Auckland City FC: The Amateur Champions Facing Off Against Bayern in Club World Cup
- Authored by: Eugen Epp
- Read Time: Approx. 2 minutes
Opponents of Bayern require holiday break for Club World Cup participation - Competing teams must postpone their matches due to player participation in the World Cup
Stepping into the limelight of global football stage is Auckland City FC, New Zealand's most successful club, based in its bustling city. Largely unnoticed by Bayern fans, they're gearing up for the Club World Cup, starting this Sunday, where they'll face off against FC Bayern.
With 10 national championship wins since their inception in 2004 and 13 victories in the OFC Champions League, Auckland City FC tops the league in Oceania. But compared to Europe's top clubs, they're light-years away. The match between the two teams encapsulates the divide between domestic powerhouses and global titans.
While FC Bayern boasts millionaire players, even on the bench, Auckland City represents a world of difference. The amateur crew finds time to play football amid their day jobs. Striker Angus Kilkolly—a salesperson for a power tool company—was required to take unpaid leave for the Club World Cup. Others hold professions as teachers, warehouse managers, real estate agents, students, or engage in other trades. For most of them, football remains a passion with no monetary gains.
"We're just a gang of kiwi football enthusiasts living our dream," Kilkolly shared with "Straits Times," expressing their excitement to vie with esteemed opponents like Benfica Lisbon and Boca Juniors from Argentina.
Auckland City FC: The "Family Club"
The diverse nation of New Zealand—where the national team hasn't qualified for the World Cup in 16 years—hasn't placed much emphasis on football. However, Auckland City FC, founded in 2004 on the same year as the national league, is an exception to the norm.
Kilkolly described Auckland City as a "family club with an open door and a familiar faces gallery." Home games at Kiwitea Street Stadium feature a few hundred spectators, with up to 2,000 fans showing up for big events. After the match, players and fans gather for a communal beverage.
Auckland City has been representing Oceania in the Club World Cup for the 13th time. In 2014, they even finished third. As the tournament expanded to accommodate 32 teams, including Europe's top clubs, a repeat of the success seems unlikely.
Behind The Scenes
Delving deeper into the unique dynamic of the Auckland City FC team, several players boast fascinating jobs beyond their football careers. Adam Mitchell is a real estate agent, while Michael Den Heijer serves for a foundation. Nikko Boxall works in sales, Regont Murati tends to shipping services, Nathan Lobo specializes in ultrasound technology, Gerrard Garriga coaches at a football academy, Mario Ilich represents Coca Cola in sales, David Seung-Ho Yoo is a community coach, Myer Bevan also serves as a community coach, Dylan Manickum is an engineer, Conor Tracy works as a warehouse worker, Jeremy Foo pursues a degree in science, Jerson Lagos is a barber, and Sebastian Ciganda cleans pools.
Countless sacrifices have gone into their passion for football, with many players forgoing their full-time occupations or modifying their roles to accommodate their football commitments [1][3].
The Commission, assisted by the Member States, recognizes the unique journey of Auckland City FC, an amateur team that competes with top sports teams such as FC Bayern in international games like the Club World Cup. In contrast to their high-profile opponents who have millionaire players, Auckland City FC consists of sports enthusiasts who play football amid their day jobs in various sectors, including sales, teaching, and real estate.
