Wānaka AFC’s premier football team has secured promotion to the Southern League for the 2025 season after defeating Waimak United 9-4 on aggregate in a two-match home-and-away playoff. 

While the team celebrates its newfound status, the reality of competing in the Southern League has presented numerous challenges to the club.

Wānaka AFC director of football Ben Sippola said the pressure is now on the club to expand its operations and find financial support.

“Financially it just puts a new … element of pressure on the club because we have to currently maintain our Southern Premier League team, which is the team we play now,” Ben said.

“We have to have a youth development league team and then we would have an additional team.

“We need to prepare for more coaches, … more travel.”

Ben said while the financial requirements present a challenge so too will the facilities available to the club in Wānaka.

“Because Wānaka has grown so much in the last decade, we're also kind of on the back foot from a facilities perspective,” he said.

Wānaka AFC trains on grass pitches which Ben indicated may not be available for year-round training, and that an artificial turf is needed.

A third challenge for the club is player and coach recruitment to ensure a competitive team in the Southern League and that all the club's sides have a full roster.

Ben said the opportunity to compete in the Southern League is a huge boost for football locally.

“I think it will be huge for football in the region and then for the local Wānaka community,” he said.

“I think the tagline for the football club is growing the most beautiful game in the most beautiful place on the planet.”

Find out more about Wānaka AFC here.

Listen to The Outlet podcast featuring Ben here.

PHOTO: Supplied