Four Wānaka AFC teams have returned from the Christchurch International Cup tournament with both experience and accolades.  

The Christchurch International Cup, the premier youth football event in New Zealand, attracts teams from clubs and academies around New Zealand, as well as from Australia and overseas.

Wānaka AFC club manager Simone Sippola said four teams, U14, U12, U11 and U10, travelled to Christchurch to the tournament with a goal of advancement in the sport.

She said the U14 group had finished close to the bottom in previous tournaments, having never advanced from their group in the group stages to play for the cup, only to play for the plate. 

“This year, they set out with a goal to advance from their group and make it through to the cup. They managed to far exceed this goal, by winning their group convincingly, and finishing third in the tournament, while playing some excellent football along the way.”

Simone said the U12 group played “exceptional football”, narrowly missing out on advancing from their highly competitive group, and drawing with the tournament second place-getters.

“Despite being disappointed not to advance, the team kept their heads up and went and convincingly won the tournament plate with three wins against big South Island clubs Cashmere Technical, Dunedin City Royals and Ferrymead Bays,” she said. 

The tournament was “an awesome learning opportunity” for Wānaka’s young U11 and U10 teams who gained exposure to a tournament style experience, Simone said.

The team advanced to the cup quarter-finals and finished in seventh place.

“The success at the tournament is a testament to the awesome work happening in our training environment and we look forward to continuing the development and growth,” Simone said. 

Wānaka AFC started its own football academy in October 2024, with new director of football Ben Sippola.

Ben is a former professional footballer and has been working at the highest level of football in New Zealand for 10 years. He's an NZF A-License coach, and the former technical director of Olé Football Academy and head coach of Western Suburbs FC.

PHOTO: Supplied