Football
From the Coach
The St Paul's Boys' Football programme is based upon Brazilian futebol principles and philosophies with the ultimate aim of playing 'Futebol Alegria" which is skillful football with joy in the heart.
The essence of the programme involves the players playing futsol (a five-a-side indoor game with a smaller and heavier ball) to uplifting and joy-filled music. This context and the technical practices that precede it, create an ideal environment to play PELADA where virtuosic technical skills can be developed and displayed with freedom and fun. These skills, and the style and expression, are then transferred to the big pitch where the philosophy is to play a skillful and fast-passing game where the ball is bounced within the tactical and team framework from player to player.
All of the music to inspire the players has been composed and sung by the pupils and teachers of and presently at St Paul's. The songs celebrate the joga bonito. Bounce is one such example, with the words written by the coach and the song sung by flying winger and current 1st XV Captain Sam Hewat.
The programme is producing noteworthy team and individual successes. In 2007 the team finished seventh at the Lotto Premier Tournament in Napier. In 2008 they finished 12th. In 2007 St Paul's had two players from their 1st XV play against Brasil in the FIFA U 17 World Cup in Korea. In addition Michael Built was selected for the U15 Secondary School team in 2007. Another 1st XI player in 2007 was selected for the NZ U17 side, following in the footsteps of Chris Wood and Colin Murphy in 2007.
The team finished 16th in the country in 2009, Michael Built played for and scored for the New Zealand U17 team in the World Cup in Nigeria and Chris Wood was part of the New Zealand team that qualified for the World Cup in South Africa.
Such team and individual achievements celebrate the inspiration of the Ginga.
Coach: Michael Groom
BOUNCE - St Paul's Football Song
Lyrics : Mike Groom
Guitar and Vocals: Sam Hewat
Listen to the song
Lyrics
Bounce, you gotta move to the rythmn
Bounce, see the colours of the prism
Bounce, that's how we find the Joga Belo
Bounce, see the green and blue and yello
Bounce, we are the music and the motion
Bounce, got the ginga its the potion
Bounce, its the time to get excited
Bounce, got the joy and its ignited
Explode the bounce into your feet
Dabce around the world to the Dinho beat
Fute Fute Fute Fute Fute Bol
Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce
You gotta feel the beat
Bounce, you gotta do it like the Dinho
Bounce, cause he's the best there's ever been to
bounce, play the music and we're swinging
Bounce, seethe ball and hear it singing
St Paul's Football Teams
The St Paul's football teams are looking forward to a competitive and rewarding 2010 season. The first grading game for the season for all teams is Saturday 1 May.
Good luck to all teams.
Girls' Football
The St Paul's Girls' First XI are the current Waikato Secondary Schools Senior Girls' Division 2 Champions.
With many of the 2009 squad returning this year the framework of the 2010 squad is well in place. The addition of the new Year 11 and Year 12 girls will produce another strong team keen to defend the title.