Wanaka AFC on the verge of making history

Published in The Wānaka App

Wānaka Associated Football Club (AFC) has the opportunity to create history tomorrow (Saturday August 31) when it plays Green Island at the Wānaka Recreation Centre in the final round of the Southern Premiership football competition.

A win would secure the club’s highest-ever finish in the premiership and provide the possibility of securing a playoff for a place in New Zealand's highest level of amateur football.

“If we win we guarantee ourselves second place which would be the highest finish ever in club history,” Wānaka AFC director of football Ben Sippola said.

“Also, what it would do is give us an opportunity to enter a promotional playoff to join New Zealand’s Southern League.”

After a slow start to the season, Wānaka AFC is on a five-match winning streak which Ben said is due to the style of football the team is playing.

“You’ll see a real distinct emphasis on how we value the ball,” he said.

“We are very much a possession-orientated team.”

Ben hopes the Upper Clutha community will come to support the team this Saturday (August 31) and make the most of the hometown advantage.

“We’d love to win this weekend but having amazing support and building community around football and seeing people get excited is also what it’s about,” Ben said.

If Wānaka AFC draws or loses this weekend its destiny will be in the hands of other results.  

“If we win we control our destiny. We’re putting all our eggs in the basket trying to win this weekend,” Ben said.

Wānaka AFC plays Green Island at the Wānaka Recreation Centre on Saturday at 2.45pm.