I actually think it's harder to get a pro gig for a Kiwi now than it was 10-15 years ago.
- We are visa/foreign players in our own pro (A) league and Aussie semi pro/youth leagues
- US College sojurns are not the pathway to MLS they once were because more African, South and Central American, Middle Eastern, Asian player/students are in that system than there used to be
- Euro visa travel/work rules have tightened and are continuing to do so
- Euro and Asian club scouting networks have vastly increased resources and reach in the period - many thousands more players from every other region are competing with probably the same number/a few more young kiwis for a contract
Another reason I'm a supporter of a 2nd NZ club in the A league.