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S-league reject end up at World Cup
SINGAPORE - He came last November with hopes of plying his trade in a league touted as one of Asia's top 10.
Playing in a closed-door trial match at the Jalan Besar Stadium with other foreign hopefuls, Jeremy Christie only had one shot at impressing representatives from the eight local S-League clubs. But not one coach or manager approached the New Zealander with an offer.
But he has got over that disappointment rather quickly.
Instead of facing the likes of Geylang United and Sengkang Punggol in the S-League, Christie played against Slovakia and Italy at the World Cup in South Africa, earning New Zealand's first World Cup points in the process.
The All Whites, as the New Zealand footballers are known, have already got two points in Group F following their 1-1 draws with the Slovaks and defending champion Italy.
Going into their final game against Paraguay on Thursday, New Zealand and their No 21 Christie are within reach of the second round.
Paul Cunningham, Balestier Khalsa's Kiwi defender, said: "We knew each other from New Zealand, and he's a top guy. We played a game here as triallists, and we got along really well. But no club picked him."
Currently with United States Soccer Federation's Division 2 side FC Tampa Bay, Christie was brought here for the Football Association of Singapore's centralised trials by Trebol Sports Management.
Said Trebol's sporting director Bryan Lim: "We were willing to forgo our commission to help get him into the S-League, but despite our efforts no club wanted him.
"He had to leave mid-way through the trials because Ricki Herbert (the Kiwi head coach) called him up to be on standby for the two-leg World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain."
Christie told Bolasepako.com last November: "I'd love to play in Singapore some day, as it's a nice place and the S-League is one of the top leagues in Asia."
But after having his S-League dreams dashed, one wonders if the New Zealander still feels the same.
http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/E...the-last-laugh
Playing in a closed-door trial match at the Jalan Besar Stadium with other foreign hopefuls, Jeremy Christie only had one shot at impressing representatives from the eight local S-League clubs. But not one coach or manager approached the New Zealander with an offer.
But he has got over that disappointment rather quickly.
Instead of facing the likes of Geylang United and Sengkang Punggol in the S-League, Christie played against Slovakia and Italy at the World Cup in South Africa, earning New Zealand's first World Cup points in the process.
The All Whites, as the New Zealand footballers are known, have already got two points in Group F following their 1-1 draws with the Slovaks and defending champion Italy.
Going into their final game against Paraguay on Thursday, New Zealand and their No 21 Christie are within reach of the second round.
Paul Cunningham, Balestier Khalsa's Kiwi defender, said: "We knew each other from New Zealand, and he's a top guy. We played a game here as triallists, and we got along really well. But no club picked him."
Currently with United States Soccer Federation's Division 2 side FC Tampa Bay, Christie was brought here for the Football Association of Singapore's centralised trials by Trebol Sports Management.
Said Trebol's sporting director Bryan Lim: "We were willing to forgo our commission to help get him into the S-League, but despite our efforts no club wanted him.
"He had to leave mid-way through the trials because Ricki Herbert (the Kiwi head coach) called him up to be on standby for the two-leg World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain."
Christie told Bolasepako.com last November: "I'd love to play in Singapore some day, as it's a nice place and the S-League is one of the top leagues in Asia."
But after having his S-League dreams dashed, one wonders if the New Zealander still feels the same.
http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/E...the-last-laugh
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