Young stars prepare for future

By BRIAN SMITH

New Zealand's Under-17 team has drawn Brazil, England and North Korea in the group stage of the World Cup about to kick off in South Korea.
Two youngsters who will be following the results with interest are Rotorua's Nikolai Moljin and Taupo's Brian Radebe who have been selected in the national Under-15 squad which is already preparing for the 2009 World Cup tournament.
The squad, which was selected after a series of regional and national trials, recently took part in the American soccer identification camp in Portland, Oregon where they played four games in temperatures approaching 40C.
The standard of competition was high and although the record of three losses and a draw doesn't look good, coach Clive Campbell was happy with his young charges, especially Radebe and Moljin. Radebe was the only player to be on the field for every minute of every game while Moljin netted one of the Kiwis' three goals.
The two have walked vastly different paths on their journey towards World Cup glory.
Rotorua Boys' High School student Moljin is a native of Rotorua and since the age of 4 has played all his football within the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Federation.
The strapping 15-year-old says he has always been a striker, "Since I started playing I've liked scoring goals."
Academy Coach Ian Walker said Mojjin's pace and physique make him a threat to defences.
"He is playing in the Under-19 grade but this year he has already netted 13 goals."
Moljin was excited about his first taste of international football and is looking forward to more.
"It gave us a measure as to where we are and we are all keen to raise our standards before 2009."
He acknowledged the support of his parents Ingrid and Michael who have been right behind him.
"I've been to Australia three times for football and the trip to America was subsidised but Mum and Dad had to pay."
Fourteen-year-old Radebe came to New Zealand from South Africa with his mother Isabel in June last year.
"We lived in an area of Johannesburg where unemployment was 50 per cent and while football was the big game, the facilities for the kids were terrible. Brian is a natural athlete and represented Gauteng province at South African national meets," his proud mother told the Daily Post.
Isabel, who was widowed when Brian was very young, said his father was a good footballer and would be proud of his son.
Radebe started at Taupo Christian School last July, and it didn't take long for his football ability and potential to be noticed by local and federation coaches. After representing Waikato/Bay of Plenty at the national age group tournament in December, Brian was invited to trial for the Under-17 world cup development squad.
Simon Foy, coach of Federation League Champions Taupo, included Radebe in his senior squad for 2007 and since returning from the US he has been a regular in the first XI where he has more than held his own.
"The trip to Portland was tremendous and, coming from South Africa, I handled the heat better than the others, but the games were tough," Radebe said.
Having made the development squad, both Moljin and Radebe know that the hard work is just starting but they both have the ability and dedication to make their mark at the 2009 World Cup.