Auckland City FC: Bayern opponents players have to take a vacation

Some Bayern fans have heard of Auckland, the largest city of New Zealand. The football club Auckland City FC, on the other hand, should not have been accommodated so far-at least not those who have not yet dealt with the club World Cup taking place from Sunday.

At the start of the redesigned tournament, which is supposed to fill the emptiness of the summer break, FC Bayern will meet the team from New Zealand on Sunday (6 p.m.) in Cincinnati. Although it is the most successful association of Oceania: Auckland City has won the national championship ten times, which has only been played since 2004. The club has even won the Oceanian Champions League 13 times. But top European clubs separate the Auckland City FC worlds.

In the duel with FC Bayern, two clubs very successful in their homeland meet – but that was already in common. In fact, the “Navy Blues” are the only amateur team among the 32 teams that compete in the United States.

While the replacement players themselves earn millions among Munich, most of the Auckland City footballers pursue another profession in addition to sport. To take part in the club World Cup, some players had to take unpaid vacation. For example, striker Angus Kilkolly, who actually works in sales of a company for power tools. Others from the team work or study as teachers, camp managers or real estate agents. Football is a hobby for them, there is no money.

“We are a bunch of amateurs from New Zealand who dream of playing football on the world stage and doing our best there,” said Kilkolly of the “Straits Times”. This dream will definitely come true: In addition to FC Bayern, Waiting with Benfica Lisbon and the Boca Juniors from Argentina, top -class opponents. The opportunity to be able to prepare for the games professionally is something special, says Kilkolly storm colleague Ryan de Vries.

Football is not very important in New Zealand – after all, the national team has qualified for the World Cup again in the coming year after 16 years. The Auckland City FC (not to be confused with the Auckland FC) was founded in 2004, at that time the national league was also launched.

Angus Kilkolly describes Auckland as a “family club where everyone is welcome where everyone knows everyone”. The home games in the Kiwitea Street stadium take place in a cozy atmosphere in front of a few hundred spectators. When a big spectacle is offered, players and fans drink a beer together after the game.

At the club World Cup, Auckland City plays for the 13th time as a representative of Oceanien, in 2014 the “Navy Blues” even reached third place. By restructuring the tournament to 32 teams, including top -class teams from Europe, this should hardly be possible again.