ROTORUA, Aotearoa – Māori Football Aotearoa hosted a successful Akokura Whanaporiki Development Session in Rotorua on Saturday 11 April, providing young players from across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty rohe with an opportunity to connect, develop their skills, and engage with the Māori Football pathway.
Held at Waiariki FC Clubrooms at Neil Hunt Park, the session went ahead despite a number of late withdrawals caused by deteriorating weather conditions and the rescheduling of the Ferns match. In the end, a healthy turn out of players attended, bringing energy and enthusiasm to a day that organisers described as highly positive and rewarding.
Designed for U14 and U15 tama and kōtiro, the Akokura session combined skill-based activities with a mini tournament, giving players the chance to challenge themselves in a supportive and culturally grounded environment.
An MFA spokesperson said the day reflected the deeper purpose behind the programme.
“While the numbers were lower than we had originally hoped, the quality of the day was outstanding. The players who attended brought great energy, openness and attitude, and that allowed the kaupapa of Akokura to really shine through.”
The spokesperson said the event was about more than football development alone.
“What stood out most was the way whanaungatanga and manaakitanga were shown throughout the day. There was strong encouragement between the players, a real willingness to learn, and a sense of connection that sat at the heart of everything we did.”
Akokura forms part of Māori Football Aotearoa’s wider commitment to creating meaningful pathways for rangatahi Māori, both regionally and nationally. Alongside the on-field sessions, the Rotorua gathering also gave players the chance to learn more about future opportunities within Māori Football Aotearoa.
Despite the disruption caused by weather and scheduling changes, organisers said the event reaffirmed the importance of continuing to create spaces where young Māori footballers can grow as players and as people.
“This was a really worthwhile day and a reminder of why these development opportunities matter. We are excited about continuing to build in this space and creating more chances for our rangatahi to be seen, supported and inspired.”
Māori Football Aotearoa thanked the players and whānau who supported the Rotorua session and said it looked forward to future Akokura development events later in the year.
Ends
Images courtesy MFA Media
Story courtesy MFA Media
