By David Gold
May 6 – New Zealand’s appearance in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa led to the country’s football governing body posting a record budget surplus of $7.7 million (£3.7 million) last year.
Prize money from their performance was a key factor in the surplus recorded by New Zealand Football (NZF), with the All Whites finishing unbeaten after successive draws with Slovakia, Paraguay and Italy.
Ricki Herbert’s team were one of the stories of the tournament despite exiting at the group stage as they finished above defending world champions Italy.
It was particularly remarkable for a nation which traditionally plays rugby, and it was their first World Cup appearance since 1982.
Frank van Hattum, the NZF chairman, said: “Last year was a high-tide mark in terms of income but it equips us to take advantage of the opportunity our increased profile and the current goodwill towards the game offers us.
“It’s also a key sign, and there are many, that we are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of 1982 and lose the opportunity the game had.”
Van Hattum added that the surplus had been reinvested, with $4 million ($1.9 million) put into a foundation to improve grass roots development and a further $2.5 million (£1.2 million) put aside to finance international schedules for the national team.
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