Flying Kiwis – February 21
Nando Pijnaker & Max Mata – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
On the brink of the new League of Ireland season came an unexpected, but understandable, bit of breaking news: Max Mata was loaned back to Sligo Rovers. He’ll be there for the rest of Shrewsbury Town’s season, aka the first half of the League of Ireland campaign, returning to a division in which just last year he was amongst the top goalscorers prior to leaving for Shrewsbury... form that he’ll be hoping to recapture over the next few months.
If you’ve not read much of him in Flying Kiwis lately, other than the occasional note within somebody else’s section, that’s because there’s not been much to read. Initially Mata was getting great opportunities with the Shrews but that was back when they were one of the lowest scoring teams in the country and losing far too often. So they changed managers and Mata’s hardly had a look-in since – not making a single league appearance under Paul Hurst. Lately he’s not even been making matchday squads. It wasn’t injury related, he just fell out of favour and, with STFC battling against relegation, that wasn’t likely to change. Mata thus ends his English League One season with 1 goal and 1 assist from 22 matches (1038 minutes).
He signed a three-year contract with Shrewsbury Town. Therefore this is hardly the end of his time there, more like a convenient chance to build up his confidence again before returning in time for the start of the next preseason. By which time, who knows, they might even have a new manager. In the meantime he reunites with the bro Nando Pijnaker who has one more season on his deal with Sligo Rovers.
Sligo Rovers manager John Russell: “I’m absolutely delighted to get Max back in. When he left he was top goalscorer in the league, and in my opinion the best centre forward in the league too. To get him back into the fold for start of the season is a real boost. Max is a modern centre forward, he can link play, run in behind and he’s a real threat. He knows the environment, knows the players, knows the way we want to play, and we feel he can hit the ground running.”
Max Mata: “The situation in my club over in England, I wasn’t finding much game time so I was pretty much looking around to see where could I go. This was an option for me and definitely one that I was excited to take. There’s a couple of question marks around that [his status moving forwards under Hurst at STFC]. For me it was pretty straight-forward, I wasn’t getting game time and decided the best move for me was to try and find it somewhere.”
Pretty much as soon as he’d been announced, he was preparing to play. The LOI season began over the weekend with Sligo Rovers travelling to face Bohemians with both Pijnaker and Mata in their starting line-up. Just like old times. Only drama was that they did blew a late lead to draw 2-2.
Sligo conceded inside of five minutes when the Bohs split them down the middle for Sten Reinkort to score, slipping past Pijanker on his way into the area. Sligo had been slow out of the blocks but soon began to take a bit more responsibility for their actions, leading to a 23rd minute equaliser for Reece Hutchison. Would’ve preferred it to be Mata for the narrative’s sake, wasn’t to be... but MM did appear to seamlessly reintegrate himself into the side. Dropping in, holding the ball up, winning headers. Didn’t have the chances fall his way, yet he slogged away for ninety full minutes. Meanwhile Fabrice Hartmann’s stoppage time goal ensured that Sligo led at the halfway stage.
Pijnaker was booked early in the second half for a foul – with his goalie bailing him out by making a superb low save off the ensuing free kick. The rest of Sligo’s bookings were for time-wasting, time-wasting again, then “unlawful entering of the pitch”. Gives you an indication of how this match tracked as it went deeper and deeper. By the end, the Bit’o’Red had everyone behind the ball and were hanging on... but it wasn’t enough because nobody followed James Clarke’s run into the area in the fourth-minute of time added-on and Bohs came away with a point from the 2-2 draw. Still not a terrible way to start the season, s’pose.
Up Next: Sligo Rovers vs Derry City on Sunday at 8.45am (NZT)
CJ Bott - Leicester City (English Super League)
That stat is from before Leicester City faced Bristol City in the WSL. She was a little quieter on the defensive side of things in that game... but only because The Foxes did less defending. CJB was no less powerful than she has been in recent weeks, again drawing plenty of plaudits from the Leicester fans - she was on the four-player shortlist that the club scratched up for Player of the Day despite not getting a goal or assist or clean sheet. If you’re familiar with her game, though, it ain’t hard to figure why.
First shot of the game went flying off Bott’s right foot, stepping onto a loose ball and charging past a tackle towards the edge of the box. It was a good strike but the keeper managed to push it over the top. Minutes later, Bott got into a similar spot, this time passing out wide and underlapping onto a return ball. Her cross was deflected but almost led to a goal anyway, then she collected the scraps and didn’t miss the top corner by much despite a tricky angle and a slight deflection. She also set up Sam Tierney to volley wide, as well as a couple other crosses that the defence was able to deal with. Instant energy from CJB setting the tone for Leicester City.
Despite that it was Bristol City who scored first when Ffion Morgan buried one after 20 minutes, a great finish to cash in on the LCFC keeper kicking the ball straight to her. That came soon after a timely break while their Bristol City’s own goalie had received some physio treatment. The ol’ GK timeout does the trick again. But Leicester levelled up on 33’ through Yuka Momiki’s looping effort, then Saori Takarada put them in front just before half-time to complete the Japanese double-play.
The Foxes then fumbled things by conceding a counter attacking goal in the 49th minute. Bott made some serious ground sprinting back in cover but couldn’t get there before Amalie Thestrup slotted past the goalie. CJB’s looking super athletic these days though, those WSL fitness coaches know what they’re doing. Anyway, nothing to worry about. LCFC didn’t fumble again. They continued creating chances as they had done all through the first half and Janice Cayman restored the lead only five minutes later. Jutta Rantala (76’) and Denny Draper (89’) added a couple more. Bott was subbed after the fifth went in, getting a rest during injury time, as Leicester City claimed a 5-2 victory.
Pity there wasn’t anything specific in there for Bott given how close she came to both scoring and assisting in those first ten minutes, but it was an excellent performance once again. Happy days. She’ll now get a week’s break because, despite the Football Ferns being away qualifying for the Olympics this past fortnight, the international break is actually only happening now. At least this allows those Ferns some time to ease back into their clubs (and a European winter).
Up Next: Leicester City vs Chelsea on Monday 4 March at 4am (NZT)
Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)
The Empoli recovery project continued with a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina. That’s five games undefeated in a row, steadily adding to their points tally. They rose out of the drop zone last week. They’re still clear this week, and they face Sassuolo, a team beneath them, next week.
Most importantly, Liberato Cacace started and played 87 minutes before they chucked on Guiseppe Pezzella for the last few minutes to mark that bloke’s return from injury. Fair enough. Pezzella kept him out of the team for a spell at the start of the term but that was two managers ago. Also, the guy who had Cacace stuck on the bench last season was Fabiano Parisi and he’s now at Fiorentina where he only got quarter of an hour as a substitute himself in this meeting with his old club. Weird how these things swirl around.
Fiorentina scored first through Lucas Beltran on 29’. That goal had been coming with Fiorentina starting this Tuscan Derby much sharper. But they didn’t kick on, and too often left space for Empoli to attack on the counter. One such moment led to an obvious penalty as Matteo Cancellieri was shoved over. M’Baye Niang stepped up to score his second penalty for the club in his second appearance (53’). Fiorentina huffed and puffed but never got particularly close to another goal. Sweet as, one more point in the bag.
Up Next: Sassuolo vs Empoli on Sunday at 3am (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – Glasgow City (Scottish Premier League)
First highlight of that package is Meikayla Moore stepping forward from left centre-back and threading a beauty of a pass up the line. She’s always had a sharp long pass but this season it seems like that distribution has reached a whole new level. That move didn’t lead to a goal... but it wasn’t long before Lauren Davidson did nod GC into the lead, 14 minutes gone.
Away to Motherwell, it was a long while before they found a second. Motherwell are on a big losing streak, Glasgow City are on a big winning streak, but it wasn’t a straightforward result. Even had a couple of dangerous moments in defence. Then an own goal on 69’ and another for Davidson on 89’ (Davidson also set up the OG) sent Glasgow City onwards to a 3-0 win. Another clean sheet for Moore and the girls.
Rangers and Celtic played out a 1-1 draw this week so that’s two points gained on each of them, drawing GC level with Celtic but behind on goal difference (by a big margin). Rangers remain four points clear with one more round until the league splits into top half and bottom half. That gives each of these three teams plenty more opportunity to take points off each other. But first... an international break.
Up Next: Glasgow City vs Aberdeen on Monday 4 March at 2am (NZT)
Marko Stamenic - FK Crvena Zvezda (Serbian SuperLiga)
That was Marko Stamenic speaking a few weeks ago during the latter stages of the winter break. You can’t understand much because even though he’s speaking English there’s a Serbian voiceover drowning him out. But he mostly talks about feeling good and fit after the break, wanting to do a job for their new manager in whatever role is asked of him, and how the whole team is feeling good and confident and refreshed.
Marko Stamenic: “We are fresh and ready, both mentally and physically. We have a good week in Cyprus and we are getting used to the coach and his tactics. For now, everything is going as it should, and we will use the next two weeks to fully adapt to his style and prepared for the continuation of the season. We're still getting to know coach [Vladan] Milojević's way of working, so it's hard to say now. You'll see when the season continues, and I hope that we'll be offensively determined, that we'll have a set-up that will control attack and defense equally well. I'm excited about that and convinced that everything will be as it should be.”
That’s all good but the Serbian league resumed last weekend and Stamenic was nowhere to be seen as Red Star scored two early goals and conceded one late goal on their way to a 2-1 win over Vozdovac. This was the first game under new manager Vladan Milojevic. They were more commanding in a 3-0 win away to Novi Pazar in the second game back but Stamenic didn’t featured on that occasion either. Wasn’t on the bench for either. He had fallen out of the starting eleven towards the end of 2023 but still always at least popped up amongst the subs so got to assume a wee injury or something. He wasn’t suspended (although he did get sent off in one of their Cyprus friendly games).
Hopefully nothing major. Matt Garbett made an early return from his shoulder injury last week but then sat out both matches since. Chris Wood is out injured for at least another month. The All Whites do have games coming up in a month’s time so... keep those prayer beads handy.
Up Next: Red Star vs Cukaricki at 7am on Sunday (NZT)
Emma Pijnenburg – Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)
We’ve been waiting for this and it’s finally happened...
A first team (and professional) debut for Emma Pijnenburg at Feyenoord. The former Western Springs midfielder and NZ age grade representative has been with Feyenoord for about a year now. Predominantly with their academy team but in the past few months EP had begun sneaking onto the bench for their top team too. That’s brought us to this moment, when she was subbed into a KNVB Cup tie away to ADO Den Haag. One of two debutants in the match alongside Nienke Mulder (who is only 15 years old).
Annoyingly, there doesn’t seem to be any video of the match... but know that Pijnenburg was subbed on after an hour, just after Jada Conijnenberg had headed her team into the lead. It had been a largely uneventful game up until then and would remain so afterwards with Feyenoord on track for victory. Then they conceded an equaliser in stoppage time and suddenly they weren’t on track any more.
Granted, that did mean an extra thirty minutes for Pijnenburg on debut, so that’s something. It ended up going to penalties where Feyenoord missed first but Den Haag couldn’t sustain from a 3-2 lead, missing their next two attempts (one saved, one sent over the top). Feyenoord took the 4-3 shootout win after a 1-1 draw following extra time. They will face FC Twente in the quarters of the KNVB Cup. EP didn’t take a penalty, if you were wondering.
Pijnenburg has already been to one U20 World Cup (in 2022) but is young enough that she’s still eligible for this year’s edition where she’ll probably be a key player. From the U19s squad that qualified through the Oceania championships last year, she’s one of several to have already played professional footy. Kiara Bercelli is with Genoa on loan from Sampdoria. Suya Haering just signed with Turbine Potsdam. Ruby Nathan is at Canberra United. And you’ll have seen Zoe McMeeken, Manaia Elliott, Helena Errington, and Ella McMillan for the Wellington Phoenix (Errington also spent several months training with Sporting Lisbon). That’s going to be a good squad.
Up Next: Sunday 3 March at 4.30am against Excelsior (NZT)
Jana Radosavljevic - MSV Duisburg (German Bundesliga)
Rado didn’t play last week, she was an unused sub as Duisburg conceded a stoppage time leveller in a 1-1 draw away to Freiburg. This week they faced another rare beatable opponent and Jana Radosavljevic was right back in the mix, subbed on for the last half hour. FC Köln are the team directly above the relegation zone (MSVD are last), so this was a potentially massive three points on offer. Except Duisburg are last for a reason so it was FCK who created most of the chances in a tentative match, the Duisburg keeper having a blinder helped also by the referee not awarding what looked like a clear goal after 30 minutes when FCK claimed the ball had crossed the line.
It ended as a 0-0 draw which means that Duisburg have doubled their points tally over the past fortnight, rising from two points to four after a pair of draws. That’s clearly not going to be enough. They needed to win this game and gain ground on those above but they weren’t good enough to do so. Ah well, they were already heading towards relegation when Rado joined so hopefully she can keep racking up the minutes to show what she can do.
Meanwhile, down a division, Turbine Potsdam lost 3-1 against SV Meppen in their first game back from the winter break. A disappointing outcome. They were 2-0 down after 12 minutes and then conceded within two minutes of scoring to get back within range. Maya Hahn played the full game for Potsdam and Suya Haering was an unused substitute after moving there from Auckland United at the start of 2024 - another age grade rep on the verge of a professional debut. Pijnenburg’s got hers so now Haering steps into the waiting room (she did get some minutes during winter break friendlies).
Sadly, that loss does knock Potsdam down to fourth in the standings, below their opponents here, snapping a 10-game league unbeaten streak. Still only one point off top. They conceded three times having only conceded six times in 13 games up until this match.
Up Next: After the break, Duisburg are away to Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal quarters – that’s on 6.30am Weds 6 March (NZT)
Dan McKay - Cobh Ramblers (League of Ireland First Division)
Unveiled one day before the beginning of the new season, former Wellington Phoenix Academy lad Dan McKay has popped up with Cobh Ramblers in the Irish second tier. Same level as Corban Piper played last season with Wexford. Both are midfielders of a similar age with similar experience in the NZ National League (if anything Dan McKay has a bit more, including adding a fair bit of centre-back mahi this past campaign). Piper started most games for Wexford so that’s a good sign for McKay. A good sign and an increasingly common pathway – McKay joins Ryan De Vries, Max Mata, Nando Pijnaker, Adam Thomas, and Corban Piper in having played in Ireland over recent seasons.
McKay always looked impressive for the reserves with his clever passing and strong workrate. He was also a feature of the last U20 World Cup squad and will be in the running for the upcoming Olympics U23 group... but he never got a crack with the Phoenix first team, overshadowed there by his regular CM partner Fin Conchie. McKay has now aged out of the U20 ranks so it’s time to spread his wings elsewhere. A few of his WeeNix generation have moved to other National League clubs... but McKay’s gone much further than that.
Cobh Ramblers manager Gary Hunt: “Dan comes in having taken the gamble to seek an opportunity in a different country and since he has come in around the group he has fitted in well with the lads. We wanted to make sure it was a right fit and he has backed up that with his ability so we are delighted to give him a chance to make a name in the game. He will add some good competition in central areas for us for the new season.”
Dan: “I’m thrilled to be signing with the ramblers for the 2024 season and have really enjoyed my short time with the group so far. The training environment is very competitive and demands high standards which I love and as for the lads in the squad, I could not have asked to be with a better group. I am very excited for the 2024 season and will be working very hard to help the team achieve the goals we have for the season.“
Ramblers finished third last season so they should have promotion aims in 2024. Having said that, they did lose their opener 3-1 away to Treaty United. An own goal after twenty minutes was cancelled out early in the second half but then they conceded again soon after before a late goal sealed the deal. Dan McKay was on the bench but didn’t get used, too early for his just yet.
Up Next: Cobh Ramblers vs Althone Town on Saturday at 8.45am (NZT)
Logan Rogerson – FC Noah (Armenian Premier League)
After three years in Finland (and some time in the German lower leagues prior to that), Logan Rogerson’s latest gig is taking him to the more obscure territory Armenia. He’s signed on with FC Noah, who currently sit second in the APL at the winter break. Six points behind leaders Pyunik.
Not a division that we’ve ever had a professional kiwi player before so this is uncharted territory, although the familiar fixtures of UEFA competitions might yet greet him with Noah on course for some Conference League qualifiers if they can continue on their merry way. Finland and Armenia are only a couple of spots apart on the UEFA coefficients so this is absolutely not a drop in standards for Rog. The Armenian Premier League resumes this upcoming weekend. Rogerson has already secretively featured during their winter training camp in the Middle East.
As for his old club, FC Haka, they drew 2-2 this weekend with Ollie Whyte getting ninety minutes against Ilves though he wasn’t involved with any goals or assists this time around. Couple of nice moments in there creating for others though. Haka will need to win their fifth and final Liigacup game to have a shot at advancing, that’s against VPS on Sunday at 5am NZT.
Up Next: Armenian stuff resumes with Noah vs Urartu on Friday at 3am (NZT)
Ria Percival – Crystal Palace (English Championship)
A “dominant display”, so says the video description. 4-0 winners against Blackburn Rovers. Pretty emphatic. Ria Percival started at right back and played 67 minutes before being subbed on a yellow card with her team up by two. They’d scored early in both halves and thoroughly owned all the big chances. Perhaps should have even scored more.
There are now four teams within one point of each other at the top of the ladder and Palace are one a pair of those with a game in hand. Given that Percy’s only on loan here, we’d kinda prefer if Katie Kitching’s Sunderland win promotion instead... but if it’s not one then hopefully it’s the other.
We’re also hoping for Lewes (Jacqui Hand) and London City (Paige Satchell & Grace Neville) to avoid relegation at the other end. Lewes were 3-2 up against Sunderland this week only to lose 4-3 after conceding in the 90+5th and 90+6th minutes. That team’s inability to avoid late goals has been horrendous lately. Elsewhere LCL drew 2-2 with Durham, with Satchell as an unused substitute. However, she did get the last 15 minutes of the Conti Cup quarter-final loss to Arsenal (4-0) in the midweek. Still working her way back from injury.
Up Next: Nothing this weekend... she’s an international break
Ben Waine – Plymouth Argyle (English Championship)
Waineo: “It's never easy. Everyone wants to play but when Ryan [Hardie] is scoring goals and playing well you just have to take your hat off and show the respect he deserves for doing so well, and then in the background just being patient and waiting for a chance to come along. It's as simple as that. I'm happy for Ryan because he's doing really well and at the moment he has been deserving to play. I'm obviously happy I got a chance to show what I can do and we will just move on from there.”
Games have been tough to come by but he did get a rare Championship start on the weekend as Plymouth faced off against Leeds United. The team that knocked them out of the FA Cup (in extra time of a replay), also a team that Waine scored in the reverse league fixture back in November. The Pilgrims have been operating with only one central striker under new manager Ian Foster and that’s been Ryan Hardie, who has scored 5 times in his last 10 matches. But Hardie was given a rest against Leeds, meaning Waine made his 10th start of the season across all comps but his first since December.
Only thing there is that Leeds are way better than Plymouth. They took the lead after ten minutes through Wilfred Gnonto, left wide open for a looping punt over the top. Leeds had already shown an inclination to control possession so nothing changed after they scored. Waine had a typical game for himself in which he worked hard, made lots of sprints, but didn’t get enough touches of the ball. However he did have one huge moment to potentially equalise... a flowing counter attack after he’d won the ball on halfway himself, which ended in a low cross that narrowly evaded BW in the centre of the goal. He claimed afterwards that he felt it flick his laces.
Not to be. Waine was then subbed on the hour and Leeds went on to score a second via Georginio Rutter. The 2-0 result sends Leeds up to second and keeps Plymouth happily enough in the lower-mid table realms. Their main target is just to stay in the division after getting promoted last term and they’re well on course for that as things sit.
Then just this morning they played West Brom... but Waine wasn’t summoned. They made five subs and he remained unused as those other bench fellas proceeded to throw the game away. It was 0-0 when they made a double change on the hour and then immediately conceded. Then Argyle conceded again ten minutes later, leading to three more subs, before conceding again at the very end to lose 3-0. Wrong subs, bruh.
Up Next: Middlesbrough vs Plymouth at 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Max Crocombe - Burton Albion (English League One)
Those were the vibes after grinding out a 2-1 win away to Leyton Orient. Crocs didn’t get that clean sheet on account of a penalty late in the first half, converted by George Moncur, but he did make four saves along the way as his lads were able to rally from that HT deficit through goals from Mason Bennett (72’) and Aristote Nsiala (76’). Note that the oppo keeper made a mess of both of them, whereas Crocombe yet again stood tall. He’s been superb this season and, with a couple of recent wins, Burton Albion have now concocted some breathing room between themselves and the relegation zone.
Up Next: Burton Albion vs Northampton at 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Tyler Bindon - Reading (English League One)
As have Reading, who did get thrashed 4-1 by division leaders Portsmouth on the weekend but they bounced back this morning with a 2-0 win over Port Vale. Lewis Wing (76’) and Harvey Knibbs (83’) with the goals as a strong second half performance was the key to this victory also. Tyler Bindon has had his ups and downs this term for a team that has been all over the place but since re-emerging as a starting CB following some outgoing transfers he’s been marvellous. Reading have taken 15 points from their last eight games with that Pompey one being the only defeat. An astonishing turnaround from where they were previously and Bindon’s been a big part of that.
By the way, this Port Vale clash was the rescheduled game that had to be abandoned after fans stormed the pitch in protest against Reading’s absentee ownership. The ownership hasn’t changed... but the atmosphere sure has thanks to a resilient young squad of players.
Up Next: Reading vs Shrewsbury at 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Alex Greive - Dundee United (Scottish Championship)
Fifteen minutes off the bench for Greive in a massive match within the context of the Championship title race. Unfortunately it was massive in the wrong way. After conceding early, Dundee Utd had been able to get back even going into HT against Raith Rovers. Neither team would have seen a draw as a disastrous outcome so by the time AG got out there it kinda felt like that’s what they’d settle for. Then Scott Brown scored an absolute speculator of a volley in the 88th minute to win it for Raith Rovers. 2-1 the final score.
That outcome means that Dundee Utd’s lead in first has dropped to just a single point. Both teams have played 23 games. So far Greive has featured four times for his new loan team, starting two of those. Still awaiting that first goal.
Up Next: Dundee United vs Queen’s Park at 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Marco Lorenz - BSV Schwarz-Weiß Rehden (German Regionalliga Nord)
Marco Lorenz had spent some weeks trialling around Germany during mid-2023. He was playing games for Werder Bremen’s U23s team, amongst other opportunities. But nothing permanent came of it so he returned to the Wellington Phoenix Academy, looked excellent in a couple of National League games... then disappeared again. Turns out he went back to Germany, linking up with BSV Rehden for a second trial after spending time with them in his first tour, and this time that contract has been offered.
BSV Coach Kristian Arambasic: “Marco bad already introduced himself to us in the summer of 2023. The timing wasn’t right back then. But now we get another great talent with a defender who is only 20-years-old. Marco is extremely willing to learn and lives like an absolute professional. He wants to make his way and he should do it with us for the next 1.5 years. His signing is a commitment for the future, but I also trust him immediately with efforts in the second half of this season.”
BSV Rehden’s first proper game of the year came last week away to Lupo-Martini Wolfsburg but they lost 2-0 with Lorenz not involved. They didn’t have a game this past round, the pitch got flooded, so they squeezed in a couple more friendlies instead. Not sure if Lorenz was involved because they didn’t publish line-ups but yeah nah that’s how things stand. BSV are currently ninth in the Lower Saxony region of the Oberliga, though with a couple of games in hand on most teams above them.
Up Next: Sunday at 2am, Eilvese vs BSV (NZT)
Riley Bidois - Loudon United (American USL Championship)
Another ex-Wellington Phoenix Academy player finding their way around the globe. Bidois made five A-League appearances for the Nix, before leaving to play for Dandenong City in Australia after he aged out of the reserves. He scored plenty of goals for that WeeNix side though, form which he has also flexed for the NZ U23s with those Olympics on the horizon. Now he’s moving to the USA where he’s signed a two-year contract with Loudon United in the USL Championship.
LU Head Coach Ryan Martin: “Riley is an extremely talented young attacker that played at the Wellington Phoenix Academy. He has great movement to get in behind the defence and a great nose for goal. He will be extremely competitive in the USL Championship, and we are happy to welcome him.”
The other thing to know here is that this move will have had a lot to do with Steve Coleman, the long-time Wellington Phoenix Academy mentor who took over as Technical Director last year when Paul Temple switched into the Women’s head coach role. Coleman left the Nix at the start of the month (replaced as TD by Lee Padmore) in order to take up a role with... Loudon United. There ya go. Coaches bringing the kiwi talent with them, you do love to see it.
Bidois’ presence brings the number of NZers at USL Championships up to five in 2024, joining James Musa (Colorado Springs), Moses Dyer (FC Tulsa), Kyle Adams (Louisville City), and Elliot Collier (Indy Eleven). Also got Michael Boxall (Minnesota United) and Bill Tuiloma (Charlotte FC) in the MLS above them, plus Tyler Boyd (Nashville SC) if you want to count him. Best include Jay Herdman (Vancouver Whitecaps) too after he was called up to the bench for their Champions Cup home tie against Tigres of Mexico. Didn’t play and then wasn’t involved for the away leg but the year is young and he’ll have further chances for a debut to come.
Up Next: Couple more weeks until the USL kicks off, with Loudon’s first match being away to San Antonio on 10 March (NZT)
If you appreciate the Flying Kiwis yarns, supporting us on Patreon or with a Paid Substack would help us massively in being able to keep on serving up the good stuff... kia ora
Also helps to whack an ad, hit up Buy Me A Coffee, and tell your mates about Aotearoa’s number one independent sports website
Keep cool but care