage girls has also helped to shape their accomplishments. Their skipper, Aneka Mittendorff who earned player of the match after her team's victory over Finland has made an outstanding contribution. Leading as a very respected individual among her peers, she said that the Ferns' main goal was to just win a game. And once they did just that, they turned to their next goal of getting out of the group stage and making history. The centre back who doesn't take any credit without acknowledging her teammates recalls her earliest football memory when she would always enjoy a sausage sizzle after games. It's something that every kiwi kid can resonate with, On a Saturday morning, all the kids would be playing sports and whether it was the oranges or sausages, you couldn't resist. U17 Football Ferns Captain, Aneka Mittendorff prepares to lead the Ferns out onto the field with a young player escort. A long way away from where that earliest memory occurred, taking New Zealand football to its peak in Uruguay, Mittendorff hasn't forgotten about where it all begun for her. Mittendorff's fellow member of the Future Ferns Domestic Programme, Maggie Jenkins who is based in Auckland and is said by most of the team to be the worst roommate due to her loud snoring also reflected on where her football journey began. She remembers when she used to play two-on-one, playing with her brother and going up against her Dad in the backyard. Her and her brother would always lose. And maybe it's those early days of being challenged to her father's 'take no prisoners' approach that has seen her keep that mentality and strive for the best in her football goals. Jenkins loves spending time with family as her commitments in the sport mean that she spends a lot of time away from home. Her teammate, the Ferns' Goalkeeper Anna Leat who made headlines after her game winning penalty kick that booked the team a spot in the semi-final with Japan, is the most experienced player in the team having already represented the Ferns' senior team. When the 17 year old was asked if she wanted to take the penalty kick, she hesitated at first. She was fully capable of nailing the goal as she had been on the big stage before but she knew that this was probably the biggest penalty kick she had ever taken. (Left): Anna Leat celebrates with (right): Aneka Mittendorff after the penalty shootout against Japan. Leat is the epitome of a person who earns what she receives. She loves music and regularly busks to raise money for her gear. Her introduction to the sport of football you could say is similar to many stories of kiwi kids playing sport with their brother. One day her brother and his friend put her in as goalkeeper and the very first shot they took resulted in Leat having a broken arm. Little did they know that years later, Leat would be in the same position but instead guiding her country to one of their greatest triumphs.
Just like Leat, Jenkins and Mittendorff, the young Ferns' team all have their own experiences that have seen them on their ride to Uruguay. And what makes this ride different is that in spite of fulfilling a dream, the team remained grounded and always remembered whose flag they were carrying. They in social media talk kept it one hundred. And being 15, 16 and 17 years old, they of course jammed out to music on the bus ride to the hotel, sung to Macklemore. And ate pizza and chips. And ice cream too as a post game celebration. Just like any teenager would and because they could. They weren't supposed to be in the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup. It seemed like a long shot. But I guess that's what happens when you dare to dream. Rieko Ioane was always going to be an All Black. New Zealand’s greatest past time was built in his lineage. Running through his blood and engraved on his chest a future Silver Fern. Ioane grew up in the Central Auckland suburb of Mount Eden just five minutes away from the hallowed turf of Eden Park – the home of New Zealand Rugby and the fortress of the All Blacks. You’d think that his mother, former Black Fern Sandra, and his father Eddie, a former Samoan rugby international, couldn’t have thought of a better name for their son. The meaning of Rieko is “child blessed with logic.” And there’s no question that on the 18th of March 1997, the kid was born and he had a purpose. At just 21 years of age, Ioane has become accustomed to being raved about in the spotlight and having cameras surrounding him. He was scouted as a teenager whilst at Auckland Boys Grammar where he was a standout for the 1st XV; and at the tender age of 17 made his debut for the All Blacks Sevens. You could say that it was at that very moment that we witnessed the emergence of a rugby superstar. It may sound weird for us to say that we could foresee the future but even though it was hard to contemplate that Rieko was only 17, yes he was playing in a man’s world but at that moment – he was the Man. He’s already regarded as the best winger in the world and hasn’t reached his prime yet. He’s a juggernaut of the game and speedster. Two things that isn’t usually associated with each other. But behind the six foot two, breakthrough player of 2017 is a kid who used to get home after school and played touch in the backyard with his big brother Akira and the “bigger and cooler kids”. A kid who prides himself on his Maori and Samoan culture, who has shared a bedroom with his brother Akira for his whole life and has legions of sneakers that he likes to collect from Jordan’s to Yeezy’s. And just like any kid in a candy store, Rieko not only loves his shoes, he cherishes them and if you come from a big island family you’ll know that just like Rieko, when the Aunties, Uncles and Cousins come over you can’t but help but just want to give them the ‘stink’ ones. Its things like these that make Rieko one of the most relatable athletes. Young fans can connect with him on such a deep level because even though he’s a rugby superstar he is this genuine and pretty chill guy who isn’t afraid to show this in front of the camera. He’s quite a character with his media interviews, usually filled with laughter and jokes, like the time he was speaking to the All Blacks press with Blues teammate – Sonny Bill Williams and a photographer had been taking some close-up shots of Sonny. Rieko then asked the photographer: "Are you just gonna take photos of him? With Sonny then adding "Don't get too close bro, his nose will take out the camera". And on the field, he loves a good try celebration, something his teammates give him a bit of stick for. Whether it’s pumping his chest, jumping so high he could almost reach the first line of stands, or putting the ball over the line with one hand and the other in the air getting the crowd into it; there’s not a game that you’ll watch of Ioane’s that you don’t want to see again. Rieko’s also an avid NBA fan with his favourite non-rugby sports team being the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s sometimes hard to figure what team rugby players actually support or if they’ve just jumped on the bandwagon. That’s because one day you’ll see them in a Lakers or Bulls singlet during training; and then in an Instagram post see them in a Cavs jersey. But if Ioane’s latest tweet is anything to go by then I think we can say that he truly is a Thunder fan. His last tweet was a reply to Steph Curry who welcomed DeMarcus Cousins to the Warriors by jokingly insisting that he’s now the third splash brother. Ioane showed his support for Lebron James tweeting “Yous won’t last the regular season you jokes.” Maybe a sign that like many Thunder fans he hasn’t entirely moved on from Kevin Durant’s decision.
His go to meal is roast lamb with mashed potatoes and sauce, a dish that he says he cooks often with his Mum. And if you’re ever going to catch him watching a movie, it’ll most likely have Kevin Hart in it. He also says that he hates it when he gets mistaken for singer Trey Songz; and his ultimate travel destination is none other than the City of Lights – Paris. As a keen tourist being both in the Blues and the All Blacks fold it means he’s usually travelling to six different continents and eight countries throughout the year. Four of those countries being Australia, South Africa, Japan and Argentina where he travels to almost every week for Super Rugby matches.It’s a hefty schedule for a guy still at the dawn of his career but is gratifying nonetheless. Over the past months there has been news of potentially new contract deals for Ioane worth as much as four million dollars – money that is astronomical in the game of rugby. As Ioane continues to gain more opportunity on the global stage and looks to lead the Blues into the future, it can sometimes be difficult to know the real Rieko - because for Ioane there is more to life than just rugby. There’s family, and behind it all, is a youngster who grew up playing water polo, basketball and competed in Athletics. An All Black who really is like any other kid challenging anyone to a game of fortnite. Ioane translates to John in English and means “God is gracious”. I guess he truly is a child blessed with logic, with a compelling life story and a humble heart. Today I was lucky enough to attend the 3x3 Basketball Quest Tour in Papakura. I got the chance to interview some great people including 3x3 & National Events Manager - David Huxford. I also watched some entertaining basketball and had a great day!!!
For interview and interview + video: https://www.facebook.com/shontellastory/videos/539545323110837/ For photos: https://www.facebook.com/shontellastory/photos/pcb.539554129776623/539551859776850/?type=3&theater |
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