After taking a tentative step into Matamata during term 4 of last year, the Waikato Football Academy (WFA) has scheduled a full year football development programme for 2018.

Players can sign up here.

 

Locally based head coach Alastair Sievewright (pictured right) will oversee the programme, which has the full support of Matamata Swifts AFC. “I’m looking forward to working with young footballers and other sports people from the wider Matamata-Piako area over the course of the year and helping them develop their skills,” said Sievewright. “We had an enthusiastic group at the end of 2017. I’m hoping we can build on that as the children prepare for the winter sports season then compliment their regular training during the season.”

Matamata Swifts President, Dwayne Barlow, is pleased to have the WFA programme scheduled in the calendar this year. “It’s great to have someone like Alastair living locally able to provide the sort of coaching we have struggled to offer in the past. Normally children would have to travel to Hamilton or Tauranga for something like this. On a personal level I’ll have two boys who’ll be involved, and I hope plenty of other children, not only from Matamata but the wider Matamata-Piako and South Waikato area, give this a serious look.

“One big opportunity I see here is for children playing other winter sports on Saturday mornings. The Academy programme means they can train during the week and also play games on the occasional Sunday against WFA teams from Hamilton and, potentially, other teams from further afield via the WFA network. Football offers a great cross training opportunity that will help children in their specialist sport.”

Children keen to sign up to play football for the Swifts in 2018 should keep an eye out for registration details, which will be available on the club’s website within the next two weeks.