SOCCER: Sam Messam's career is taking off

HAMISH BIDWELL
Sam Messam only has to look within his own family to see how the New Zealand sporting landscape has changed.
Once upon a time, it wasn't uncommon for many national teams to contain a bolter, a player whose talents, for whatever reasons, had largely gone unnoticed until their unexpected arrival on the international stage.
In this era of academies and national age-group teams, though, the rise of some players seems to be pre-ordained. From his days as a star of the Rotorua Boys' High School first XV, Liam Messam was one of those. New Zealand under-16, secondary schools, under-19s, sevens and the Maori team, his progression through the national ranks has been seamless.
His brother Sam, though, couldn't get a look in. That was, until last Friday night.
But from the moment he played in Craig Henderson for the New Zealand Invitation XI's opening goal in their match against Fiji in Suva, you felt his fortunes may have changed. Then came a moment in the 64th minute of that match which confirmed your suspicions.
"I got the ball about 40 yards out, ran about 10 yards and then hit it into the top right corner. Before I went to Fiji, my goal was to try and score, so to do that was a great feeling," Messam told SportToday.
The Invitational XI hung on to win that match 2-1, before Fiji came back to win the second match in Lautoka 1-0 two days later.
Still, Messam had done enough in both matches to impress one well-known judge.
"I haven't really heard much of the television coverage, but I heard the commentators mentioned me a couple of times. The big one was that a guy Karembeu said I was a good player. So if he's making comments like that, hopefully a few other people will take notice," he said.
For those that don't know, Christian Karembeu is pretty well qualified to pass judgement. A member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning team, the New Caledonian native also won a Champions League title with Real Madrid and was in Fiji for the two-match series as part of his work as an Oceania and Fifa ambassador.
"I just want to go on from here and try and get into the full national side," Messam said.
"The other one is the Olympic under-23 team, who have their qualifying coming up. I'm only 21 at the moment, so making that team is definitely my big goal."
One which his Hawke's Bay United and Invitation XI coach Jonathan Gould says is attainable.
"It says a lot of about someone when they play so well and score a goal like that on their international debut. Sam has certainly gone away and enhanced his reputation as a footballer, like a few others on this trip," Gould said.
Time will tell if Messam can become an international regular. For now it's back to local football, with the towering striker set to turn out for Cru Bar Maycenvale United in their Rod Pelosi Challenge Cup match against Red Sox Manawatu at Akina Park on Saturday.
The other Homeworx Pacific Premiership qualifier, Bluewater Napier Marist, are away to Palmerston North.