Soccer: 15-year-olds jetting to UK for a shot at changing their lives forever

While their more senior teammates are in Papeete for today's crucial O-League game with Tahitian champions AS Manu Ura, Waitakere United youngsters Luke Adams and Jordan Vale will be preparing to fly many thousands of kilometres further for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at English Premiership club Birmingham City.

The 15-year-olds, the youngest players in Neil Emblen's United squad, have landed an all-expenses-paid chance to trial with the Midlands club. Dangling in front of them is the chance to become full-time scholars and to live and breathe football.

They have been given that chance through United assistant coach Darren Bazeley, who made contact with a former Watford teammate and now player agent Gary Porter who watched the pair play in National Youth League games last season.

Through his work at United Soccer 1, Bazeley has regular contact with talented young players and was able to foster the deal with Porter and Birmingham.

"The boys have both grown well over the past 12 months and have the ability and mentality required to be given a chance," said Bazeley. "Gary has created this opportunity with Birmingham, who are recruiting for next season's squad, and he trusts my opinion and I trust these boys will give a good account of themselves."

Emblen, who has played alongside the youngsters, endorsed the move.

"Luke and Jordan do not look out of place training and playing with the first team let alone the youth team," said Emblen. "They are both very focused and respectful boys who I would love to see achieve their dream of being professional players."

Waitakere flew to Tahiti after a light training session yesterday morning and a scare over the late arrival of visas for Roy Krishna and Ryan de Vries for their must-win game with the French Polynesian champions.

In the only changes from the team who beat Hawkes Bay, Tim Myers replaces the ineligible Luis del Monte in the squad. Brent Fisher, who has scored a goal in all Waitakere's O-League games this season, will return to the starting line-up, probably in place of de Vries.

New All White Chad Coombes faces a frantic day. He is due back from Los Angeles this morning and will then fly to join his Auckland City teammates in Noumea for this afternoon's clash with New Caledonian champions AS Magenta. Captain Ivan Vicelich and Jason Hayne, who flies back from the US with Coombes, are suspended and will miss the match, which City are keen to win to retain their two-point lead over Waitakere with just the clash of the two clubs on March 27 to come.

The only New Zealand Football Championship fixture this weekend - today's second attempt to play the washed-out affair from January 31 between Hawkes Bay United and Canterbury United - is important for both teams.

Canterbury are in the best position to claim a top four play-off spot. Three points at Park Island would seal it with two games in hand. Hawkes Bay need a lot more. They would need to win this one and their final game, at home to Auckland City a week later, to have any chance. Even then, they would need other results to go their way if they are to push Team Wellington and Otago out of contention.

The round five clash between Hawkes Bay and Canterbury ended 1-1 in the second game of an unbeaten four-match burst by the southerners who have, outside front-runners Waitakere United and Auckland City, been the most impressive team this season.

In Bay's favour is the return of Sam Halligan, Phil Clarke and Stuart Ferguson from suspension, while Canterbury have been hit by the loss of experienced captain Dan Terris, who broke his collarbone in last weekend's win over Otago.

NZFC
* Hawkes Bay United v Canterbury United
Park Island, noon today

O-LEAGUE
* AS Manu Ura v Waitakere United
Stade Paea, Papeete, 6.30pm today
* AS Magenta v Auckland City
Stade Numa Daly, 5pm today