Phoenix support quake relief

All Whites defender Ben Sigmund is urging Wellington Phoenix players and fans to get behind a fundraising effort for earthquake victims in his hometown, Christchurch.

Phoenix chairman Terry Serepisos has announced a "relief collection" will be held during the Phoenix's game against Sydney FC in Wellington on Saturday night.

Serepisos said Christchurch had become the Phoenix's "home away from home" with Ricki Herbert's team visiting the Garden City for the last three seasons.

The Phoenix drew almost 20,000 fans – then a club record – to AMI Stadium for their game against Adelaide United last January.

"Now it's our job to give something back to a city that has been so good to us," Serepisos said.

"The residents of Canterbury are doing it tough at the moment and they need all the help the rest of the country can provide."

Sigmund, a former Canterbury United captain, hoped Phoenix supporters would dig deep "to help those who are hurting down in Christchurch".

He will tap his team-mates too. "I might have a go at the high rollers and hit them pretty hard – that's certainly not me," he quipped. "But I might have to find a 20 or so."

But Sigmund was deadly serious when he expressed his admiration for "how well Christchurch people have handled it".

"It just blows me away that my mates and my family are all safe and OK."

When the quake struck last Saturday morning, Sigmund was in Perth, preparing for an A-League game against Perth Glory.

"When I woke up there were text messages from Mum and Dad and my sister saying, `we are all OK'.

"I didn't know what was going on, so I rang them and they told me what had happened. I turned the TV on. It's quite surreal and hard to understand when you are so far away."

Sigmund said it was "a relief" to find his family and friends had survived. But he was "sure there are some people out there who might be struggling for food and bedding".

The Phoenix will return to Christchurch to play Adelaide on December 5 and Sigmund said he hoped the game would be a chance "for the community to enjoy themselves after everything they've been through".

Sigmund, coach Herbert and other key Phoenix personnel are set to come to Christchurch in November to promote the game here.

- © Fairfax NZ News