Waitakere host Kuwait at Allen Hill Stadium

Waitakere United will on Friday ‘host’ Kuwait in an international friendly at Allen Hill Stadium on the North Shore.

 

Kuwait is in New Zealand preparing for vital Asian World Cup qualifying matches, in particular one against Australia and will this week play Auckland City (Tuesday at 5.45, Kiwitea Street) and on Friday NZFC and O-League champions Waitakere United.

 

Chairman Rex Dawkins said it made perfect sense to play at Allen Hill.

 

“With Kuwait of course people are referring back to ‘82 and the incredible games played in qualifying the year before. The controversy, goals and late drama in those matches are folklore in New Zealand.

 

“And a few of the players involved are embedded in the history of North Shore football and Allen Hill Stadium. Players like Adrian Elrick, Alan Boath and Duncan Cole played so much football here; it is nice to be reminded of that by playing Kuwait on their old ‘home ground’.”

 

For the Waitakere United squad it is another rare chance to taste international football and players from a much higher level of the game. Coach Chris Milicich is looking forward to his players gaining much needed experience.

 

“Each game of this nature can only help our player’s development and preparation for the likes of future O-League and FIFA World Club Cups if we are lucky enough to be involved in Dubai later this year.

 

“We will use a number of players in the fixture in the knowledge that we have one remaining regular season game in the NZFC on the weekend but must approach this in a focused and determined manner. This is for our own benefit but also we must do the game justice for Kuwait, otherwise their camp here in New Zealand will be undermined.”

 

 

Waitakere United v Kuwait

Friday February 27th 2009

Allen Hill Stadium

Devonport

KO 5.45pm

 

Entry $10 adults children under 15 free