Local helps NZ to Win

By Frank Neill

Brooke Neary in action for Wainuiomata.

Wainuiomata Footballer Brooke Neary helped New Zealand to victory in the 2023 Oceania Under-16 Women’s Football Championship in Papeete, Tahiti.

New Zealand won the title thanks to a last minute goal to take out a 1-0 victory over Fiji in the

tournament final on 26 September.

Just when it looked like the result may be decided on penalties Ela Jerez put in a perfect pass to Katie Pugh, who found the back of the net.

Victory in the Oceania Championship means that New Zealand has qualified for the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup, to be played in the Dominican Republic next year.

The victory also fulfilled one of Brooke’s aims.

“I’m hoping the make Wainuiomata proud by winning the qualifiers,” Brooke told the

“Wainuiomata News” before leaving for the tournament.

That is exactly what has now happened.

New Zealand qualified for the final with three victories in their three pool matches.

They defeated the Cook Island 12-0, Fiji 4-1 and Vanuatu by the huge score of 27-0.

The semi-final also saw New Zealand win comfortably, beating Tonga 7-0.

Now aged 15, Brooke played as a goal keeper, a position she only took up this year.

She began playing with the Wainuiomata Football Club when she was five years old.

For the next nine years she played for Wainuiomata and this year she has been playing for the Phoenix Academy in the Capital Development League.

This year she is also in her third season playing for her school, Hutt Valley High School, and this year her team won the Wellington Secondary Schools Competition.

As well as Football, Brooke has also played cricket, including playing in Wellington representative teams, although she has now given that up so that she can focus on Football.