The Wellington Phoenix Football Academy today announced that All Whites Captain Winston Reid will sponsor two scholarships a year to the Phoenix’ Academy beginning in 2015.
One scholarship is for a full football and residential scholarship at Scots College and the other is for school and football tuition at any of the three schools in the Academy programme.
Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome said the partnership had its genesis in the Football United Tour.
“When Winston was here with West Ham in July last year he expressed an interest in giving something back and helping promising New Zealand football talent.
“At that time, we made contact with Aotearoa Football Charitable Trust that he and Leo Bertos have an association with. We started a relationship then and have an on-going association with them and will continue to support them and the excellent work they do in Maori football.
“These scholarships will draw on that programme and will look at any other promising players from around the country who may need some financial assistance to be part of our Academy.
“If we find the next Winston Reid out of all this then we’d all be very happy!”
Winston Reid said that it was very satisfying to be able to give something back to football in New Zealand.
“I am very proud of my heritage and country of birth.
“I’ve worked hard to get where I am, but I’ve also been blessed in my career and this is in a small way is my chance to give something back.
“I want to encourage and give a bit of a hand to those football players who don’t have too much and need a little bit of assistance along the way.
“We talked about this with the Phoenix when I was in New Zealand last July and I’m really pleased to be able to announce this now.”
For further information and details about applications, please visit the Academy website at www.wpfa.org.nz
