Youth team in Matamata?

Are you young, football mad and frustrated that you have to wait until next year before you can start playing the game again? Wilfredo Antunez could be the answer for you.

Wilfredo would like to establish a team with a view to representing the Matamata-Piako district at the 2007 national youth tournament in Napier. This tournament is held at Labour weekend every year.

Working from the excellent facilities at the Matamata Domain, the team is aimed at young men aged from 15 to 20 years of age. Wilfredo's sessions will run every Wednesday night from November 1 until Christmas, starting at 5.30pm. They will start up again soon after the Christmas break.

"I have seen some excellent young players here in Matamata and I would like to help them develop as footballers," says Wilfredo. "I am sure there are more players out there in some of the surrounding towns who would like this opportunity."

Matamata AFC is assisting Wilfredo in the venture. "We are desperately trying to develop our football club," says spokesman, Dwayne Barlow. "But just as importantly, we are keen to promote football in our area. A great way of doing that is by giving people who are passionate about the sport, as well as being skilled in the game, a platform from which to operate. Wilfredo is both of those things and we're pleased to back him in this venture."

Wilfredo, a native of the football-crazy South American country of Uruguay, is passionate about the sport. Wilfredo is highly qualified, not only to coach players of all ages but also to educate coaches. He holds a Diploma in Football from the Uruguayan Ministry of Sport, which involved two years of study, as well as many other football qualifications. Wilfredo coached for eight years in his home nation following on from a fourteen year career as a professional player. The highlight of his professional career came in the mid-1980's when his team, Central Espanol, won the Uruguayan First Division.

Wilfredo will be assisted by Juan Carlos Rodriguez and Scott Parsonage, who are both members of Matamata AFC's Waikato Premier League champion side. Scott is the current coach of the Matamata College 1st XI.

For more information you can contact Juan Carlos Rodriguez (on 07 888 4355 or 021 02382026) or Scott Parsonage (on 07 888 6406 or 027 420 8312).

Pictured below Wilfredo Antunez, far left, with some of the budding young footballers he coached recently during a successful holiday training camp.