Wahine Head Coach Appointment
**FC Tauranga Moana Appoints Maia Ririnui as Wāhine Head Coach**
FC Tauranga Moana (FCTM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Maia Ririnui as Womens First Team Head Coach for its inaugural NRFL Womens Premiership season in 2025. With a strong track record in coaching and youth development, Maia's leadership and commitment to women's football in the Bay of Plenty region make him the perfect person to lead this campaign.
Maia, who holds an NZF B Licence and is working towards his NZF A Licence, is no stranger to FCTM. He took over as Wāhine Head Coach to complete this year’s successful NRFL Championship season, helping guide them to promotion. His previous experience in the female game includes working as Assistant Coach for the WaiBOP Women’s National League group, WaiBOP W-League experience with Tauranga City and FCTM WaiBOP W-League and several years with the Mount Maunganui College Girls First XI group. At Tauranga City, Maia also spent several years as Tauranga City Mens First Team Assistant Coach and Head of Youth Development.
Maia has worked with many youth players across the Bay of Plenty and has helped develop young female talent in Tauranga. He worked with players such as Grace Duncan (current First Team player) and Mackenzie Bryant (now with Wellington Phoenix) from a young age. Both recently represented New Zealand in the U16 team that qualified for next year's FIFA U17 World Cup.
As an advocate for female football, Maia has also contributed to the sport’s growth by participating in various governance roles, including the WaiBOP Female Committee, and remains actively involved in advancing opportunities for women and girls in football.
Technical Director, Barry Gardiner had this to say on the appointment:
"It is fantastic to appoint Maia as Head Coach for our Women's First Team for 2025. Maia has been involved in our football community since we started forming these football pathways and has been integral in multiple areas providing knowledge and expertise to help sustain and grow our football community.
With our women's first team now competing at the top level of football in New Zealand and our Girls Talent Development Programme, Maia will lead and grow a football group that will cater and support our female football community.
Although his appointment will be First Team Head Coach, his understanding and knowledge of our female pathways is extensive and this will create a clear link between our female groups. We look forward to seeing our female players flourish under this guidance."
Message from Maia:
“We made good progress with our new female operation this year and the first team’s promotion was the highlight. I was lucky enough to spend time with the group at the end of the season and I’m looking forward to working more closely with them going forward. We’re under no illusions about the task ahead, but the prospect of testing ourselves against some of the best teams in the country is something we’re excited about. It won’t be easy, but we’re looking to step up and establish a sustainable presence at that next level. It’s a great opportunity for our players to show what they can do and at the same time, show young female footballers in this region that there’s a pathway for them.”