Local Hero: Football coach Daryl Cogger | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

It's fair to say Daryl Cogger lives and breathes football. He's not a player but a coach to five teams.

Mr Cogger, who is this week's Daily Post Local Hero, has this season coached Eastlake U-10s, the Rotorua representative U-10, the Rotorua representative U-15 girls, Rotorua U-15 girls futsal team and the Bay of Plenty U-12 girls.

While most eyes were on the rugby this weekend, Mr Cogger was in Wellington with the futsal team and next weekend he's off to Auckland for the Weir Rose Bowl - the competition between the North Island federations.

He's also setting up a girls' futsal league in Rotorua. Futsal is a five-a-side game, as sevens is to rugby, but played inside and with a smaller but heavier ball.

"I wasn't involved in football after I left high school but I started coaching six years ago when my daughter started playing," he said.

"There was a need for coaches. I put my hand up and many coaching courses later here I am.

"I love it. Sport is a lot like life. There are good lessons for the kids and it's a way of growing good kids.

"You can work really hard and achieve good things but sometimes you're lucky and sometimes unlucky. Life is like that."

Mr Cogger also manages musical instrument store The Rockshop and is the leader and keyboard player in local band Count Me In.

He reckons football takes up 12 hours a week of his time but it's 12 hours he is happy to give.

"It's a big commitment but it's worth it in terms of the satisfaction and how much the kids get out of it."