Queens Park set to unleash United Nations side
April 18th, 2008, 7:50 pm Hobbies News
Thanks to an influx of South American dairy workers, two Uruguayans and three Chileans will join a host of Asian exchange students from China, Taiwan and South Korea.
A German, plus six players from Invercargill will also take the field, completing the multi-cultural, 16-man squad.
Southland Football regional development officer Ken Cresswell said the Queens Park side would not be alone this season, as many of this years teams were likely to have %26quot;one or two foreigners%26quot;.
An increase in South American %26quot;dairy-boom%26quot; workers, combined with a growing number of exchange students, had greatly contributed to the game, he said.
%26quot;Its always good for the game to increase numbers, the mix of foreign talent brings many different attitudes and passion to the sport.%26quot; Harry Guarda, of Chile, a defender in the Queens Park division one team, said he had worked on a dairy farm in Waituna for the past year and had really enjoyed picking up many new skills to use back home. Playing soccer allowed him keep fit and get off the farm for a break, he said.
Guarda will be joined by workmates Tony Abarda and Roddy Fernander, both of Chile.
Club president Lindsay Barnett said he discovered the three Chilean players while working at his carpetlaying job on a farm in Waituna.
An inquiry into whether there were any South American workers on the farm proved fruitful as %26quot;it turned out three Chilean blokes were working there and they were keen to play%26quot;, Barnett said.
Central forward Troy Pliensupab, of Thailand, said he had been studying at James Hargest College for two months and will remain until completing Year 13.
A keen soccer player, the 16-year-old has played for 10 years and once played for the Home United Football Club in Singapore, where he lived while learning English.
%26quot;I just love the game,%26quot; he said.
Troy said he had adjusted well to Kiwi life and enjoyed New Zealands weather, culture and food, especially New Zealand lamb, of which there was %26quot;none%26quot; in Thailand.
Sebastian Bendel, 17, a German exchange student at James Hargest, has been in New Zealand since January and will leave in July.
He said he enjoyed the competitive nature of the game as he had %26quot;never played at a serious level before%26quot;.
Barnett said he was looking forward to kick-off tomorrow and was feeling optimistic about the season.
%26quot;Im feeling positive with our multi-nationality team. I think we have a good chance. Things have changed somewhat. A few years ago a team with such a strong South American and Asian presence wouldve been hard to imagine,%26quot; Barnett said.
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