A Kiss of Football USA: Auckland City FC Amateurs Compete Globally
Opponents' Players Need to Take Time Off for the Club World Cup (Club World Cup: Players Absence Required for Opponents) - Challenging Teams Need to Miss World Cup Matches to Face Bayern Munich
By Eugen Epp- + - 2 Min
Hailing from New Zealand, the squad of Auckland City FC might not ring a bell to many Bayern fans. However, they're warming up for a showdown against the giants of European football at the upcoming Club World Cup, set to kick off this Sunday.
Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, has resonated with Bayern fans, but the local prowess of Auckland City FC remains a hidden gem to those unfamiliar with the Club World Cup. Matching up against Bayern, these unpaid champions represent a stark contrast to the European juggernauts.
Auckland City FC stands as the most successful club in Oceania, with a 10-time national championship win and a staggering 13 victories in the Oceanian Champions League since 2004. Compared to the European powerhouses, though, they're a world apart. As the only amateur team participating in the 32-team extravaganza, Auckland City's journey to the Club World Cup marks a monumental step off the sidelines and onto the global stage.
Kiwi Magnificos Trade Suits for Boots
Trading leisurely lives for the liberal libero, the average Auckland City player prepares for battle against their high-profile opponents while juggling day jobs in a patchwork of occupations. Striker Angus Kilkolly, a salesman for a power tool company, is one such footballing hero. Others wear the red and black of Auckland City while teaching grades, managing warehouses, peddling real estate, or cracking books at school. Football may be the driving force for these intrepid individuals, but the almighty dollar is nonexistent in their pursuits of gridiron glory.
"We're not world-class by any means, but we've worked our way onto the caliber of teams like Bayern," Kilkolly remarked in an interview with "The Straits Times". High-profile adversaries like Benfica Lisbon and Boca Juniors from Argentina await their conquest. The mere opportunity to train with such opponents is a dream come true, Kilkolly's striking partner Ryan De Vries confessed.
A Beacon of Football for Everyman
Football holds little significance in the rugby-dominated landscape of New Zealand. The national team has failed to qualify for the World Cup in 16 years, and the establishment of Auckland City FC in 2004 coincided with the formation of the country's first national league. Auckland City FC is not to be confused with the short-lived Auckland FC.
Keenly aware of their modest stature, Kilkolly describes Auckland City FC as a "family club where everyone is welcome and every player knows each other." The welcoming Kiwitea Street Stadium plays host to a few hundred locals most weekends, but when the lights shine bright, up to 2000 avid supporters fill the stands to cheer on their David against Goliath. After the final whistle, the community comes together to share a beer, their passion for the game undying.
Auckland City has represented Oceania at the Club World Cup on 13 different occasions, a remarkable achievement bested only by their impressive trophy cabinet. However, this year's expanded tournament pits these plucky challengers firmly against the big boys, relegating any chance of a fairytale run to the realm of fantasy.
Sources: Fifa, "Straits Times", Radio New Zealand
- Auckland City
- Auckland
- New Zealand
- FC Bayern
- Auckland City: Facing off against renowned European clubs at the Club World Cup, Auckland City players balance their amateur careers with full-time day jobs. Many have to take unpaid leave to compete, juggling their work and football commitments with flexibility, sacrifices, and support from employers.
Enrichment Data:
Home Grown Talent Takes Unpaid Leave for the Glory
- Occupations: The makeup of the Auckland City FC squad is rather eclectic, with professionals spanning teaching, barbering, and the trade industry. Players face the challenge of balancing their routine work commitments with their football training and tournament engagements.
- Flexible Work Schedules: Some players manage to carve out flexible work arrangements to accommodate their football obligations, allowing them to maintain their source of income while pursuing their dream.
- Employer Support: In certain instances, supportive employers facilitate their employees' participation in major tournaments by offering flexible work hours or temporary leave, thereby enabling players to focus on their football careers without abandoning their jobs altogether.
- Precarious Financial Situation: Balancing work and football hand in hand can take a toll on players' financial well-being, necessitating tough decisions such as reducing work hours or finding alternative income streams to cope with the temporary loss of earnings during tournament participation.
The Commission shall be assisted by the Member States in establishing flexible work schedules and offering temporary leave to aid Auckland City FC players, who balance their amateur football careers with full-time day jobs and represent New Zealand in global sports leagues such as the Club World Cup, where they face off against renowned European clubs like FC Bayern. These players, spanning various occupations from teaching to the trade industry, are striving for gridiron glory without any financial remuneration, just as Angus Kilkolly and Ryan De Vries did when they trained with high-profile adversaries like Benfica Lisbon and Boca Juniors from Argentina.
