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Having an ex-all Whites player come in as coach has been a challenge, as well as a bonus for Orewa College’s Girls 1st XI.
Sam Malcolmson, who lives in Orewa, was one of the so-called ‘old legends’ – the All Whites team who played in the 1982 World Cup.
He began coaching the Orewa College team this season, assisted by teachers Chris Genge and Sonnal Naiker, and says while it was hard for him to come in not knowing the team, it was a lot harder for them.
“I gave them hell, but I think the challenge of having me shout at them brought them together,” he says. “They came on in leaps and bounds and I am so proud of what they’ve achieved.”
The team recently gained its highest ever placing in a national soccer competition, finishing third out of 23 teams in the Kathy Seaward tournament held last month in Auckland.
They had already won the North Harbour league and end of season Knock Out competition, losing only once and conceding only four goals from 11 games, while scoring 49 goals in the process.
Sam says this form carried through to the Kathy Seaward tournament, where they scored 47 goals and only conceded two. The team set a tournament scoring record when they beat Strathallen College 15-0 and the awards didn’t finish there.
International student, Chilean Catalina Martabit Monsalve won the Golden Boot with 15 goals, just heading off teammate and captain, Aoife King, who netted 14.
Sam says he is staying on to coach the side, which he now feels a strong bond with.
The Kathy Seaward Tournament was won by Kings College, with Botany Downs Secondary College second.
