CJ Bott: Phoenix Women's team through to final

The Wellington Phoenix Women's team might be the sports story of the year. 

They've gone from a wooden spoon team to making the grand final tomorrow, making them the first kiwi team to ever make the A League final. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now the Wellington Phoenix women's team might actually be the
sports story of the year. They have gone from a
Wooden Spoon team to making the Grand Final tomorrow, which
makes them the first Kei we team to ever make
the A League final. CJ Bot is the team's captain.
High CJ.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hello, how are you own?

Speaker 1 (00:15):
I'm well, thank you, but this is extraordinary, a like
Wooden Spoon all the way through to this position. Can
we put this down to bev.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
I think so, honestly. I mean, it's definitely a combination.
But she's definitely part of the winning formula for sure.
The team she's created, the culture she's created, her tactics,
just her leadership style is amazing and I'm definitely very
grateful to have been a part of it, even if
just for a short, short stint.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
What has she done differently that's just had such an
extraordinary impact on players.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
I think she just got this incredible of kind of
creating a balancing act. She's very I suppose intense when
she's coaching, because she's passionate about what she's doing, but
there's a lot of thought that goes behind it, and
I think she definitely takes accounts for this that she's got.
I've had coaches in the past that kind of come
in with their own tactics before they've considered the squad.

(01:06):
And so she's just created such a great planning model
and the great I guess tactical understanding for throughout the
team based on the team that we have. And then
I mean as we play as well, there's games where
we've got this entire technical plan and then part way
through she's like, nap, scrap it, Like she doesn't have
an ego in that regard, and I think it's just worked.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, as being able to read the game as well.
A were you part of the team. I'm sorry to
do this to you, Cej, but were you part of
the Olympic team that she and Canada spired on.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
I was. I was part of that team.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
So no hard feelings about that then, no.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
I mean what's done is done, and we've spoken about
it quite honestly and openly, and it's yeah, what's done
is done, like I say, And she had her period
of stand down time and I'm grateful she's here.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
I mean, in a weird way, isn't that like, isn't
that karma at work? The team that got got done
over by her ends up being the team that, like
we end up being the country that benefits from that.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
It's something I don't know what it is, but it
does make me laugh sometimes. But like I say, can
I say I'm grateful for it? I don't know, Ye
not buy why not?

Speaker 1 (02:17):
It's awesome for you guys. Now, how much does it
suck to be on maternity to maternity leave right now?

Speaker 2 (02:23):
I mean, as excited I am to meet my baby
in a few months, I would definitely love to be
taking the field with those girls and leading them out.
So it's definitely hard watching. But at the same time,
I'm so excited for them and like so proud to
be their captain, even if it is from the sidelines.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
Now, how do you rate their chances? Be honest with me,
because you know they're probably training right now not listening,
So how do you rate their chances against Melbourne?

Speaker 2 (02:49):
Pretty high? I think we've had two games, two tight
games against in the season that we haven't won. I
think I've seen some stats where we haven't beaten them
in nine games or something like that. So I think
we're definitely going in as the underdogs. But New Zealand's
good at being underdogs and this team has proven time
and time again that if we show up on the
day then we can absolutely do anything. And I have

(03:10):
nothing but faith and these girls brilliant.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
I'm so pleased to hear that, CJ enjoy your maternity
leaving go the squad, CJ Bot, who is the captain
sitting it out for more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive.
Listen live to news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.