Manawatū campus hosts top secondary school football talent

Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University was proud to host the national event, which brought together the top 32 secondary school football teams for a week of high-level competition.

In preparation, Massey’s Facilities and Estates team readied the Sport and Event Centre, playing fields, recreation facilities and wider campus. Several teams stayed in campus accommodation, with food venues and food trucks ensuring they stayed fuelled for play and recovery.

After five days of play across three full-size pitches and a total of 122 games, the final showdown was between Wellington’s Scots College and Saint Kentigern College from Auckland. Scots struck first in the opening half and held control for the remainder of the match, sealing a 3-0 victory and the NZSS Football Boys’ Premier title. Hamilton Boys’ High School claimed third place with a 4-1 win over Westlake Boys’ High School.

Missed out on the action? Matches were livestreamed and remain available to watch on the MĀORI+ Youtube channel.

Sport and Event Centre Operations Manager Frances Duffin says it was fantastic to see the campus buzzing with sport.

“The tournament was a real celebration of sporting talent. Our facilities and campus spaces meant everything could happen in one place, which is unique for a New Zealand venue, and really enhanced the experience for athletes and supporters. It was a huge team effort involving Estates, Facilities, Sport Massey, Future Students and Central Football staff, so a huge thank you to everyone who made it possible.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor University Services Shelley Turner says the success of the tournament was the culmination of a decade of work by the Sportsturf team.

“Gary Mack and his Sportsurf team consistently go above and beyond to ensure that the facilities are world-class. From gradually improving infrastructure and pitches to building relationships within the football community and hosting various other school tournaments, it has all led to Massey hosting this major event. It was a super opportunity to showcase our world-class grounds and the wider campus. Attendees from schools around the country got a glimpse of what Massey can offer, and hopefully this has sparked an interested in the experience they could have by studying here.”

Chief Operations Manager at Central Football Donald Piper also extended a sincere thank you to the Massey teams involved.

“The university played a key role in bringing this tournament to town, and the way the campus embraced the event to ensure an exceptional experience was truly impressive.”

With top-class facilities, on-site accommodation and a proven ability to deliver major tournaments, Massey’s Sport and Event Centre is well-placed to host events of all sizes, bringing together schools and communities to compete, recover and enjoy in a high-performance environment.

Find out more about Massey’s Sport and Event Centre.

Check out drone footage from the event.