Young Kiwis Outside the UK

Auckland City's ASB Premiership and OFC Champions league trophy charge received a huge fillip with news that top defender Ian Hogg will resume his career with club.

Hogg who spent six weeks on trial with Swedish second division club Umea FC could not reach agreement on terms and will return to New Zealand on Friday. It is understood Umea FC opted to take two players on loan from Sierre Leone with African Champions League experience instead.

Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx said the return of Hogg to the City fold would be welcomed.

"The return of a good player like Hoggy is good for our club with so many big matches coming up. Ian Hogg is a quality player with a big future in front of him and he would walk into any side in the league," Tribulietx said.

Tribulietx also said Umea FC's decision not to sign the 23-year-old left back would not hamper Hogg's chances of one day picking up a professional contract.

"Ian has played at enough Olympic Games and age group FIFA world events to know that another opportunity may present itself in the not too distant future," Tribulietx added.

In other European news, former Canterbury United youth league player Francis De Vries helped FC Basel’s academy team to the Swiss U-18 title, with the trophy presented during a recent senior game.

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1673&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=76d1902938

Hobbs played the full 90 on the weekend in a 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps u-23:

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2012/05/timbers-u-23s-defeat-whitecaps-fc-u-23-game-winner-phillips

He also played the full 90 in a mid-week game last week, a 4-0 win over Kitsap Pumas:

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2012/05/evans-brace-helps-timbers-u-23s-defeat-pumas-4-0

Reports on Portland u-23's here:

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/u-23s

This USL Premier Development youth league gets great crowds in football-mad Portland where the u-23's had a league record 8000 crowd for the mid-week game Anthony Hobbs played in last week. 

It's a USL (United States Soccer League) competition though MLS U-23 sides play in it and as is usual in the US, is divided into regional conferences.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Jake Gleeson of course used to play for the u-23's but has been promoted to the senior squad this season.

LUIS ESTEVES: Another Kiwi (ex- Central United and NZ u-20's) transferred from Portland u-23's to Seattle Sounders u-23 (also known as Tacoma Tide- Seattle took this existing team over) this month. He had previously been part of Belenenses   u-19 squad in Portugal's top flight:

Esteves played 54 mins in midfield a 4-1 win v Fraser Valley Mariners on the weekend:

http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/stats/2012/2883550.html

Game in progress right now- Seattle u-23 v Vancouver with Esteves starting again and prominent in the live match blog here

http://www.soundersu23.com/home/631321.html

How cool- Luis Esteves scored as I was typing this !!!!

GOAL - 38th minute - In the 38th minute, the Sounders neutralized a half, mostly controlled by Vancouver. Luis Esteves snuck in from his wide left position toward the top of the penalty area. A couple quick passes between the midfielder and the Sounders attackers left the New Zealander with a chance to shoot. Esteves drove a low shot from the edge of the box to the goalkeeper’s right to tie the match 1-1.

You can also notice that Ben Mckendry played for vancouver u23 in the same game and entered the game in the 35th minute

That's great- I hadn't noticed fellow Kiwi McKendry was playing. Let's hope that Neil Emblen is busy scouting our overseas players to select our strongest possible Oly Whites squad.

I have my doubts that they are doing this however- probably don't want to spend the money jetting around the world.

This is where all our opponents in the Olympics have an advantage- I've read Brazil, Egypt and Belarus have been scouting their overseas players in the final months of the season in Europe...

Some more info on this USL Premier Development League that the above Kiwis are playing in:

Since the USL Premier Development League which guys like Gleeson, Esteves, McKendry and now Hobbs have been playing in is apparently the fourth tier of US (North American) football (drawing from the populations of the entire North America = c. 350 million) and includes professionals, over-age players and college players in NCAA down-time, I'm going to hazard it can't be too bad a league. 40 future or past USA internationals have played in this league 1999- 2010 usually before heading to MLS or overseas, plus it has produced Canadian and other internationals and players have gone on to the Premier League (e.g. Jonathan Spector) or the Bundesliga etc.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USL_Premier_Development_League

 The USL Premier Development League (commonly known as the PDL) is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid. It is currently the top level men's amateur soccer competition in the United States, and has 73 teams competing in four conferences, split into nine regional divisions; unofficially, it is considered to be the fourth tier of competition, behind Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League and the USL Professional Division, and roughly equal with the National Premier Soccer League.

While not strictly a "professional" league in the sense that the majority of players do not receive payment, the PDL prides itself on its professionalism in terms of its organization and the way the league is run, and its dedication to developing young soccer players, preparing them for future careers in professional leagues in the United States and elsewhere. As PDL seasons take place during the summer months, the player pool is drawn mainly from elite NCAA college soccer players seeking to continue playing high level soccer during their summer break, which they can do while still maintaining their college eligibility.

ITALIAN PRIMAVERA

As for the Italian Primavera League which New Zealander Liam Graham plays in, this is an u-20 comp. with a couple of over-age players allowed, involving all teams from Serie A and Serie B combined, playing in three regional groupings, and is clearly one of the best youth leagues in the world. Twenty percent of its players are foreigners, so you have to be pretty decent to get a chance. Vicenza's group includes AC Milan and Inter Milan u-20's, Chievo, Atalanta and Brescia, all Serie A clubs.

Liam started 11 of Vicenza Primavera u-20's  26 games this year, scoring 3 goals. He missed the first five and last six games of the season, maybe through injury?Details here:

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/liam-graham/leistungsdaten-vereindetail/spieler_101658_14925.html

From a Melbourne fans forum ratiing Liam Graham recently:

FRANCIS DE VRIES - SWISS CANTABRIAN AT FC BASEL U-18, SWITZERLAND

WINNERS OF SWISS YOUTH LEAGUE 2012 (two games to go)

Season played Aug- Nov; March- June every year.

http://www.football.ch/sfv/de/meisterschaft-jsf.aspx?ln=15050&s=2012

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Fc Basel U-18 squad list (Francis one of six foreign players in 22 man squad):

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/fc-basel-1893-u18/startseite/verein_14322.html

CURRENT TABLE (TWO GAMES LEFT):  

    Team                                        GP  W  D  L   F : A     Pts

1. FC Basel 1893                            22  16  3  3  73 : 31   51  

2. Team Berne                               23  11  7  5  57 : 41   40  

3. Team FC Luzern-SC Kriens            23  12  2  9  61 : 46   38  

4. FC Zürich                                    23 11 3 9    37 : 36   36  

5. Team Vaud                                 23  8  7  8   33 : 35   31  

6. Team Aargau                              24  10 1 13   37 : 52   31  

7. Team St. Gallen/Wil                     23   8  6  9    32 : 39   30  

8. Team Genève-Servette-Carouge    23  8  5  10   35 : 47  29  

9. FC Winterthur                              23  7  7  9    36 : 39   28  

10. FC Sion                                     23  8  4  11   35 : 38   28  

11. Grasshopper-Club Zürich             22  5  12  5    47 : 51   27  

12. Team NE Xamax/AFF-FFV            23  5  9  9     24 : 33   24  

13. Team Ticino                              23  5  4  14    23 : 42   19

________________________________________________________________________________________

From his blog on Cashmere Wanderers website (his junior club in Christchurch): he was a ball boy at Basel's Champions Lge win over Bayern Munich- what an experience for a 17 year-old !!!

http://www.cashmerefootball.co.nz/news/archives/2012/march/120304_junior_newsletter.htm

The Francis Blog- news from our young professional (March 2012)

 "Over the last two and a half weeks I've had so many awesome experiences. First of all from the 6th of February till the 16th the I went with the U18s to Marbella in Spain for Training camp. It was an awesome 10 days, where we all stayed in a hotel together, trained twice a day usually and did a lot of cool activities outside of football. By constantly being around each other I got to know all the boys really well, which makes it a lot easier to fit in here. The guys in the team are really great, all friendly and support me very well. Being at Basel is sort of like a 2nd family, everyone knows everyone and there is a lot of respect and friendship.

 Training twice a day was awesome too, the defenders did a lot of specific defenders exercises so I learnt a lot about my particular role on the field. The tactics are totally different here than in New Zealand, a lot more movement off the ball in offense and a lot more high pressure in defense. I played well overall in Training camp, the first week I was very good but the last few days I wasn't great. The main thing was I learnt heaps. Outside of football we did a lot of things with the team. We went go- karting (I was really average at that!), watched a Spanish League game between Malaga and Marbella, played golf (I was great at that!) and went and visited Malaga. Malaga is a really beautiful city, it was awesome to see some of the culture in Spain and just walk around one of their cities for half a day. Also the weather was great, always around 15 to 18 degrees, I could finally walk around in T shirt and shorts again!

 Now I'm back in Switzerland and things are going well. I scored my first goal for the U18s yesterday, a volley at the far post off a free kick and we won 2-1. I also had the experience of training with the U21s (essentially the reserves to the 1st team) which was pretty cool. It showed me what level I have to get too over the next few months to be successful here. This week I have had a very good week in training, my game is developing well however I still have a long way to go!

 Lastly Basel beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the Champions league! I was ball boy for the game and was about 2 meters away from the Dutchman Arjen Robben for half the game (he stood out on the right wing all game and got tackled by Basel's left back a lot!). The win over Bayern was bigger here than the win over Man Utd and everyone in Basel is football crazy at the moment! The Basel team is being called the best Swiss team of all time (which is probably true) and if the get through to the next round of the Champions league things are going to be nuts!"    - Francis de Vries

Also check out Asia-Pacific Football Academy, Lincoln, Christchurch on Facebook (where Francis was enrolled):

http://www.facebook.com/APFA.LINCOLN?filter=1  

1.  Francis with Swiss Youth Championship Cup                      

   1. In FC Basel strip.

Francis making his debut in ASB Premiership for Canterbury in Nov. before moving to Basel.

Does anybody know if Cory Chettleburgh had a good season in holland with wezep?

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/cory-chettleburgh/profil/spieler_140619.html

Nicolas Del Moro, a Kiwi of Italian descent from Wynton Rufer's WYNERS Academy has just finished his debut season in Europe in the u-17 youth team of Italian Serie A Chievo Verona and finished third after AC Milan and Inter Milan. Came on as a sub after 30 min against Atalanta:

http://www.chievocalcio.tv/en/news/under-17%E2%80%99s-3-point-raid-bergamo

Mon, 07/05/2012 - 16:46

Chievo win at Bergamo by two goals to one against Atalanta, with goals by Messetti and Gatto at either end of the second half.

An important win for Chievo, who bolster their position in third place of Group B-- Cesena are now six points behind in fourth place, with just one game to go.
This is an impressive achievement for Margotto’s young team in a very competitive group -- they finish just behind the two big Milan sides, and can boast the second best defence with only 20 goals conceded in 24 matches.

Atalanta-Chievo Verona 1-2
goals: 5' s.t. Messetti (C), 39' s.t. Gatto (C)

Atalanta B.C.: Mora, Adiansi, Barlocco, Marchesi, Malvestiti, Ungaro, Romano (20' s.t. Bagni), Rascaroli, Fabbri (9' s.t. Bangal), Cavagna (9' s.t. Oikonomidis), Valota (1' s.t. Pugliese). A disposizione: Miori, Boldini, Montebelli. Coach.: Butti

ChievoVerona: Ronchi, Pigozzo (30' s.t. Del Moro), Costa, Magri, Ronca, Carrotta, Gatto (40' s.t. Porto), Tibolla, Gjoshi, Messetti, Parol (18' s.t. Torcasio). A disposizione: Sambo, Cassago, Zivkov. Coach.: Margotto

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FINAL PLACINGS REGULAR SEASON U-17 CHAMPIONSHIP: Chievo miss out very narrowly from the Top Eight National Play-Offs:

GROUP A: EMPOLI (first with 57 points), FIORENTINA (runners-up on 54 points)
GROUP B: MILAN (first with 56 points), INTER (runners-up on 53 points)
GROUP C: LAZIO (first with 65 points), ROMA (runners-up on 56 points)

The two other best third-placed finishers also qualified: CATANIA (third in Group C on 55 points) and SAMPDORIA (third on Group A on 53 points). Chievo were eliminated with 52 points in Group B.

The top two in the group will play off for a place in the final:

GROUP A: LAZIO, ROMA, INTER, SAMPDORIA

GROUP B: EMPOLI, MILAN, FIORENTINA, CATANIA

The Final will be played on June 12th.

After recently spending 5 months in the Zane Players Abroad program in italy, Nicolas Del Moro from GISS New Zealand has officially become a Chievo Verona player and will play in the Serie A youth competition.

Director Morris comments: "Congratulations to you Nicolas - you've worked hard and you deserve it. This is great news for GISS and other players coming through our system."

http://www.issgenova.com/au/trials.php/2011/12/12/title-9

http://www.wynrs.co.nz/wynrschristchurch/academy/players/styled-9/

That's a bit out of date- for more up-to-date info on Nic Del Moro see my post just before your one which includes an overview of Chievo u-17's season. His season finished a few weeks ago...

His team did great, topping the regular season table of the Hoofdklasse Saturday C. (Fourth tier), yet they lost the play-off for promotion to the "Topklasse" (Third tier) with the second placed team on the table (Wezep were ahead on goal difference on the table but that isn't accepted to decide the champion).

Cory missd the last month of the season injured:

Season 2011/2012 - Saturday May 19 2012, 

WHC - ACV Axes  0-2 (0-0)   Location:Sportpark Mulder Singel WEZEP

WHC STRUGGLE DUE TO INJURIES 

(By Wout Ramaker)

The last game I could find him mentioned in is this, but he was a regular starter in the team until then and rated by supporters a decent player:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.whc-wezep.nl/%3Fpage%3Dmatch%26sub%3Ddetails%26id%3D308%26menuitem%3D92&ei=RCjPT-yHN--jiAeU5-WfDA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CFUQ7gEwAzge&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcory%2Bchettleburgh%2Bwhc%2Bwezep%26start%3D30%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26qscrl%3D1%26nord%3D1%26rlz%3D1T4GGHP_enNZ433NZ433%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D619%26prmd%3Dimvnso

Season 2011/2012 - Saturday 14 April 2012 

WHC Lineup:

"The first quarter was aftastten and there was little to do for both goals.  WHC footballing took the initiative.  From minute 20 began some form of WHC in the attacks to come.   Both Cory Chettleburgh Letwory as Amos did a shoot attempt stifled by the defenders and goalkeeper Yarburg. Just when WHC began to urge a crucial error in the WHC defense.  WHC goalkeeper Dominic van Hoof played interrogatory Chettleburgh that could bounce but tried turning up, having not noticed that he had two men on his skin.  John Fraterman said thank you and could only shoot for goalkeeper Hoof within 1-0. . You may wonder whether you are a player in that position to respond because of the risks.  Anyway But the case was there and so WHC was looking for the equalizer which soon came...."

WHC Official site:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.whc-wezep.nl/&ei=mELPT-LrHM-eiAfi8qnyCw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CFIQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwhc%2Bwezep%2Bofficial%2Bwebsite%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GGHP_enNZ433NZ433%26prmd%3Dimvns

TABLE

#   Team             MP    W    D     L      F      A       D     Pts    

1   WHC                26    14    7     5     59     31   +28    49  

2   DETO               26   14    7     5      42     34    +8     49  

3   Apeldoorn CSV  26   13    9    4      52     32    +20    48  

4   ONS Sneek        26   13    4    9      51      31   +20    43  

5   ACV                  26   11   10   5      37      23   +14    43  

6   DVS '33             26   11    7   8      52      46     +6    40  

7   Flevo Boys         26    9    9    8      55     42     +13   36  

8   Berkum              26    10   6  10     35      37     -2     36  

9 Nunspeet            26   10   5  11     40      52    -12     35  

10  Staphorst         26     9   5  12     49     48      +1     32  

11   VVOG              26    7    7  12     29     36      -7      28  

12   Urk                  26    6    6   14     40     54    -14     24  

13   Oranje Nassau   26    4     9   13     31     67    -36     21  

14   Drachtster Boys  26    2     7   17     24     63    -39      13

WHC Wezep fans' site good for news on team:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.topamateurvoetbal.nl/phpbb/phpBB3/viewtopic.php%3Ff%3D4%26t%3D348%26start%3D500&ei=Qy7PT8eiL4WfiQfFm83zCw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CGYQ7gEwCTge&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcory%2Bchettleburgh%2Bwhc%2Bwezep%26start%3D30%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4GGHP_enNZ433NZ433%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D619%26prmd%3Dimvnso

REPORT ON FRANCIS DE VRIES FROM YESTERDAY'S "PRESS" NEWSPAPER:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/7048358/Champ-in-two-countries

CHAMP IN TWO COUNTRIES

Former Canterbury United football academy player Francis de Vries is a champion in two countries in the same season.

De Vries, who has Swiss heritage, signed for Switzerland's leading club FC Basel late last year on a one-year contract.

The defender helped Basel win the Swiss under-18 championship in late May – six months after playing an integral part in Canterbury United's national youth league championship victory in New Zealand.

Winning the Swiss crown was a big buzz for the 17-year-old.

"We got our trophy presented to us at halftime of a Basel first team game in the middle of the stadium in front of 36,000 fans, which was awesome," de Vries emailed to Cashmere Technical coaching director Fred Simpson, his junior football mentor.

He expects to discuss his immediate football future with the Basel coaching staff in June.

De Vries played his early football at Cashmere and attended Cashmere High School before joining the Lincoln-based Asia Pacific Football Academy (APFA) programme linked to Lincoln High School.

He was a member of the Canterbury United academy squad in the national youth league before leaving for Switzerland and was called up to the Canterbury United Dragons national league matchday squad.

APFA head coach Gio Fernandes said at the time of de Vries' signing that he was "technically very good, but what makes him special is his commitment".  

Just reading 442 "Aussie Transfers"

Indicates Liam Graham transfered tp Ascoli Calccio (Serie B) in August

Not listed in Wiki as a 1st team squad member though

Definitely a first team squad member - and a well-publicized signing in the Italian media with official videos of his arrival and introduction released. Ascoli last spell in Serie A in 2007 and 16 seasons in Serie A since 1974.

August 11: Liam Graham, 19 years old, joined GISS 3 yrs ago, after he was scouted by our GISS New Zealand representative. He joined the GISS Italian Residential Academy for 3 months before being spotted by then Serie A team Vicenza Calcio, where he spent 2 years in the reserve team. He was sent to trial after the 2012 18+ tour and yesterday signed with Ascoli Calcio 1st team. GISS Director Morris Pagniello said "I am very happy Liam's trial went well... And signed for such a good historical club like Ascoli Calcio 1898... Coming from reserves at Vicenza Calcio it was a very big jump to Serie B first team...Hard work pays off every time... and it's only the beginning... just the beginning".

Squad list on official Ascoli website:

http://www.ascolicalcio.net/squadra.asp?id=676

Wow a young kiwi signed by a serie B first team. It deserves an own thread. He said in italian that he is a RB who likes to g forward and that he scored 5 goals for vicenza primavera last year. Also because Ascoli plays a 3-5-2 he said he will play as a right midfielder the same position than bertos with the AW's

maybe not as "Wow" as you think !

Im pretty impressed by this to be honest. Payne plays reserves (maybe even just youth team) for a 2 tier english club. Clapham isnt even a pro. Both have started for the All Whites - so this guy has to be worth a look?

RB is the big problem area - he is one. Capping him may even raise his profile and help his career. If someone disagrees, could you let me know of another professional RB NZ has? Surely Serie B is a higher level than A-League? Well definitely better than ASB prem.

I`ve seen the lad play through junior and yoof grades, not saying he was a bad player but never a stand out, solid at best.

He was brought back for the U17 World Cup Qualifiers, never featured, and was discarded for the World Cup Finals

Never saw a great improvement in his game from where he was out before he left NZ

One has to remember the underbelly of Italian football is a bit shadey

I wish the lad well but I don`t see him waltzing into All White contention in the for seeable future 

U17 or U20`s small slip of facts.......was not injured or not released by club.....simply dropped....fact 

Luis Esteves had a good season at Major League Soccer Seattle Sounders u-23, holding a place in the starting lineup in the Pro Development League where they won the Western Conference and made the semis of the national finals. Esteves started in defence in the narrow 2-3 semi loss to Forest City London. Report and video here:

http://www.soundersu23.com/home/649052.html

Like most of his team-mates he's now playing college football, signing for the University of Mobile. Players commonly play both college football and in the Pro Development League (a national u-23 comp which includes the u-23 sides of MLS clubs). Seattle Sounders u-23 are amateur so players can abide by college sport amateur requirements.

From the Mobile University site:

http://www.umobile.edu/Athletics/MensSports/Soccer/Roster.aspx

#25 Luis Esteves
Freshman

Personal: Son of Teresa and Vitor Esteves … Native of Ngongotaha, New Zealand … Human Performance and Exercise Science major … Enjoys playing FIFA with the boys, surfing and chilling

High School: Western Heights

Club: Seattle Sounders U-23 … North West Conference Champions 2012 … West Coast Conference Champions 2012

Other: Favorite athlete is Sonny Bill Williams … Favorite professional team is Benfica CF … Favorite TV show is “Family Guy†… Favorite ice cream is cookies and cream … Favorite fast food is Chipotle … Dream job is to be a professional footballer or professional surfer … Greatest athletic achievement was being a New Zealand U17-U-20 National Team Player and representing New Zealand U-17 at the FIFA World Cup in Nigeria in 2009

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also completing a successful MLS u-23 season was Ben McKendry at Vancouver Whitecaps u-23 who featured in and scored in all their regular season games. He also appeared for the Whitecaps senior reserve team a few times this year and is spending the off-season playing for University of New Mexico in NCAA Div 1.

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2012/07/whitecaps-fc-residency-making-strides

"Others, such as... midfielder Ben McKendry, who scored in each of Vancouver’s round of 32 fixtures, as well as starting centreback Daniel Stanese, are all off to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I.

It is sometimes easy to forget that players like Irving, McKendry, and Stanese are only 18/19-years-old, while most players who join MLS from avenues like the MLS SuperDraft are in their early 20s. For example, rookie striker Darren Mattocks, who spent two years at the University of Akron before joining MLS and making an immediate impact with the Whitecaps, is turning 22 in September.

Opting for the college route, whether that means heading down south or competing in the CIS, provides players more time to continue their development while staying in the Whitecaps system and training with the squad, before potentially making the jump to MLS down the road.

“The club has invested in their time, and I think there’s value in that investment,†Whitecaps FC head of player management and advancement Stuart Neely told whitecapsfc.com. “It might not be right now, but by the time they finish the NCAA, first team staff might throw them back in.â€

Detailed career profile:

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/eliteteams/residency/ben-mckendry

INTERNATIONAL
U-20: A dual Canadian and New Zealand citizen, McKendry attended a training camp with New Zealand's U-20 national team before opting to represent his birth country of Canada. In Dec. 2011, McKendry attended a training camp with Canada’s U-20 national team in Sunrise, Florida, after being selected by head coach Nick Dasovic. U-18: McKendry’s first call-up to the Canadian national team program was with the country’s U-18 squad for a Jan. 2011 camp in San Jose, Costa Rica.  

Don't know if anyone has posted this but Bill Tuiloma has an offer to sign for LA Galaxy when he turns 18 in March next year but is holding out till then to see if there's interest from European clubs.. Full contract at LA maybe? They must have been very impressed - big young talent I think ! 

He's been playing northern league and Chatham Cup games for Birkenhead in recent months. July 6 report:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10817783

"17-year-old Tuiloma found out on Tuesday that LA Galaxy want to sign him on a three-year contract when he turns 18 in March.

However the ambitious teenager - who was with Waitakere United in the summer - plans on using the offer as a 'back up plan' - only to be visited if earlier impending European trials don't work out.

But at the forefront of Tuiloma's mind at the moment is the biggest match in the history of his club - a sweet 16 Chatham Cup home tie against a top-four premier league side in Wanderers on Sunday.

It's no surprise that Birkenhead coach Paul Hobson sees Tuiloma as his not-so-secret weapon in the clash.

"I think his best position is somewhere toward the right or left as a high fullback, but he's our best finisher and unbelievable in the air, so we play him up front," Hobson said.

"Sometimes we lack a little quality in front of goal which Bill has provided. He's got something special. He does things sometimes and you just go, 'Oh welcome to the next level'.

"I've coached him since he was a little kid, and for me that's the biggest achievement we have had."

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Former Canterbury United senior and youth league player Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, 17 years, left earlier in the year for the youth academy at US Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake. He was also previously at Wynton Rufer's Wyners academy in Auckland and the Asia Pacific Football Academy at Lincoln. Can't find any recent news on him since the Real salt Lake official site doesn't list youth squads or report their games (all the other MLS sides do in some detail).

Anyone have any news on this kid?

17 year-old midfielder Nicholas Del Moro now on a temporary contract at youth team of Serie B Ascoli - transfer from Serie A Chievo youth team after his 6 month contract there expired. He joins fellow Kiwi Liam Graham who recently transfered to the first team there from Vicenza.

See official Italian transfer listing:

http://www.legaserieb.it/it/serie-bwin/calcio-mercato?p_p_id=BDC_calciomercato_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_BDC_calciomercato_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC_flagEstivo=true

                      To:                                       From:

Any news about Ernesto Lopez except that he is still playing in Argentina? Did he play in an official game for El Salvador U23?

http://www.leballonrond.fr/jogador.php?id=219346

Francis de Vries who was a regular in the Basel side which won the Swiss Youth Cup last season, is heading back to play for Canterbury Utd in the ASB Premiership, as is Darren White:

"Midfielder Darren White is returning from England for a second season with Canterbury and Braithwaite said teenage defender Francis de Vries was heading home from Switzerland after helping FC Basel win the Swiss national youth league.

De Vries, who can play as a left back or central defender, was not offered a full professional contract in Switzerland and is expected to be available for the national league."