Mobil, New Zealand\u2019s oldest fuel company, has doubled its support of the Wellington Phoenix\u2019s award-winning Football For All programme.<\/p>\n
It will ensure hundreds more tamariki and rangatahi from ages six to 17 will be able to play football or futsal at their local clubs or schools.<\/p>\n
The Phoenix, with funding from the Lloyd Morrison Trust, launched Football For All in 2020 with the aim of making football more accessible for refugee and lower socio-economic families by removing potential barriers like registration, equipment and transportation costs.<\/p>\n
Starting from a base of 47 participants in the Wellington region, Football For All, which is run in partnership with Capital Football, now spans all six of New Zealand Football\u2019s federations with more than 2,000 participants actively engaged in the programme nationwide.<\/p>\n
Phoenix general manager David Dome has thanked Mobil for increasing their funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Football For All programme wouldn\u2019t exist if it wasn\u2019t for the support of our generous partners,\u201d Dome said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe programme relies heavily on funding from the Lloyd Morrison Trust and New Zealand Community Trust and it\u2019s great to have commercial backing from Mobil as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir contribution will make it easier for hundreds of young Kiwis to play our beautiful game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wayne Ellary, Chair of Mobil Oil New Zealand, says Football For All helps New Zealanders take part in a quintessential part of growing up in Aotearoa, community sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cFootball For All is doing the mahi to make sure Kiwi kids grow up playing sport,\u201d Ellary said. \u201cI\u2019m fortunate enough to watch my daughter play sport, but that\u2019s not a given for every young person.<\/p>\n
\u201cMobil believes programmes like Football for All make a real difference by giving young people opportunities to engage and connect with community and grow through sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cTransportation is often an overlooked challenge, and we\u2019re pleased to help ensure more families and communities can get to football training and game day!\u201d<\/p>\n