Welcome to humble west Porirua, home to NZ Fifa World Cup star Eli Just
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Wind your way past industrial estates, coffee carts, tyre repairers, panel beaters, drive past a museum, a chapel, a Māori healthcare provider and there it is.
All stucco with a rust-flecked roof, this is home to the Olé Academy, the west Porirua place where World Cup star Eli Just learnt to play his football.
At the door, a motivational sign that might well have been the All Whites game plan in three lines. Confidence Today, it reads. Try. Risk. Repeat.
A new generation of players are in the players’ lounge with its university flat vibe.
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There’s green astroturf for carpet, a sound system, sofas and a large-screen TV showing the All Whites playing Iran in their World Cup opener.
Olé graduate Just scores the first All Whites goal, then the second as New Zealand fight out a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles.
Over the 90 minutes-plus the mood moves from intellectual tactical interest to quiet stress.
There are groans and yells in Kiwi, American, Japanese, Polish, Russian and English accents, from players and coaches.
Six of the New Zealand squad started out at Olé. Now they have shown the next generation what is possible, says lead coach Michal Walesiak after the game.
“That it's going to be a valuable point,” he tells The Post.
“It's inspiring for the young generation here to see former players scoring two goals in the opening game of the World Cup. New Zealand can be happy today and celebrate that one point, and we are looking forward to watching the next game.”
Was everyone cheering for the All Whites or for the academy players?
“The academy players are just part of New Zealand,” he says.
“We are in New Zealand, and everyone would like the nation to go well. Of course, we want to support that team. It's good for New Zealand football.
“Despite having lots of nationalities, everyone follows their own teams here, the England people, Canadian people, Japanese people, but the end of the day everyone wants New Zealand to go well.”
Olé chairman Dave Wilson was at the game, watching players his academy raised, some of them from children.
“The stadium is electric, Elijah is on fire,” he texts mid-game.
Afterwards, he adds his thoughts.
“Elijah’s reading of the game and ability to get into scoring positions was amazing, with two gorgeously taken goals,” Wilson says.
“As a kid he always had the ability to do it, but his small structure held him back in the eyes of many coaches.“
Just showed how good he was in an engrossing World Cup opener, Wilson says.
“His ability to feint in behind a defender as he showed today, is absolutely amazing. He is such a joy to watch, we are so proud of him.”