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2007
Annalie Longo - A Very Special Talent
by Jeremy Ruane
She doesn't turn sixteen until next month, yet the prodigiously talented Annalie Longo has already made four appearances for her country's senior national team at such a tender age, and played in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Finals as well.
Not bad going for someone who started playing at the tender age of four. “My brothers, Jason and Julian, used to play, and I used to go along and watch them at Three Kings United”, recalls New Zealand's youngest ever senior level international.
“I'd end up playing with Paul, my Dad, on the sideline, but I got sick of that - I wanted to play myself! So Mum (Leanne) and Dad enrolled me at Three Kings, for whom I've played ever since”.
While she has gone through the grades at Keith Hay Park, the Auckland native quickly linked up with another outlet for her burgeoning football talent in the form of WYNRS.
“I think that has benefited me more, in hindsight”, reflects Annalie on her nine-year involvement with Wynton Rufer's legacy to the game in NZ. “I was involved from a five-year-old through to when I was thirteen, and whereas Three Kings' training has always been more game-oriented, WYNRS is more about ball-work, skills and tricks”.
The input of Habib Makvandi and John Herdman has also contributed to “Flea”'s silky skills and fleet-footedness, a combination which has taken her all the way to her current standing in the game, although the latter attribute has benefited greatly from the contribution of another enjoyable outlet which has gone hand-in-hand with her football career.
“If I wasn't playing soccer, I'd most likely be tap-dancing”, declares Annalie. “Mum used to dance, and I began following in her footsteps at the same time as I commenced my soccer career. Last year, I was a final nominee for the National Young Performer of the Year for Tap-Dancing”.
It's one of the few honours which has escaped the clutches of this very special talent since she exploded onto the senior women's soccer scene in 2004, the year she made her Northern Premier Women's League debut for Three Kings.
“Winning the league last year has been one of the highlights of my career to date, along with winning both the Golden Boot and the National U-14 Girls Tournament with Auckland in Napier in 2005”, during which Annalie scored a sensational goal against Soccersouth, weaving her way through half the opposition before burying a twenty-yarder.
“Internationally, playing against Brazil and Russia in the U-20 Women's World Cup Finals has been a huge highlight. It was great drawing with Brazil - they play really quick, one-touch football, and their players are
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 Annalie Longo's Favourites
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so skilful.
“Making the senior team for the trips to China - a very quick, strong team - and Papua New Guinea is another stand-out”, declares the will-o'-the-wisp midfielder. “It's pretty exciting being the youngest international - it shows how much effort I've put in to date.
“At the same time, having to perform all the time and be accepted by the other girls, and earn their respect, means it's quite nerve-racking as well. But the girls are very good in that regard, and very encouraging”.
Another aspect of life which is proving very challenging for Annalie is the balancing act which a life of dancing, football and schoolwork entails. “I'm in my fifth form year at Epsom Girls Grammar, which means it's NCEA year.
“If I'm selected for the Women's World Cup squad - something I'm really looking forward to! - I may have to sit those exams before I go. As it is, a schedule which entails getting home from training after 10pm four nights a week then going to school the next morning leaves me quite tired - it's definitely hard juggling everything at present”.
Her school friends are a big help to Annalie in this regard, and also provide her life with some semblance of balance away from the footballing environment in which role models such as Maia Jackman feature prominently.
But it's the support of her family which the youngest member of the Longo clan values most. “Mum and Dad are simply the best, and not just because of their ongoing encouragement. They're always there for me, and with my being so young, give up a lot of their time to drive me everywhere in order to fulfil my various commitments”.
With the footballing world hers for the taking, this well-travelled rising star of the New Zealand scene - she has played in Australia, Samoa, Argentina, Holland, Russia, China and Papua New Guinea since the start of 2006 - has plans to play in another country sooner rather than later.
“I'd like to play in the USA when I finish school. Oregon State University have already been in touch - they didn't realise I was so young!! As well, I'd like to stay in the national team for as long as I can, and if I can't play professionally, getting a job in a sporting field, e.g. physiotherapy or coaching, would be ideal.
“I've just started coaching a Three Kings' fifth grade team on a Saturday morning. They have quite a lot of energy, so it's quite hard trying to control them, keep their attention, and contain them in a certain area”.
As any opponent will testify, not a lot unlike Annalie Longo herself.
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