Our Team
Mauricio Rojas, owner and director of (or Chief Kicker at) Kiwi Kick Stars, is passionate about football and getting kids moving. With Kiwi Kick Stars, he has created a safe space with happy vibes where kids can grow their confidence and resilience while learning valuable physical, social and life skills.
Originally from Colombia, Mauricio has been involved in football at various levels, from grassroots all the way to the English Football Premier League in the United Kingdom, where he spent time coaching at Crystal Palace, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers Football Club in their academies and foundation areas. From coaching professional adult football players to little kids learning the game and everyone in between—he’s even been to Kenya to coach coaches as part of the Premier Skill Programme run and organised by the Premier League! Another massive highlight: Mauricio was the Team Liaison Officer at the London Olympics for the Uruguayan National Team, getting to work with pros like Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani (among others) and currently working in the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup 2023! All this experience has honed Mauricio’s keen eye for talent. He can spot the best in everyone and is very good at helping people to realise their potential. But the most important thing to Mauricio is helping people around him be as happy as he is, and through the Kiwi Kick Stars programme he spreads that joy to kids.
Our coaches are hand-selected by Mauricio, who has a hands-on approach and shares his wealth of experience through close mentorship with them. Like Mauricio, all the Kiwi Kick Star coaches are players, or former players, who are passionate about the game and providing engaging activities that kids will love. Everyone at Kiwi Kick Stars are Kiwi Kick Stars!
The Kiwi Kick Stars programme is the culmination of a lifetime of experience, resulting in a programme that kids love that we are passionate about sharing with the community. Keep on Kicking!
Our coaches
We only work with the best coaches:
All our coaches have plenty of experience as players and have adapted this experience to become great coaches
New Zealand Football coaching qualified
First aid qualified with access to a first aid kit
Sign out procedure in place for the safety of your children
Police vetted
Child protection trained