Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi

http://www.padovagoal.it/2014/08/08/biancoscudati-...

not sure if he's with the first team or the youth team

look like they had financial difficulty. Were relegated a few divisions and are now Biancoscudati Padova in Serie D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.S.D._Biancoscudati_Padova

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_Serie_D#Girone_C

http://int.soccerway.com/teams/italy/biancoscudati-padova/31139/

Seems a rather strange move? Sounded like he did well in pre-season for us last year but thought he was in a MLS team's youth system.

No USA visa

Has Euro passport

From memory, academies over there are different in the sense they couldn't buy in players from overseas. So he was paying his own way to be there. 

So I've see this happen time and time again in Italy - financial difficulties that bring a team down to the lower divisions and cause it do be scrapped and re-formed.

Most of the 3rd tier teams (Lega Pro) have now been renamed due to financial problems. In Serie A, for example, Fiorentina as an entity "died" a few years ago, and it should technically be called Florentia Viola. Hence Padova became the "Biancoscudati", or "those who have a white shield" - a name stemming from their badge.

Anyway, the kid sounds rather level-headed for a youngster. Apparently he first played rugby in NZ and started playing football at 7 years of age. Then he moved to the Salt Lake Academy and lately he trialled with Aberdeen without securing a contract.

Only a couple of his team mates speak English (welcome to Italy mate) and he is looking forward to a new challenge..

..this being said, and I don't know what ambitions the Club have, serie D is basically a semi-pro level in Italy. My little brother, who is a decent keeper, but who I don't think is ever going to make it pro, is only playing a division or two below serie D.

So either the Club does really well and gets itself in Lega Pro or even better serie B (and he manages to stay in the squad), or he's probably better off trialling somewhere else.

Good luck!

Neither - he's not playing for Padova in Italy but is with Wanderers in the ASB Premiership:

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttn...

Maybe he just trialed with Padova and failed to make it.

Better bring this thread to the main forum as well.

Glad TAHW finally was injury-free and had a successful trial after trying a couple of times previously with the Nix but being hampered by injuries.

Has looked good in the Handa Premiership in recent seasons.

Seems to have enough ability and the right mentality to make it as a pro.

Really good to see several new Kiwi players added to the Nix mix this season.