New Zealand Football CEO Mr Graham Seatter unveiled the name change (from New Zealand Soccer to New Zealand Football) at the recent federation’s annual meeting and predicted a bright financial future for the code, despite the fact that it recorded a loss in the past year.

“Increasingly New Zealanders have started referring to the sport as football which is why we started to use football last year. All we’ve done now is officially carrying that over to our organisation’s name,” he said of the name change.

“It’s the name of the global game and we think it should be the name of our sport.”

Meanwhile, negotiations between Wellington Phoenix and former Newcastle Jets strike Vaughan Coveny have stalled. Money is understood to be the main issue, with Phoenix unwilling to meet Coveny’s demands. The 190-cm striker holds the all-time record for most appearances and goals for All Whites matches.

Picture courtesy of www.nzfootball.co.nz