Finally Feni gets to shine in big leagues

CHRIS SYMES/Shuttersport

RISING STAR: Gagame Feni's coach says he has that vital X factor as a player.

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It was a long time coming, but rising football star Gagame Feni finally made his Mainland Premier League debut in Nelson Suburbs' 2-2 draw with Halswell United two weeks ago.

Feni replaced Erik Panzer at halftime, and although he looked nervous in the beginning, it didn't take him long to find his feet, passing a through-ball to Darrell Hannah, whose shot landed at the feet of fellow Solomon Islander Casper Aengari, who smashed the ball into the net.

"First two minutes I was quite nervous. My heart was pumping," Feni said. "I made a good start. We all play as a team, so to set up a goal was quite important for me and the team as well."

Feni had been the victim of a Fifa ruling that prohibited any overseas player under the age of 18 and living in a country where their parents don't live from playing top-level football, even though he had been attending Nayland College for the past three years.

"I thought as soon as I got here, things would go on and get better and better."

But the day after his 18th birthday, Feni finally got his chance.

"I tried to do heaps of running and receive much ball from the defenders, so I can have more confidence. I was quite happy and pleased."

Brendon Crichton, who coaches the Nayland first XI and was co-coach of Nelson Suburbs at the time, was instrumental in bringing Feni over to New Zealand, but admitted he was also oblivious to the ruling.

"The intention was he might need a year to develop, then he could go for it," Crichton said.

"If we had known, he may not have come as early as he did. He's probably waited a year longer than I would've liked. There's nothing we could have done."

After a successful debut, Feni now wants to show his potential in the remaining games of the Mainland season.

"Hopefully I can start the next couple of games and score goals." There has been plenty of interest from Canterbury United and Crichton believes it's very likely Feni will feature in the NZFC over the summer.

"I've been talking to Canterbury United and it's 99 per cent sure that he'll be involved playing National league. So that's his next step. That should, hopefully, give him the opportunity that he can put himself at a level where he can get noticed. I think he's good enough over time to play A-League, if he develops a bit more from a team point of view."

Nelson's final game of the season is against Woolston Technical, who are coached by Canterbury United head coach Keith Braithwaite, making it a perfect time for Feni to cement a spot in the NZFC squad.

Feni, last year's golden boot winner, is linking up with fellow Solomon Islander Jerry Donga to spearhead the Nayland College first XI attack at the Secondary School National Football Championship in Napier this week, and Crichton is confident Feni can produce similar performances this year.

"He's at a stage now where his playing ability is at such a high level that there wouldn't be too many secondary school-aged players that are better than Gagame, especially as a striker. He's unconventional, which is kind of good because it gives him that X factor."

If he can break into the Canterbury United squad, Feni's next goal is to represent his adopted country either at age-grade level or for the national team.

"Hopefully, I can be a better soccer star and I want to be in the New Zealand team. I would rather play for New Zealand, good coaches, good equipment."

But while Feni's mind seems made up, Crichton acknowledges it may not be that black and white.

"It's difficult. He has to be in the country for four years and then he's got to apply for residency. At the end of this year he would have been here for four years, so potentially he could. But I think the pathway is better for him to play for his country of birth, the Solomon Islands.

"He'll be involved with them at the U20 setup in January when they have the world cup qualifiers in Auckland. Him and Jerry both will. It would be better for his football if he got in the New Zealand system, but there's a lot of things that would need to fall in line."

- © Fairfax NZ News