Australian Samuel Jacob grateful for opportunity at Hawke's Bay United as he works on formula for success

I T is common for people to assume you are an Italian or Greek if you are juggling a soccer ball in the suburbs of the land of "Wog ball".
Nevertheless, in the case of Australian Samuel Jacob, it would be wrong to jump to that conclusion.
The 22-year-old Hawke's Bay United midfielder's people are Assyrians who hail from Iraq.
"Since 2006, when the Socceroos made the World Cup, the game is growing," Jacob tells SportToday.
He is finding the New Zealand Football Championship a step up from the second-tier Wollongong league in New South Wales.
"I've been going a little backwards," says the Sydneysider, who rose to the enviable heights of playing national youth league in Australia before making his senior debut at the age of 18.
He played in the season opener against Waikato in Ngaruawhaia and came off the bench in the second half for an injured Chris Greatholder in the 1-nil loss against Youngheart Manawatu last Sunday in Palmerston North.
Unlike many who feel hard done by, Jacob accepts his work is cut out if he is to get more game time. "I have to train hard and well and if I get the chance on the field, do all the things correctly and impress the coach."
Crucial to his success is adapting to the speed at which the game is played at NZFC level.
Last weekend at Memorial Park, he believes the Bay boys had good crosses and through balls but just did not create enough clear chances.
"We were on top at times but our decision-making let us down."
His style of play differs from that of fellow centre-mid George Barbarouses.
"But it works and if we can link it'll help the team," says Jacob, who describes his style as "box to box" in keeping the ball at feet while advancing to the 18m box.
Barbarouses, he believes, prefers to be in the last third of the field, interacting with the strikers. Used to the 3-5-2 formation in the continent, Jacob is adapting to head coach Matt Chandler's 4-4-2 approach.
"It's simple but effective," he says, adding the desired result can be achieved if the team strikes the right balance.
In NSW, the 3-5-2 formation is a platform for putting speedy wingers on the front foot for an attacking game.
Jacob agrees with Chandler's assertion that the Bay need to draw first blood if they are to win games.
"The chasing game is not something you want."
Having seen Sunday's opponents, Waitakere United, on TV during the club World Cup tourney two years ago, Jacob considers them "pretty good" but believes the Bay can beat them if they get it together on the day.
"We have to put pressure on them from the start and the intimidation and not let them become comfortable," he says before the 2pm kick-off at Bluewater Stadium, Park Island.
Jacob started kicking a ball at the age of 3 but his father, Sargon, a former state league Fairfield Bulls midfielder/striker, took him to the local club where he made the representative side when he was 11 years old before competing in the national youth league.
While he still yearns to become a fulltime professional, Jacob has a certificate in fitness and personal training.
The NZFC is a good buzz for him and should put him on the grid in NSW.
"By next year I should be pushing on the doors for a professional career," says the player who attributes his self-belief to coach Bill Henshaw in NSW.
He speaks highly of the Bay franchise for their professionalism on and off the field.
On the field, he considers himself fortunate to sponge off Chandler's professionalism.
Off it, he's grateful to the franchise for providing a roof over his head (at teammate Leon Birnie's home in Tamatea), a car and a job at the City Fitness gym in Ahuriri.
Having played under two English coaches in Sydney, Jacob phoned Chandler for a stint and jetted across for a week-long trials.
"I took a gamble and it paid off," says Jacob, who is definitely keen to return "if things work out".