Auckland; FIFA Head of Media for the 2006 Club World Cup, Nicolas Maingot, said today’s Media Conference at the Langham Hotel in Auckland was a “good start” for Auckland City as they head towards their clash with the CAF champions and a shot at $US 15 million prizemoney in December.
Auckland City coach, Roger Wilkinson(pictured), facetiously told a packed room that the team may need to rely on divine intervention but added more seriously that his approach would be to try to win the opening match.
New Japanese signing Teruo Iwamoto was introduced as Auckland City’s big signing and the 34-year-old said that despite not playing for some time, he felt the handful of NZFC matches would be enough preparation time for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Iwamoto said, “I think I will be prepared. I have heard Auckland City like to pass the ball a lot and this suits my game.” Iwamoto had advice for his new Kiwitea Street colleagues and warned them that Japanese weather would not be hospitable come December.
“December is a very cold month for Japan and so our players will have to make sure they are ready for this and to avoid injury due to the cold”, Iwamoto said.
Iwamoto’s new coach, Roger Wilkinson, described Iwamoto as a “very handy player with some nice touches and a very good left foot cross” and said he would add considerable creativity to the left hand side of Auckland City’s midfield. Wilkinson said with team spirit very high, he hoped Iwamoto would enjoy the experience.
Iwamoto – capped 9 times by his country and scorer of 2 international goals – has an extensive J-League career, making 191 appearances and scoring 32 times.
Auckland City skipper, Neil Sykes, said Iwamoto’s signing was a welcome addition but added that the FIFA Club World Cup was the culmination of 10-15 years of work for many of the squad and that the hunger and readiness to get to Japan was high.
“It’s a true global World Cup event and it’s just a thrill for us. It’s a real David v Goliath situation. Sometimes David even wins, so we’re very exicted”, Sykes said.
Oceania Football Confederation General Secretary, Tai Nicholas, said Auckland City’s qualification provided evidence of the hardwork Oceania had put in to secure the confederation’s direct entry to the FIFA Club World Cup.
“There was some opposition to a direct spot because of the amateur status of the game but we feel that to ensure the future of football grows in the region that we are afforded opportunities to improve.”
As a gesture of goodwill, Nicolas Maingot presented Auckland City chairman, Ivan Vuksich, with a FIFA pennant commemorating the club’s debut at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December.
Vuksich was understandably exicted with the media interest ahead of the tournament and said Auckland City felt a strong sense of responsibility in performing strongly on behalf of the club, New Zealand football and all the member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation.
Auckland City kick off their campaign on Sunday 10th December at the Toyota Stadium against either CS Sfaxien of Tunisia or Al Ahly of Egypt. The 1st leg of the CAF Champions League Final saw Al Ahly held to a 1-1 draw at home by CS Sfaxien. The 2nd leg will be played on November 11th, 2006, in Sfaxien, Tunisia.
The winner of Auckland City’s FIFA Club World Cup tie will face the might of CONMEBOL’s Copa Libertadores winners, Sport Club Internacional, of Brazil.