Katikati FC has presented brand new shirts to the 14 girls who make up their two U8 Girls teams, the Pandas and the Orcas.

The shirts, presented yesterday before their final training of the term, carry the ‘Fantails’ logo, a football programme for girls introduced last year by NZ Football as part of the legacy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

2024 is the first year that the club has had the numbers to have girls only teams at the U8 level, and they say this is a direct result of the club signing up to deliver the MILO Fantails Programme. 13 of the 14 girls met each other and were introduced to football through the Fantails programme.

A New Zealand Football initiative, MILO Fantails is a female-only programme designed to introduce new players to the beautiful game, through sessions with a focus on helping girls make friends, have fun, improve their skills and be active through football. The programme is for players aged 4–12 years old.

Junior Co-ordinator Sebastian van Hecklum has been the driving force behind Fantails in the club, signing the club up in 2023 and running the programme over terms 3 and 4 of 2023, and Term 1 of 2024
Sebastian and the Katikati FC committee decided they wanted the maximum engagement possible, and did not charge for the sessions, which operated like a “turn up and play”. 

Zadin Young has been the coach delivering the programme in the club. Zadin says they had a core group of 12-15 girls consistently turning up, most of whom were new to football – although some sessions had up to 25 girls enjoying football together. 

The majority of the group was under 8, which allowed the club to form two U8 girls teams for the 2024 season. 

The club funded 85 new strips for junior girls in the club with a generous donation from the Hope Family and funds from the NZ Football Milo Fantails programme, and funds from KKFC.

The shirts carry a second logo, that of local not for profit Project Parore, who work throughout the district with the community restoring waterways and replanting areas with native plants. 

This link is a way of the club giving back to community, and raising the profile and awareness of this outstanding community group.  The club shared that they are always looking for ways to be involved with the local community.

Project Parore were also at the presentation today, and each girl was presented with a native plant. Their Chair, David Peters, said that the Board, volunteers and staff of Project Parore were honoured to be recognised by the FC club and proud to be on the back of the girls shirts.

Katikati FC, around a 45 minute drive north of Tauranga, has around 250 junior players, as well as three senior men’s teams.

In addition to the Fantails programme, Zadin is on the club committee, co-ordinates the Mini Kickers, and coaches three junior teams. He came through the club as a junior and then senior player, and enjoys giving back to the club and seeing kids enjoy football. 

Zadin estimates that almost half the juniors are girls, and says female football has had strong support over the last 30 years from the club and the local college. 

For more information: 
https://projectparore.nz/
http://www.katikatifc.co.nz/
https://www.waibopfootball.co.nz/women-girls/milo-fantails-programme

Article added: Wednesday 03 July 2024