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Like so many soccer teams this year, Puhoi is picking itself up and dusting itself down after two years of Covid interruptions.
One casualty is the men’s first and reserve teams which, after two years in the elite NRF conference league, have withdrawn from the competition due to the difficulty of attracting and retaining two full squads every week.
Puhoi football manager Troy Connolly said it was really disappointing, but the coach had taken the decision that the numbers simply weren’t there.
“You’ve got to have 32 players each week and that for us was just too difficult,” he said.
However, long-time Puhoi player Billy Fry is putting together a group of players from both teams to form a new side, with AUT Sports Coaching head Simon Walters on board as trainer.
“They’re just waiting to hear from NRF which division they can play in, probably two or three,” Connolly said.
Puhoi is also fielding at least one masters over-35s men’s team, a division three women’s team and is currently in the process of mustering as many young players as it can for grade sides.
“Last year, we had Grade 9, 11 and 12 teams, but at the first muster last week we had very low numbers, so we’re hoping to get more,” Connolly said.
He said as well as players, Puhoi was also looking for coaches, managers and sponsors, as closure of the sports and community club had led to a slump in funding.
“We’re looking for sponsorship, whether it’s for kit, balls or new nets for the junior sides. Being shut for seven months over the last two years, we have lost a huge amount of revenue that we usually put back into the club and our football teams.”
Anyone who can help, or is keen to join any of the teams, should contact Connolly on 021 221 7886.
