Rarely have I been inspired by a sports story recently as I have this week following NZ's qualification for the most popular sporting event in the world.
A home and away tie against the 5th placed Asia qualifier, Bahrain, was always going to be far more achieveable then the previous route for the Oceania zone winner of playing the 5th placed South American team, and I have heard plenty of comment trying to downgrade the All WHites achievement. But this team proved they deserve to be there. After all, it is a WORLD Cup.
To see a NZ stadium crowd so emotional is an unusual sight. Atmosphere has never been the reason for attending live sport back home. But the people at the Wellington stadium were in delerium and it was great to see.
For a country of 4 million to be represented on such a stage, in a sport which sits well down in the national popularity stakes is extraordinary. In Malaysia, soccer is the national sport but they were recently beaten 5-0 by United Arab Emirates. They can only dream of being so successful.
I was 10 years old during Espana 82 when NZ made it's first appearance. The games were televised live in the morning and our school allowed everyone to be late on NZ game days so that we could watch at home. Sports memories are always the best when they are from your childhood and this is one of my favourite. Sport was far more important to me then as unfortunately I have become an all-to-cynical sports follower as I age.
So another generation of kiwi kids will be storing some unforgettable sporting memories during South Africa 2010. Lets hope they don't have to wait another 27 years for a repeat.
The biggest match seen at the Tin since our stag do in 2003 !
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