The Kiwi striker is deputising for him as captain this week for New Zealand.
West Ham United’s Winston Reid looks dejected after being sent off
Leeds United striker Chris Wood has been sharing his thoughts on West Ham United defender Winston Reid, with whom he plays international football for New Zealand.
It comes in the wake of Reid’s plans to start two high-class football academies in New Zealand, with an aim at also bringing more Maori children into the game.
Wood, who is captaining the All Whites during the current international break in the absence of the injured Reid, told Stuff.co that he was very pleased to see the Kiwi captain giving back to the community:
“It’s something that as a kid when I was back here I never had this type of opportunity, and it’s something I would have benefited from if I had this as a kid.
“It’s definitely something that I’m very taken aback by, looking at it I know that I’d like to be a part of it. It’s going to help enhance kids coming through and it will get them to the next level and they won’t have to go away from New Zealand to have to do that.”
Reid, now a star at the heart of the West Ham defence, left New Zealand at the age of 10 and pursued his football career in Denmark.
Leeds United’s Chris Wood celebrates after scoring their second goal
Wood left later after scoring goals galore for Hamilton Wanderers he headed to West Brom in 2009 at the age of 18.
The pair have gone on to become the stars of New Zealand soccer but both know that moving abroad has given them a significant advantage.
Hopefully the work of Reid will help plenty of other talented Kiwi players make the grade at the highest level in the years to come.
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