Football 1st XI 2016 and 2017
The First XI teams of 2016 and 2017 are proud owners of a square metre of the SPC turf, a pitch that had been good to them as a training and a home ground.
In 2016, the Firsts won the division one final and were unbeaten in Traditionals (St. John's, Wellington College, St. Patrick’s Silverstream and Marlborough Boys).
The 2017 Team built on that platform with a core of boys returning for a second and even third year in First XI. They won the Wellington title for the first time in 13 years and went on to finish 7th in the National Secondary Schools Tournament
Where are they now?
Two of the side went on to play professionally. Manyumow Achol has represented his birth nation of South Sudan and now plays at PFC Septemvri Sofia in Bulgaria. Liberato Cacace has represented New Zealand at age group and senior levels, and recently captained the All Whites at the OFC Nations Cup and again against Malaysia. He is contracted to the Italian club Empoli and today scored his first Serie A league goal.
Gianni Bouzukis graduated from Northern Kentucky University following a football scholarship. He played in the Finnish professional league but unfortunately returned with an injury. He has also played for Spirit in Sydney. He has been a prolific goal scorer for Wellington Olympic FC, scoring 104 goals in 130 first-team appearances for the New Zealand national champions.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘂𝗽𝘀𝗲𝘁 works as a sports co-ordinator at Hutt Valley High School. Recipient of Futsal Coach of the Year 2024, he coached the U19 Capital Girls to victory in the 2023 Youth Futsal Championships. He also was part of the coaching team that saw the Capital women’s team take out the Ford Futsal Women’s SuperLeague senior national title.
Joe Gordon graduated with a Bachelor in Innovative Design from Victoria University and has been working in Auckland in the film industry as a data wrangler in the visual effects department. He is heading overseas in 2025 to pursue his career. When in Wellington he plays for Wellington Olympic FC.
Sam Wright lives in Wellington and works in research and data analysis with the Commerce Commission. He still loves futsal and is involved in the Capital men’s squad, while also enjoying playing golf.
Chris Kotrotsos works as a structural engineer on local, national and international projects including buildings, bridges and wharves. He played goalkeeper for Wellington Olympic FC, with a highlight of playing for all four of Olympic’s senior men’s teams in one season! Chris had to retire from football at the stellar age of 25 due to his ankle being that of a 50-year-old, but he contributes to local football in Wellington in other ways.
Sam Mitrakas continues to play football for Wellington Olympic AFC in the Central League, Capital Premier League and Capital One League, as well as enjoying a social Sunday league during the summer with SPC friends. He coaches the Football 1st XI at SPC, and the U17s and U19s at Wellington Olympic FC, and is the junior coordinator for Olympic's Junior Football Programme.
George Mitrakas achieved his Commerce degree at Victoria University and is working in the recruitment industry in Wellington. He plays for Wellington Olympic FC.
Lachlan O’Connor lives in Wellington and is into his second year working as a physio after graduating from Otago. His work includes being team physio for the Karori Football Club.
Tima Taylor, after working for Westpac and prior to that SBS, is travelling around New Zealand on a gap year. He still plays football having played for Rangers AFC Blenheim and Queens Park FC in Invercargill. He heads overseas in the New Year.
Thomas Fitzgerald graduated from Victoria University and has recently completed his Chartered Accountant qualification. He works at Trade Me in their commercial team.
We are grateful to these Old Boys and their families for generously giving back to the College.
Thank you to Tim Gordon for your article and for bringing this team of donors together.