Winston Reid is hoping the FIFA U-20 World Cup will inspire young New Zealanders to follow in his footsteps
Winston Reid is hoping the FIFA U-20 World Cup will have the same effect on his fellow New Zealanders as the 2010 FIFA World Cup had on his own career.
The West Ham United defender caught the imagination of the football world when he headed in the unfancied All Whites’ last-gasp equaliser to earn a group-stage draw with Slovakia.
Then just 21, the goal – plus further draws with Italy and Paraguay – put the spotlight on the centre-back, who was playing for Danish club FC Midtjylland at the time. Within weeks of his heroics in South Africa, the Hammers swooped to bring Reid to the Premier League.
Five years later, the 26-year-old is one of the best defenders in English football, is his country’s national-team captain and has been appointed Ambassador for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be played in his homeland this May/June.
”It’s massive for the country,” Reid told FIFA.com. “The U-20s is a huge tournament on the world stage and we'll have a lot of the very top nations in New Zealand competing for the trophy.
“It will be great for those teams too because they're going to a country with so much to offer. Anyone visiting New Zealand will really enjoy themselves and, as hosts, it's our job to make sure they leave with memories for life.
“The tournament should be a great success and I really hope the public get behind it. Football is growing in New Zealand but it’s still not the main sport, so hopefully this tournament can help the game gain more recognition.”
West Ham experienced the passion for football first-hand in a country more commonly associated with rugby union and cricket when they visited for a tour in July 2014.
Reid and his teammates were treated wonderfully by the New Zealand people, playing two matches with A-League clubs Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC, holding open training sessions and immersing themselves in the diverse culture.
As the son of Maori parents, Reid is hoping that children with a similar background to his own – he was raised in the Auckland district of North Harbour – will be enthused by the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals and follow in his footsteps.
“There's going to be something different about every single match," continued Reid, who moved to Europe aged ten and played age-group football for Denmark before switching allegiance to the country of his birth in 2010. "Each team will bring its own philosophy and way of playing, and you never know – this might be the only time a World Cup of this stature comes to New Zealand. Hopefully not, but I think people should make the most of the opportunity. It's definitely well worth ditching the oval ball for a couple of months to come out and watch!
“Both my mum and dad are Maori, so that heritage is important to me. I really hope that more Maori and Pacific island kids can get involved in football because their genetics are fantastic. So many of them are big and strong – great attributes as a footballer. If I can inspire some of these kids to get involved in the game, I'd be thrilled.”
The FIFA U-20 World Cup finals will kick-off at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium – West Ham’s training base in 2014 – with New Zealand’s Group A clash with Ukraine. The final will be played at the same venue on 20 June 2015.
Reid and his teammates were treated wonderfully by the New Zealand people, playing two matches with A-League clubs Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC, holding open training sessions and immersing themselves in the diverse culture.
As the son of Maori parents, Reid is hoping that children with a similar background to his own – he was raised in the Auckland district of North Harbour – will be enthused by the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals and follow in his footsteps.
“There's going to be something different about every single match," continued Reid, who moved to Europe aged ten and played age-group football for Denmark before switching allegiance to the country of his birth in 2010. "Each team will bring its own philosophy and way of playing, and you never know – this might be the only time a World Cup of this stature comes to New Zealand. Hopefully not, but I think people should make the most of the opportunity. It's definitely well worth ditching the oval ball for a couple of months to come out and watch!
“Both my mum and dad are Maori, so that heritage is important to me. I really hope that more Maori and Pacific island kids can get involved in football because their genetics are fantastic. So many of them are big and strong – great attributes as a footballer. If I can inspire some of these kids to get involved in the game, I'd be thrilled.”
The FIFA U-20 World Cup finals will kick-off at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium – West Ham’s training base in 2014 – with New Zealand’s Group A clash with Ukraine. The final will be played at the same venue on 20 June 2015.