Andrew Durante (Melbourne Victory | A-Leagues)

Are people aware of his testimonial coming up? Tickets from $50

Dress Code: Black tie event
Date: Saturday 23 March 2019
Time: From 7 pm
Venue: Alan Gibbs Centre – Wellington College

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/andrew-dura...

Andrew Durante was shot as a kid back in 1999.

Wow that's insane! Also can't believe that this wasn't found out earlier than now. I suppose he might want to keep it a secret?

No wonder he likes wellington, a much safer place to bring up your kids.

What kind of sick fudge goes around and shoots a kid playing football? I hope they got the guy. At least Dura got to live out his dream. A good thing for us.

No wonder he prefers to play for the AWs than for the Socceroos.   Or for the Colombian national side.

Reading the article I get the impression it was a stray bullet. But still, who goes around randomly shooting guns near a park. 

Fact is is was not good enough for the Socceroos. 

He did make the Socceroos squad once though.

That his heritage? Interesting, always assumed it was straight Italian

No, you just missed a very dark joke.

I think he just means somewhere where you wont get shot at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Escobar

Didnt some hack midfielder break his leg in a game when he was younger scuppering an overseas move? before the Jets stint? think it was state or nsl stuff

I went to a wedding a few months ago in America where my mate was marrying a Columbian girl and a lot of her family came up for it. I was told not to bring up drugs, or crime, or civil war, or anything like that. Apparently they're quite touchy about it.

Yip back when he was with the Jets https://www.theherald.com.au/story/481949/durante-may-help-deliver-parting-gift-for-jets/

Also he confirmed the shooting on his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu2mSilju3w/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=7x4dkneqaamk

The very dark/droll joke is actually a fact!

"Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga (Spanish pronunciation: [anˈðɾes eskoˈβaɾ salðari'aga]; 13 March 1967 – 2 July 1994) was a Colombian footballer who played as a defender. He played for Atlético Nacional, BSC Young Boys, and the Colombia national team.[1] Nicknamed The Gentleman, he was known for his clean style of play and calmness on the pitch.[citation needed]

Escobar was murdered in the aftermath of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, reportedly as retaliation for having scored an own goal which contributed to the team's elimination from the tournament.[2] His murder tarnished the image of the country internationally.[3] Escobar himself had worked to promote a more positive image of Colombia, earning acclaim in the country.[4] In 2013, then-coach Francisco Maturana denied that Escobar's murder had any connection to football or the World Cup, but rather was due to his being "in the wrong place at the wrong time" at a violent time in Colombia's history.[5]

Escobar is still held in high regard by Colombian fans, and is especially mourned and remembered by Atlético Nacional's fans."

To be honest the Escobar thing crossed my mind after i posted it, nice one hahaha 

“It did not occur in South America, but on the island of Corsica, in France. On 23 April 1978, one Jean-Marc Luccheti took a trip to watch his side, Calenzana, play against Murato, in a local league match. During the game, a shot from one of the Murato players was heading towards the goal.”

The Murato player, as you well know from perusing the question, was not the only one with a shoot-on-sight policy. “Our hero was not having it,” continues Connor. “He quickly drew a pistol and shot the ball, deflating or popping it and preventing the ball from going in. Luccheti was later arrested and attempted to persuade law enforcement that he only shot blanks. It proved unsuccessful. He admitted to the crime and was sentenced to three months in jail.”

Sorry to appear to go off track but I think Dura's reminicing of such an event as his own, would bring a reality to us all. It might have been a stray from the bush but how it can impact a person is interesting. When you meet Dura, he comes across as such a genuine nice guy, it is amazing how he has gone on to a decent career despite it. Total respect. yes he might not have been at his best for the last two seasons but this season with the arrival of taylor he really has found a new lease on life. Good on him.

Now on stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/111211130/wellington-phoenix-captain-andrew-durante-recalls-the-day-he-was-shot-on-the-football-field

I've found the footage!

Christ, he hasn't aged one bit

well played 

New song for the zone. "I shot the Sheriff but I did not shoot the Durante." 

No disrespect meant towards Andy or Callum.

Anyone got any cool feedback from the testimonial?

who was the mystery guest?

Gerrard/Barnes via video clip? Terry S. was there too I believe.

A video clip of Patrick? Lucky Dura!

They played this one for him to enjoy again

Did Dura hint or mention anything about what he wanted to do in life after retiring from playing the professional game? Coaching etc? I hear there might be a playing position available at the Nighthawks but other than that any offers?

Very good coverage of Dura's testimonial on the Kiwi Football Show tonight (not sure if it was a repeat or not). Good to see 2nd Best in his 1st Best clothes walking into the event, footage of Stevie G's message, comments from Brocks, Ifill, Jon McKain and all.

has anyone seen or read the andrew durante 10 years book?

alright i will change the question is there a limited edition Andrew Durante 10 years book ?

There was one for sale on Trademe as part of his testimonial. It wasn't cheap from memory.

sweet found it and bought it, you were right it was not cheap. hope to get it next week with a few new shirts for the collection.

Sorry to sound a killjoy but if  they had some noodles, they should have done a print run of 300 (Get it?) which would have been snapped up at $30 a pop.

books are really wasted on me, i do not read a lot since i got a head injury in the 90's, i am not going to read this book but getting it framed and put on the wall next to andrews shirts.  

i know where you are coming from but from my point of view only 22 printed means that it is limited edition and worth collecting and if there had been 300 i would never have bought one. 

I've just spoken to Dura. Look out for something on his Instagram soon. He's agonized over this, but a fresh challenge and the prospect of exciting opportunities when he finishes playing were impossible to resist (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Zhq3ix0pEb

— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) June 11, 2019

(2/2) Even now, he’s concerned how this will affect the club he’s given 11 years to. Integrity 100% at all times. Farewell.

— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) June 11, 2019

Dura’s Instagram post is now up...https://t.co/r0MWLRIuBK

— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) June 11, 2019