New leaders for coming season

 

By Julia Wade

A new committee and president has signalled a fresh start to the autumn sport season, for one of Mangawhai’s rising football clubs. 
Surfboard designer and owner of local business Lemuria Surfboards, Craig Freeman was elected Mangawhai Football Club’s (aka MFC Stingrays) new president with Michael Becker as vice, at the club’s AGM on February 26. 

An experienced crew of inspired parents and ‘football aficionados’ made up the greater MFC Stingray team and members are now looking forward to a ‘wonderful 2018 season’ Freeman says. 

“We are a volunteer-driven club and would not succeed in accomplishing the high level of healthy and enjoyable football that we strive for without the contributions of countless players, parents, helpers and supporters,” the father of two says. 

“With the goal of getting kids onto the field and running around with their mates, we aspire to teach everybody that the first and most important thing about the world’s most popular game is to have fun!” 

The passionate surfer felt inspired to put his name forward for the leadership position after watching both his sons enjoyment of the sport as well as realising that an integral part of ‘making things happen’ in small communities was to contribute his time and skills. 

“Considering all that my coaches, elders and teammates gave to me during my upbringing on the soccer field, coupled with the recent need for a leadership role, it seemed like it was my time to step forward,” he says. 

“I feel really fortunate to have had a few great and meaningful coaches during my childhood. From a very young age we were taught how to have fun on the soccer field… how to not only be good team members and skilled soccer players, but also how to be good people – a lesson that served us much more in life than any single skill or game winning goal ever would.” 

Since joining the ‘highly respected’ and nationally accredited Northern Football Federation (NFF) in 2016, MFC players have been able to compete against Northland’s more experienced clubs, succeeding ‘above and beyond the expectations of many’. 

“We achieved great things at higher levels with a first place finish for our Under 17 squad, 10 different players across various age groups being invited to advanced regional training sessions, and the raising of the trophy by MFC in the Brynderwyn Cup.”

Funds from MFC’s gold sponsor, Smart RV, also resulted in players of all ages proudly attending games and events last year, kitted out in new blue and white striped uniforms. 

NFF offers a wide range of opportunities and pathways for football players of all levels, beginning with the Fun Football program for budding young players, which is what the game is all about Freeman says.

“There’s an indescribable joy in watching kids run around with their mates, with the biggest smiles on their faces as they kick the ball and do things that they never thought that they could do,” he says. 

“If I can help the club continue to provide a space for kids to experience that, then this will all be a huge success.”


 MFC are always looking for help both on the field and with administrative and/or sponsorship roles, and have a vacancy for a new secretary. If interested, have any questions or would like to become a part of MFC, visit mangawhaifootballclub.co.nz, email mfc@mangawhaifootballclub.co.nz, phone 020 411 03453, or come on down to the Domain on Thursday afternoons and see what it is all about.


Recently elected MFC president Craig Freeman with his sons, Arie and Sage, says his main aim for the football club is to focus on the game and for players to have fun.