NZFC Stars Head Offshore
Normo's coming home
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Waitakere United's Benjamin Totori and Auckland City's Bryan Little have both signed professional soccer contracts with the Portland Timbers in the United Soccer League (USL), pending international clearance.
The Timbers play in the USL first division, the second tier below Major League Soccer.
Little - Auckland's leading scorer with eight goals - departed following City's preliminary final loss to Team Wellington last weekend while Totori after Waitakere's O-League commitments finish next month.
Solomon Islands international Totori, 22, has scored 10 goals in 18 matches for Waitakere this season to take his New Zealand Football Championship career tally to 43 from 50 games.
Last year he was the runaway winner of the Golden Boot title with 24 goals for Manawatu.
Little, 29, was the early leader in this season's Golden Boot race before injury ruled him out of the middle of Auckland�s season.
From Edinburgh, Little began his professional career with Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Second Division before moving in 2003 to Miramar Rangers where he helped win the 2003 National Soccer League and the 2004 Chatham Cup.
The left-sided midfielder was part of Team Wellington�s first two NZFC seasons but joined Auckland City in time for their 2006 FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Japan.
The Timbers already have a strong New Zealand connection through coach and former All White Gavin Wilkinson.
The Timbers play in the USL first division, the second tier below Major League Soccer.
Little - Auckland's leading scorer with eight goals - departed following City's preliminary final loss to Team Wellington last weekend while Totori after Waitakere's O-League commitments finish next month.
Solomon Islands international Totori, 22, has scored 10 goals in 18 matches for Waitakere this season to take his New Zealand Football Championship career tally to 43 from 50 games.
Last year he was the runaway winner of the Golden Boot title with 24 goals for Manawatu.
Little, 29, was the early leader in this season's Golden Boot race before injury ruled him out of the middle of Auckland�s season.
From Edinburgh, Little began his professional career with Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Second Division before moving in 2003 to Miramar Rangers where he helped win the 2003 National Soccer League and the 2004 Chatham Cup.
The left-sided midfielder was part of Team Wellington�s first two NZFC seasons but joined Auckland City in time for their 2006 FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Japan.
The Timbers already have a strong New Zealand connection through coach and former All White Gavin Wilkinson.
Normo's coming home
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Really interested to see how Totori goes over there. If he ever gets to the MLS well that will be quite an achievement for the NZFC I'd say. However he does need to significantly improve his attitude I think to fulfill his potential over there.
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During a shortish time on the pitch yesterday Roy Krishna looked a better prospect than Totori. Great vision.
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Really interested to see how Totori goes over there. If he ever gets to the MLS well that will be quite an achievement for the NZFC I'd say. However he does need to significantly improve his attitude I think to fulfill his potential over there.
In what way?
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Waitakere United's Benjamin Totori and Auckland City's Bryan Little have both signed professional soccer contracts with the Portland Timbers in the United Soccer League (USL), pending international clearance.
The Timbers play in the USL first division, the second tier below Major League Soccer.
Little - Auckland's leading scorer with eight goals - departed following City's preliminary final loss to Team Wellington last weekend while Totori after Waitakere's O-League commitments finish next month.
Solomon Islands international Totori, 22, has scored 10 goals in 18 matches for Waitakere this season to take his New Zealand Football Championship career tally to 43 from 50 games.
Last year he was the runaway winner of the Golden Boot title with 24 goals for Manawatu.
Little, 29, was the early leader in this season's Golden Boot race before injury ruled him out of the middle of Auckland�s season.
From Edinburgh, Little began his professional career with Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Second Division before moving in 2003 to Miramar Rangers where he helped win the 2003 National Soccer League and the 2004 Chatham Cup.
The left-sided midfielder was part of Team Wellington�s first two NZFC seasons but joined Auckland City in time for their 2006 FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Japan.
The Timbers already have a strong New Zealand connection through coach and former All White Gavin Wilkinson.
The Timbers play in the USL first division, the second tier below Major League Soccer.
Little - Auckland's leading scorer with eight goals - departed following City's preliminary final loss to Team Wellington last weekend while Totori after Waitakere's O-League commitments finish next month.
Solomon Islands international Totori, 22, has scored 10 goals in 18 matches for Waitakere this season to take his New Zealand Football Championship career tally to 43 from 50 games.
Last year he was the runaway winner of the Golden Boot title with 24 goals for Manawatu.
Little, 29, was the early leader in this season's Golden Boot race before injury ruled him out of the middle of Auckland�s season.
From Edinburgh, Little began his professional career with Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Second Division before moving in 2003 to Miramar Rangers where he helped win the 2003 National Soccer League and the 2004 Chatham Cup.
The left-sided midfielder was part of Team Wellington�s first two NZFC seasons but joined Auckland City in time for their 2006 FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Japan.
The Timbers already have a strong New Zealand connection through coach and former All White Gavin Wilkinson.
Well its great that scots and solomon islanders can use the NZFC as a stepping stone to professional careers in the U.S.
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Great attitude martinb...
Its great that the NZFC is being looked at for players by proffessional clubs...if these guys are a success over there, it may attract more better players to the NZFC,which would lift the standard and more pro sides would look more seriously at scouting out players over here.
It can only be a good thing...
Allegedly
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Great attitude martinb...
Its great that the NZFC is being looked at for players by proffessional clubs...if these guys are a success over there, it may attract more better players to the NZFC,which would lift the standard and more pro sides would look more seriously at scouting out players over here.
It can only be a good thing...
well yeh...wasn't so much begrudging their success, as too wondering why Kiwis aren't shining through the comp...when you add names like Commins Menapi and Khrisna I just want to know where the Kiwi players are that are attracting chatter...have they all already got US scholarships or overseas options?
I don't mind players coming to New Zealand...but I'd at least like NZ players to make them earn their place.
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Good to see the NZFC serving as a platform for players to get into better leagues (dont actually have clue about that US league).
I think it's been a successful year for the NZFC, despite a couple of teams blowing out. I think it's at about the level that we need it- something higher than their local league with good quality coaching, putting players in the shop window and giving them a semi-pro mindset etc. It also seems clubs are coping financially which is good obviously.
There is still enough opportunities for good locals despite the Island players etc coming in.
Founder
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And while we are (sort of) on the subject of Roy Krishna, this kid is a Premier League player in the making. I've seen him play twice as a sub, both times for only about 20 minutes, and on each occasion he affected the game immediately on arrival. Perhaps its a bit early in his career to say this but with Totori moving on he will play a much bigger role for Waitak next season and will probably be the league's top performer.
Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.
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And while we are (sort of) on the subject of Roy Krishna, this kid is a Premier League player in the making. I've seen him play twice as a sub, both times for only about 20 minutes, and on each occasion he affected the game immediately on arrival. Perhaps its a bit early in his career to say this but with Totori moving on he will play a much bigger role for Waitak next season and will probably be the league's top performer.
Yip Roy Krishna is very highly rated in fiji and i hav seen him play in the comps there before, he's heads and shoulders above most of the other players, with good coaching he could play in europe. Premier league is a bit off but if he makes it will be awesome 
i'm not sure if he was signed for Waitak for next year yet but if they dont i'm sure auckland fc will
i'm not sure if he was signed for Waitak for next year yet but if they dont i'm sure auckland fc willgo gunners
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well yeh...wasn't so much begrudging their success, as too wondering why Kiwis aren't shining through the comp...when you add names like Commins Menapi and Khrisna I just want to know where the Kiwi players are that are attracting chatter...have they all already got US scholarships or overseas options?
I don't mind players coming to New Zealand...but I'd at least like NZ players to make them earn their place.
Mate the truth is some kiwis just dont have the skill level or flair, my opinion will always be if there good enough they will be there, the coaching at youth level in NZ is pretty poor from what i have seen around
Hard News2008-04-22 09:45:41go gunners
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After the Kerryn Jordan incident in season one I dont think Dawkins will let another player leave unless they want them to. Surely they have learnt a lesson from that one. I doubt we will see Krishna in any other team but Waitakere - but then I thought that about Totori.
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After the Kerryn Jordan incident in season one I dont think Dawkins will let another player leave unless they want them to. Surely they have learnt a lesson from that one. I doubt we will see Krishna in any other team but Waitakere - but then I thought that about Totori.
Yeah too true mate, this is a long shot but i think Krishna would be a good buy for Phoenix
i dont think the set up would be that much harder for him, i might be a bit bias here because i'm from fiji 
i dont think the set up would be that much harder for him, i might be a bit bias here because i'm from fiji
go gunners
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Krishna would be a great buy for the Phoenix. He has pace, skill and watching him in the corner as he held off two Wellington players he certainly has the strength. Looks like he can score and understands link play - not sure that Totori understand link play at all.
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Really interested to see how Totori goes over there. If he ever gets to the MLS well that will be quite an achievement for the NZFC I'd say. However he does need to significantly improve his attitude I think to fulfill his potential over there.
In what way?
Well circumstances have conspired against me seeing him play at all this season, but at Youngheart he was prone to be a little lazy at times, although to be fair with so many markers put on him at times you couldn't blame him. Think he could tend to rest on his laurels.
WillyB2008-04-26 10:34:53
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Um... Isn't Jarrod Smith playing in the MLS??? Scored the other week too!!! So its not just the foreign players!
Krishna looked impressive after coming on as a sub, competing against tired legs, was a nice move by the coach...
To be fair though, too many young good kiwi players think they are the ducks nuts when they start making the grade in the NZFC, it should be a stepping stone, so week in week out they need to be working on getting to the next level, esp attacking players as NZ is struggling to develop those type of players!
Krishna looked impressive after coming on as a sub, competing against tired legs, was a nice move by the coach...
To be fair though, too many young good kiwi players think they are the ducks nuts when they start making the grade in the NZFC, it should be a stepping stone, so week in week out they need to be working on getting to the next level, esp attacking players as NZ is struggling to develop those type of players!
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Um... Isn't Jarrod Smith playing in the MLS??? Scored the other week too!!! So its not just the foreign players!
Krishna looked impressive after coming on as a sub, competing against tired legs, was a nice move by the coach...
To be fair though, too many young good kiwi players think they are the ducks nuts when they start making the grade in the NZFC, it should be a stepping stone, so week in week out they need to be working on getting to the next level, esp attacking players as NZ is struggling to develop those type of players!
Krishna looked impressive after coming on as a sub, competing against tired legs, was a nice move by the coach...
To be fair though, too many young good kiwi players think they are the ducks nuts when they start making the grade in the NZFC, it should be a stepping stone, so week in week out they need to be working on getting to the next level, esp attacking players as NZ is struggling to develop those type of players!
With Jarrod he went there after having been through the US college system I believe...Is that all our extra class players have been talent spotted early and already have college scholarships? Or are they not getting the opportunities or not making the most of them?
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A lot of them end up at college because they would struggle to get work permits elsewhere. A classic example being Pelter and Sunderland while Boxall is at the University of Santa Barbara.
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