Young Kiwis Outside the UK
Players to keep an eye on from all of that?
I've got Zeb, Toomey, Bindon & Obel-Hall.
Surprised a bit at Toomey playing in such a lowly league given he was in and around the Nix first team last term. Hopefully his new club continue their excellent form and get promotion to the Kakkonen.
With Zeb I think he might have to bide his time for now, given the first team is gunning for promotion. Can't hurt his chances none if he's doing well for the reserve side though.
Excellent work once again lad. 👏
5 goals in his past 3 matches, including a hat-trick in their latest win for the runaway 18 point leaders of their division. Here's hoping they can at least gain promotion when that series kicks off in a few weeks time.
Still feels like he's a couple of divisions too low in the system, but this is proving to be a decent cameo late on in the piece. We can only hope someone takes a chance on him next term perhaps?
Meanwhile FC Jazz and their Kiwi trio completely fluffed their promotion hopes, losing their last group match 2-0 and subsequently dropping to 5th in Kakkönen Group B, ending their season. Wasn't that long ago they were top of their group, so a disappointing finish to say that he least... Will be interesting to see what happens with Stroud, Faber and Van Rijssel, and whether they will stick around in Scandinavia. Next up, a Finnish off season?
An undefeated season, and the most points across all 9 groups in the Kolmonen see's them automatically promoted to the Finnish 3rd tier. A nice little 6 game cameo for Luis Toomey to get himself accustomed to living in a foreign country.
Still perhaps a little low on the rung for the youngster but there are promising signs for him in Scandinavia. Off-season trials perhaps? If not, at least will get a crack in a slightly more testing league, because I'm sure he'd be welcomed back with open arms next year.
I see when he first landed over there he was based around Turku which is about 100km away down the coast from where he's playing now. Their local club - Inter Turku are in the Veikkausliga, so might be something more of an aspirational move? Either way, good on him for giving it a go.
Scored again in their final match of the season (4th game in a row) and laid on an assist as Pallo Lirot won 3-2 against PIF. Just for good measure.
mrsmiis - You're a bloody legend!
Seems he's with the youth side in the Campianato Primavera 3 Group B
Not in the match day squad for Potenza U-19s 3-0 loss at Foggia on the weekend.
Looks like he and his family have close links to Wynrs/Rufer so not sure if it's a trial or just an experience for the kid, but cool nonetheless.
As mentioned, Espinosa is there on trial though - he's spending a week with Werder's U17 team
One of the best goalkeepers in the league, it's unlikely he'd ever seriously contemplate playing for us - especially considering the pathway to an Australia spot might actually be clearer than for NZ, what with Paulsen, Woud, Tzanev and Sail still relatively young and staking claims
Konstantino Gorgiovski (FK Makedonija, North Macedonia; offered a contract at third-tier Sabadell in Spain)
Marley Leuluai (Manchester City, England)
Adam Watson (Stoke City, England; son of former Napier City Rovers captain ad Stoke head physio Dave Watson)
Interesting to note Potenza Primavera are coached by Antonio Nocerino, formerly of Juventus, AC Milan and with 15 senior caps for Italy.
4 Feb - Bari vs Potenza - Norman scored the 2nd goal in a 3-0. Played 70 minutes.
Looks to be the de-facto third choice GK. Soon to be two Kiwis in the Serbian top flight, nice!
His mum is Jenny Bindon the ex Ferns keeper (but American born). His dad Grant an ex NZ mens volleyball captain.
This article rated him in the Top 20 (20th) US eligible players born 2005. Must be a chance for U20 WC in Indonesia, if he makes himself eligible for NZ and not the USA.
https://chasingacup.com/2022-youth-series-top-20-born-in-2005/
His mum is Jenny Bindon the ex Ferns keeper (but American born). His dad Grant an ex NZ mens volleyball captain.
This article rated him in the Top 20 (20th) US eligible players born 2005. Must be a chance for U20 WC in Indonesia, if he makes himself eligible for NZ and not the USA.
https://chasingacup.com/2022-youth-series-top-20-born-in-2005/
Would be good to see him comit to NZ rather than the US - a really great prospect, skillful CB who has played a lot in midfield.
A goal and assist for Norman in a 4-0 win against 2nd place Foggia. The win leapfrogs Potenza into 2nd place one point off Palermo in 1st. A top of the table clash awaits in 2 weeks. Can’t wait to be there to watch that one son👊🇮🇹🇳🇿🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/xWJtKKVKFJ
— Andrew Garbett (@andrew_garbett) February 18, 2023
A goal and assist for Norman in a 4-0 win against 2nd place Foggia. The win leapfrogs Potenza into 2nd place one point off Palermo in 1st. A top of the table clash awaits in 2 weeks. Can’t wait to be there to watch that one son👊🇮🇹🇳🇿🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/xWJtKKVKFJ
— Andrew Garbett (@andrew_garbett) February 18, 2023
22 year old Kiwi-Korean striker Lee Ho-Jae comes off the bench in the 81st minute and scores a brace to turn a 1-2 loss into a 3-2 win for Pohang Steelers!
I’m still not 100% sure on his All Whites eligibility, but if we can cap him, he needs to be called up ASAP. No doubt his sights are set on the South Korean National Team, but this kid is special and more of a like for like replacement for Chris Wood than either of Waine or Greive.
We won't be able to cap tie anyone to NZ, until AWs next competitive matches likely in 2025 with OFC WC qualifying.
We won't be able to cap tie anyone to NZ, until AWs next competitive matches likely in 2025 with OFC WC qualifying.
Deal is done. Jesse Randall will join Charleston Battery after the upcoming international window, where he's likely to play for the NZ under-23 side against China. Joins fellow kiwi Deklan Wynne at Charleston. https://t.co/46GkPW4aHJ
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) February 28, 2023
THE BIG BEN STROUD IS BACK!🔴🇳🇿🔴
— FC Jazz (@FC_Jazz) March 3, 2023
Kannattajille varmasti tuttu viime kauden kapteenin pelaa punaisissa ensi kaudella! Stroud on työskennellyt treenikaudella lujaa loukkaantumisen jälkeen ja on loistavassa kunnossa! Welcome back Ben !🔴⚽️ pic.twitter.com/BXYntylxjG
Not exactly sure what constitutes young now (given he's 25) but we'll give him a pass on that.
No word on fellow Jazzites(?) Oli van Rijssel who recently married in the off season, and Michael Faber looks like he's back in NZ.
THE BIG BEN STROUD IS BACK!🔴🇳🇿🔴
— FC Jazz (@FC_Jazz) March 3, 2023
Kannattajille varmasti tuttu viime kauden kapteenin pelaa punaisissa ensi kaudella! Stroud on työskennellyt treenikaudella lujaa loukkaantumisen jälkeen ja on loistavassa kunnossa! Welcome back Ben !🔴⚽️ pic.twitter.com/BXYntylxjG
Not exactly sure what constitutes young now (given he's 25) but we'll give him a pass on that.
No word on fellow Jazzites(?) Oli van Rijssel who recently married in the off season, and Michael Faber looks like he's back in NZ.
As mentioned before they are coached by Antonio Nocerino, once of AC Milan, 15 caps for Italy (+3 for the Olympic side).
Pretty sure the promotion rules are no automatic promotion, but the top 5 teams in each group will go to the play offs. The top team in each group goes straight to the final so well worth grabbing that top spot
Gianni Bouzoukis is trialling with 2nd tier side (Ykkönen) Salon Palloilijat (SalPa) in Finland.
Definitely worthy of his own thread should he get a contract. Will keep ya's posted.
Gianni Bouzoukis is trialling with 2nd tier side (Ykkönen) Salon Palloilijat (SalPa) in Finland.
Definitely worthy of his own thread should he get a contract. Will keep ya's posted.
According to Transfermarkt, he's already featured in the Ykkönen Cup which takes place before the season starts. In the squad and came off the bench for 2 of Salon's 3 group matches as they progressed to the QFs but were unfortunately knocked out, Gianni was not in the squad for that.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/gianni-bouzoukis/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/348147/verein/23198
Gianni Bouzoukis is trialling with 2nd tier side (Ykkönen) Salon Palloilijat (SalPa) in Finland.
Definitely worthy of his own thread should he get a contract. Will keep ya's posted.
According to Transfermarkt, he's already featured in the Ykkönen Cup which takes place before the season starts. In the squad and came off the bench for 2 of Salon's 3 group matches as they progressed to the QFs but were unfortunately knocked out, Gianni was not in the squad for that.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/gianni-bouzoukis/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/348147/verein/23198
Only contracted players were able to play after the group stage.
But need not worry, they've got at least 3 more friendlies lined up (probably more) before season kicks off mid April.