WaiBOP Football is pleased to bring top level national league football to the Rotorua.
Rotorua International Stadium will host a double header involving WaiBOP United and the WaiBOP Football Women’s team on Sunday November 10, 2013. These two teams, the top men’s and women’s team in this region, will be playing their Canterbury counterparts.
WaiBOP United takes on the Canterbury United Dragons in what looms as an exciting fixture to open their season. The Dragons have been one of the better performed teams during the history of the ASB Premiership and made the play-offs at the end of the 2012/13 season. This match will be the competitive debut for WaiBOP United, which is this region’s new ASB Premiership franchise. The ASB Premiership is football’s top domestic league in New Zealand and runs from November 10 through until March 2014.
WaiBOP United players to look out for are current All White Aaron Scott, who will captain the side, Goalkeeper Andy McNeil, who joins WaiBOP following a professional career in his native Scotland, and George Slefendorfas, who was the leading goal scorer in the 2011/12 ASB Premiership when he played for Canterbury United.
WaiBOP United coach, Peter Smith, is pleased his team will debut at Rotorua International Stadium. “All the boys are really looking forward to running out onto the pitch at such a great venue,” says Smith. “I’m happy with where the team is at the moment and, come the 10th of November, we’ll really be up for it, not only because it’s our first game but also because it will be a great place to play. Good stadiums motivate good players, so I’m sure you’ll see a positive performance from us. Hopefully all the local football fans will come along to see what we’re made of.”
The WaiBOP Football Women’s team is well into their ASB Women’s League campaign. They began their season slowly and will be looking for a competitive showing against Canterbury’s Mainland Pride, which is one of the top teams in this season’s competition. The Women’s team involves a number of Bay of Plenty-based players, including Rotorua’s Alice Bennett and Amanda Wilshier.
Kick-off for the ASB Women’s League match is at 11am then the ASB Premiership match follows at 1pm. Entry costs $10 for an adult, $5 for students and pensioners, while children aged 13 years and under can get in for free.
WaiBOP United plays seven home games in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty over the course of the summer. Membership packages and season passes can be purchased online if you are interested in following the team throughout the season. Visit www.waibopunited.co.nz/tickets/
For more information please contact:
Peter Smith, WaiBOP United Head Coach
Dwayne Barlow, Communications Manager, WaiBOP Football Federation
