By Di O’Connell
Oceania's footballer of the century and Rongotai College old boy Wynton Rufer has launched an academy for young footballers in Wellington.
“This was the field where I scored a goals as a young lad and now to be able to start something here in my own college which really is dear to my heart,” says Rufer.
Football's taken off in the capital, back in 2007 there were 299 junior teams, this year 395.
“Terry (Serepisos) and I went to school together here we were also quite good athletes,” says Rufer.
Schoolboy shot put champion Terry Serepisos, can claim credit for the surge in popularity off the back of his Phoenix club's success.
“This type of thing getting to the grass roots into the schools is amazing,” says Serepisos.
And despite recent negative publicity over money worries, that Phoenix success is set to continue.
It was in Serepisos' corporate box at the All Whites qualifier that the plan was hatched with Rufer and another Rongotai old boy TradeMe founder Sam Morgan.
“It's great training alongside Wynton he's the best player in New Zealand ever it'll motivate us to be like him,” says Joseph Wesney, college footballer.
Or possibly a current All White from Rongatai ranks, Chris Killen
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