Callum Holmes: Wellington Phoenix Women Reserves Coach previews the Kate Sheppard Cup decider

The Wellington Phoenix are in pursuit of a maiden club trophy, when their Women's Academy side meet Auckland United in the 2025 Kate Sheppard Cup decider.

Adam Cooper previewed the final with Phoenix Reserves coach Callum Holmes.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All.

Speaker 2 (00:00):
The Kate Shepperd Cup National Club Women's knockout final is
tomorrow afternoon at North Harbor Stadium of four o'clock kickoff.
The Wellington Phoenix Women's Academy side are chasing a first
club trophy. As part of this, they're taking on the
defending champions Auckland United. Coach of the Phoenix Women's reserves
as Callum Holmes, who's with us now? Morning to you? Callum?

(00:21):
As much changed this week as you put all the
other football of the year to the side and approach
this game.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Really changes. We have our process of which we go
through which is pretty consistent the Kate Shibber Cup. Like
obviously with our group, our week to week games are
played in the Boys League and so that does look
and feel a little bit different, but we have our
set processes for that and also for the Kate Shuber Cup,
so nothing really changes in terms of our preparation and

(00:49):
yeah we'll be ready to go come Sunday.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
It's year rounds for your team, isn't it. You playing
the men's competition locally in Wellington in club football, then
you have the national league and you're also keeping players
fit to be on hand to slot into the A
league team over the summer if needed. So when do
your players actually get a break?

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, we try and schedule these breaks around our team
at the start of the year. Funnily enough, we actually
have a two week break scheduled for now as the
potential of not making the final, so we actually shurding
that down to five days before we head into the
national league, which is great for us, and the players
are all excited and they're in great shape. But I

(01:30):
guess they're big time offers. Over that December January period,
there'll be a handful of them that may get the
opportunity to travel to the Aligue women's team, but we'll
ensure all our players get a minimum of two weeks
off over that Christmas period, but most of them will
be sort of four or five weeks over sort of
the start of December through to the start of jam.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Right, and from an academy perspective, I guess you're wider
focus isn't necessarily winning trophies. It's a development focus. I mean,
whereas an average club in this competition really wants that
that title. But then again, how important is victory for
your team in a final light? This one tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, I think it's really important. It's not the bill
and end all for us. I think the biggest thing
for us is that we're giving our players the opportunity
to develop in the Cashipper Cup and a lot of
the competitions that we play in are important to get
the players the occasion playing in these big occasions, playing
in the finals, and I guess the message to the
players is take it all in, taken what it feels like,

(02:28):
taken what it sounds like, and enjoy the occasion because yes,
we would love to go and win the game, and
yes that's their intent to go and win the game.
But also alongside that, it's important that we give the
players these opportunities. And don't get me wrong, we're definitely
going to go out there prepared to win and I
know I want to win as much as the players do.
And then I guess in terms of the football club,

(02:48):
it's the first senior final that the football club has
been in, so for us at the big occasion and
a huge one effort for me and these players to
go out and represent the club on Sunda afternoon.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
And Callum, the spotlight has been on the Phoenix in
the last couple of weeks, given the club missed out
on that men's OEFC Professional League spot. I know it
doesn't affect your team directly, but does it make you
wearing You know, Phoenix Colors more determined to pull off
a win tomorrow on the back of that news last week.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, it would be nice, It would be nice. I
think that news over the last week has been a
real kick in the teeth for us, especially down at
the academy. But everyone run the football club, so you know,
our owners have poured a lot of money into our academy,
developing footballers for the future. We've we've got a pretty
prolific record now of progressing players through to the first

(03:37):
team and then further afield. So I think it's been
a big kick in the teeth. So it'd be great
for us to get a bit of success. But also
being in the final for us is a huge success.
We're going to go there to win, obviously, but we're
already showing what we're doing here at the academy and
now it's just an opportunity for everyone else to see
that too, and we'll go out and put on a
good performance. We're badge with pride, all the players and

(04:00):
yeah we'll go and show what we're about.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
Good on your cadum, all the very best for that
final tomorrow. That is Callum Holmes, the coach of the
Phoenix Women's Academy team and the Kate Shepherd Cup National
Knockout Club Final tomorrow a four o'clock kickoff at North
Harbor Stadium when they take on the reigning champions Auckland United.
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you

(04:23):
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.