Forty young Queenstown footballers have been inspired by a visit from New Zealand footballing royalty.
Legend Wynton Rufer, named last century’s ‘Oceania Footballer of the Century’, coached two groups of 20 Whitmarsh Academy players, aged nine to 13, at the Events Centre last Friday and Saturday.
He’s pictured, top left, with Jamie Whitmarsh and footballers Victor Tosh, 13, Dominic Ashton, 11, and Felix Wall, 12.
Rufer, who made his name as a striker with German club Werder Bremen, says ‘‘this is all a part of providing inspiration for the kids so they can take their game to the next level’’.
He honed their skills in juggling, kicking off both feet and ball control.
Rufer’s also had experience coaching another Queenstowner, former New Zealand under-17 and U20 rep Willem Ebbinge.
Whitmarsh says his students loved their sessions.
‘‘It’s really rare someone of his stature comes into Queenstown and delivers sessions for kids, and once they realised what he’d done, who he’d played against, the likes of Maradona, they were blown away.
‘‘So they’ll go away with that, and that will live long in their memory.’’
Whitmarsh says he’s got a ‘‘blossoming’’ relationship with Rufer, who’ll be down a couple of times next year, too.
‘‘So we’ve created something there that’s got some longevity.’’
