The Blackburn Rovers teenager was himself an NTC player a few short years ago and the visit brought some memories back for the 18-year-old.
“I was out on that same pitch not long ago,” the former Waitakere United and Auckland City youngster says.
“It brings back memories of the double training sessions in the Auckland sun. It’s pretty crazy how things have changed so quickly, now I’m doing it in the cold and wet of England.”
Payne famously played for all of New Zealand’s international teams in 12 months between June 2011 and June 2012.
His journey began with the Young All Whites (U-17s) in Mexico, followed by the Junior All Whites (U-20s) in Colombia before making his All Whites debut in the win over Honduras prior to the OFC Nations Cup and culminating at the London Olympics with the Oly Whites (U-23s).
Payne is a graduate of the NTC concept and one of many increasing success stories, the most recent being the Young Football Ferns, who played at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan earlier this month.
“Daisy Cleverley and Martine Puketapu should have been at last week’s NTC, so they’re playing a World Cup cycle ahead of their age,” New Zealand Football Head of Football Development Bev Priestman says.
“The NTCs are about early identification of players and developing future All Whites and Football Ferns, starting with the next cycle of U-17 players,” she adds.
Young footballers come into contact with many of New Zealand’s most experienced coaches, including former All Whites and Football Ferns, ex-professionals, national team coaches and football development officers.
Payne’s mentor at Waitakere United and Oly Whites level, and current All Whites assistant coach, Neil Emblen was also in attendance imparting some of his knowledge with the players and coaches.
There is a particular focus on coaching the technical competencies and receiving guidance in learning the right habits and fine-tuning a player’s strengths, a tactic Payne agrees with.
“They’re good philosophies, things like checking your shoulders and playing one and two touch. They’re all the right things and it’s good for the players to have these tools that they can use as a stepping stone to other environments,” Payne says.
There are three NTCs – in Auckland, Fielding and Oamaru – involving players who could potentially take part in the next two FIFA U-17 World Cup cycles including the 2013 men’s and 2016 women’s.
Players are regionally selected and monitored in Federation Talent Centres (FTC) and then invited to the NTC for an extra level of specialist coaching.
“We have FTCs across the country and if the players score highly in their assessments they automatically get invited in. For players below that line, other players are nominated against them and they’re pitched against each other on a Talent on Location day and the best players come in,” Priestman says.
“So we’re continually unearthing talent like Tim, Daisy and Martine because we can’t afford to miss any.”
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

Share