First Pacific Football Fern recognised at special event in Māngere

New Zealand’s first Pacific women’s footballer has finally received her debut cap over four decades after taking the field against Australia.

Rosie Ah Wong, who began playing for the Football Ferns in 1979 and scored the Ferns’ first ever goal against Australia’s Matildas, was presented her cap by New Zealand Football (NZF) president Johanna Wood to rounds of applause at Walter Massey Park in Māngere earlier this month.

Rosie Ah Wong recieves her debut cap from New Zealand president Johanna Wood. Photo/ Phototek

Ah Wong says it came as a complete surprise when NZF got in touch about the presentation.

“It's humbling and it's also recognition of those people who have supported me along the journey. I'm so glad that I've come back to the club to receive this honour. It makes me feel happy and it's really nice to see my old friends."

Wood says the capping ceremony is part of a wider program the organisation has undertaken to present caps to all past players who originally missed out.

“One of the decisions that we made with the [2023 FIFA women's] world cup was that we really wanted to connect with our past Ferns who have served our country.

“So we've built up a really good database now … so I think we've now handed out about 160 caps to past Ferns.

“From 2019, if you were a debutante, you got your cap at the time, which is the way it should be. So while we can't change the past, we can reconnect our past.”

From left, the NZ Football Ferns' first captain Barbara Cox, NZF president Johanna Wood, Rosie Ah Wong, and Paula Hansen, NZF GM Legacy, and Special Projects. Photo/ PMN NEWS

Ah Wong, who lives between New Zealand and Samoa, says it’s been special to return to her old club in Māngere and see how much has changed, but also appreciate that the same things that drew her to the game remain true today.

“To see where the club is now, from that time, and how it's growing and the diversity of the ethnicities - it’s wonderful to see.

“And to see how the sport has grown. It’s really a tribute to the families that were here in this club when it started.

"It was different back in my day and I'm very honored to have received this hat on behalf of all of the all past players because without them I don't think I would have been here today.”

Rosie Ah Wong's presentation was followed by the Football Fest tournament at Walter Massey Park, Māngere. Photo: Phototek

The presentation a women's five-a-side and men's seven-a-side tournament called Football Fest.

Current club chairperson Hone Fowler says Ah Wong’s recognition is an important reminder that football is a sport for Pacific communities just as it is for other ethnic groups who more visibly represented.

"I think I've heard her being referred to as the Pele of the women's game of the Pacific in her time. And so she was a very special young talent, who came through as a teenager to play for the New Zealand team. And I think it just speaks to the potential that we're still tapping into of our Pacific and Māori communities."

And Fowler says he hopes Ah Wong's recognition is part of wider work to realise the potential of South Auckland's footballing talent.

"There's a historic context of it being perceived to be quite a Pakeha dominated sport," he says.

"But it couldn't be further from the truth. Football is a global sport and so we're trying to turn some of that old thinking into ways that are more aligned to the realities of our communities and creating pathways that are more accessible, particularly for our Pasifika, our Māori communities and other minority communities here in Auckland."

Rosie Ah Wong's presentation was followed by the Football Fest tournament, which included five-a-side women's games, at Walter Massey Park, Māngere. Photo: Phototek

Wood shares Fowler’s sentiments and hopes that recognising Ah Wong’s contributions can help show that football in New Zealand is a game for all, including Pacific communities.

“I think one of the things that we acknowledge is that our football community in the Pacific region is untapped, so there's a lot of talent in the Pacific in all sports and so for us to recognize Rosie as our first Pacifica football fern is important.

"We have a number of Pasifika players in both the men's squad and the Ferns now, so we will build that base, and not just with Pasifika, but with all our communities in New Zealand.”

Listen to the full interview with Rosie Ah Wong