Ken Takizawa appointed Men’s U19 Head Coach

Floorball New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of Ken Takizawa as Head Coach of the Men’s U19 National Team, as preparations kick off this week for the qualification campaign leading up to the Men’s U19 World Floorball Championships 2027.

Ken brings a fresh, modern approach to the role, shaped by his background in ice hockey, his experience as a former New Zealand Men’s national team player, and his success as a domestic coach with Wellington Bays. His coaching journey spans youth, secondary school, and senior club levels, with a strong track record in developing young players and preparing them for high-performance environments.

Ken’s vision for the Men’s U19 programme is clear: to build smart, disciplined, and confident players who are prepared for the demands of international floorball.

“Our vision is to develop the next generation of players who lift the standard of floorball in New Zealand,” says Takizawa. “We want to develop players who understand the game, back themselves under pressure, and are ready to contribute to the future of floorball in New Zealand.”

Throughout the campaign, the focus will be on strong fundamentals, game understanding, and preparing players to perform under pressure.

Ken will be supported by a highly experienced coaching team, including Christo Matheson (Assistant Coach), Cam Fitzgerald-Little (Skills and Conditioning Coach), and Pavol Nekl (Skills Coach), all of whom bring recent international experience into the Men’s U19 programme.