The kid I mentioned left RH3 - despite their protests and pleas for him to stay, so that path may be blocked unfortunately.
Don't know what other areas are like, but Hamilton/Waikato is a little tribal at the junior level... watching a coach (in his 50's) celebrate in the faces of the opposition (who are 10/11) is the piss poor reality.
With Cambridge, Melville and Wanderers all playing for promotion (and have 'academy programs'), it seems to have made things worse.
Don't know what other areas are like, but Hamilton/Waikato is a little tribal at the junior level... watching a coach (in his 50's) celebrate in the faces of the opposition (who are 10/11) is the piss poor reality.
With Cambridge, Melville and Wanderers all playing for promotion (and have 'academy programs'), it seems to have made things worse.
I'm sure the kid (and his parents) had their reasons for leaving RH3, but yeah maybe that now makes the pro football dream more difficult??
For many families this sort of commitment or move is impossible, but Xuan Loke moved up from Dunedin with his dad as a 12 yr old to join Ole.
I always liked Arsene Wegner's blunt and brutal short analysis of what needs to happen for a kid to crack it into the pro game.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=929060357684468
It's tough, and massively competitive. It really is the global game, with millions of youngsters having the football dream. Downunder in NZ & Aussie we are a bit naive to all that, and maybe that ain't a bad thing for kids here.