The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home
2005 | Caps
2005
Game Has Turned Full Circle For Goal-getter Emma
by Jeremy Ruane
"I never really liked soccer", was one of the opening remarks made by Emma Kete at the start of this interview. "In fact, I had to be talked into playing the game - it just seemed so hard to me, as I'd grown up playing rugby league".
Hard it may have been, but Andy McLarin's persuasive tongue is set to pay dividends in a big way for the just-turned eighteen-year-old, who was "pretty proud" to recently be named in the New Zealand Under-19 squad taking part in the Lion Foundation National Women's League competition throughout October and November.
The lion's share of that squad will be expected to form the basis of the NZ U-20 squad which competes in next year's Oceania qualifying tournament for the inaugural FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup Finals, which take place in Russia around this time next year.
Naturally enough, Emma is hoping that she's more than just a bit-part player along the way. Indeed, for someone who didn't like soccer to begin with, Emma now can't get enough of the game the world plays.
"It takes up almost all my time nowadays, but in summer I like to play touch and do some athletics work. I like playing any sport, really, even motor racing! I used to race quarter midgets at Western Springs not so long ago, when aged fourteen to sixteen, as I followed in the footsteps of one of my uncles, former New Zealand midget car champion Bryce Townsend.
"But soccer is definitely it for me now, especially when I think of what a typical week is like during the season. On Mondays and Thursdays, I have school training, followed by NZ Elite Squad training, while on Tuesday nights it's either Elite Squad training or training at Birkenhead United.
"Wednesday afternoons are when school matches are played, and I follow that up by doing some work in the gym, while I also have training at Mt. Albert Grammar on Friday mornings. Throw in playing for Birkenhead in the Northern Premier Women's League on Sunday mornings, and it's not hard to guess why I appreciate my weekly day off on Saturdays!"
Phew!! You'd have to love the game to maintain an itinerary like that! But trekking across the Harbour Bridge with such frequency - she also scored three goals for North Harbour in last year's National Women's League - is taking its toll on the Avondale resident.
"It takes ages, and then there's the price of petrol to consider, as well as the fact that I'm going straight from school to training, and not getting home much before 10pm on the nights when I am over the bridge. So I'll be switching clubs and playing for Three Kings United in 2006".
Birkenhead's loss, but Emma has enjoyed her experience with them. "My first year of Premier League football was a lot harder than I expected. It was a huge step-up from Division One, and you find yourself playing against some awesome players".
This Crunchie Bar muncher is a pretty plucky player herself, her tenacious on-field attitude reminiscent of that shown by her father in his rugby league-playing days at Fulham, and of her uncles, who sported the Mt. Albert colours with relish on many a weekend down at Carlaw Park.
So with such an oval ball background, and the fact she was playing the game herself, what lured Emma Kete into playing a sport she admitted to disliking?
|
  |
"My school, Blockhouse Bay Intermediate, were short of players one day, so I just decided to go along, despite my dislike of the game. I ended up scoring lots of goals at a Western Zone tournament, and Andy McLarin asked me if I wanted to play for West Auckland in my third form year, 2001. It just went from there.
"While Andy was a big influence on my career in talking me into playing, Brett Kingston, the Director of Sports at my school, Mt. Albert Grammar, has been a huge influence.
"He has helped me greatly by helping me set personal goals, which have helped me become more focused about what I'm doing and where I'm going, and that, I think, become a better person as a result".
The role of the only coach to steer New Zealand to a win at any FIFA World Cup Finals tournament (NZ '99) can't be ignored, either. "Kevin Fallon brought me in to join his fourth form boys' academy at MAGS, and that has helped me a lot - it's toughened me up", says Emma.
One player who this fan of Mia Hamm, Ronaldinho and Christiano Ronaldo didn't get to face in both her and Birkenhead's debut season in the northern region's top-flight competition is a long-time family friend, and someone who has been a big influence on Emma's career so far.
"My idol back when I started playing was Hayley Moorwood. She was in the Auckland Under-17s team in 1999, and won her first Uncle Toby's Cup winners' medal a year later.
"Our families have been friendly from way back, and for someone starting out in soccer, I tried to copy everything she had done, even to the point where if she cut her hair short, I'd do the same!
"So you can imagine how I felt when I was named, with Hayley, in the Elite Squad - that just blew me away! I hadn't even played Premier League football then, so to get called up for the Elite Squad … wow! I guess I must have made a favourable impression in last season's National Women's League, which, at the time, was my biggest achievement in the game".
Emma recently made her final appearance for the northernmost federation, hitting the post late on in their 1-0 defeat of a visiting Queensland state side. During the National Women's League, she'll be looking to hit the target for the NZ Under-19s. "I'm looking forward to playing in the National League again, although I'd like us to have a chance of winning it. We can't, unfortunately, but we should have a good team nonetheless".
Off the field, this Will Smith fan has hopes of becoming a PE teacher - "anything to do with sports and outdoors will do" - as she comes to the end of her school days at MAGS, and securing a US scholarship would help her realise this, as well as an even more improved footballer.
"Beyond that, my ambitions obviously include making next year's Oceania qualifiers and the finals in Russia, while my ultimate goals will be to play for New Zealand, play professionally, and try and get into the Olympics team - that would be a dream come true".
Hold on, back up the truck here! Did you say play professionally? Is this the same Emma Kete who, just six years ago, never really liked soccer?
"Sure is", says the goal-getting striker. "Now, I love it!!"
|