Cinderella team may yet go out in style
by Ian Anderson, Waikato Times, July 1998
The Cinderella soccer side of this year’s Chatham Cup may yet get to the ball in style.
The fundraising campaign for the Ngaruawahia team to travel to play Dunedin Technical in next month’s semi-final has had a staggering response, said club president Maxine Williams.
“We might even be able to fly first class with fluffy slippers on,” Williams joked.
The campaign – kick-started last week by a $1000 Waikato Times pledge – to raise at least $10,000 for the August 16 semifinal has seen a vast array of community and sports groups, businesses and individuals contribute to the extent that the final funding tally may be closer to $15,000.
A mystery benefactor has also proposed a deal which would provide the team’s fare, accommodation and a new playing strip but Williams said initial details were very sketchy and she was trying to contact the person who forwarded the idea without success.
The Waikato Football Association and Soccer New Zealand have both chipped in with $1000 each while an auction on Radio Sport yesterday raised $1500.
Ngaruawahia’s main worry for the semifinal is now injuries to key players. Leading scorer in the fairytale Cup run, defender Aaron Kingi, damaged a medial ligament in his right knee on Saturday.
Kingi said he would check with a physiotherapist today but believed that the injury should only keep him out of action for a week.
“I’ve had a similar ligament problem with the other leg before. It ghurts when I kick a ball so I’m just sticking to swimming at present to get it right,” Kingi said.
Fellow defenders Stu Watene and Marcus Traill missed Saturday’s Northern League division one home loss to South Auckland Rangers because of injuries.