My life in sport: Chad Coombes

Chad Coombes helped propel Auckland City into fifth place at the world club championship. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Two goals stand out from the 2009 soccer season: the first, and most important, came via Rory Fallon's head against Bahrain, taking the All Whites to South Africa.

The second was a stunner, from the left foot of Auckland City's Chad Coombes, in the historic victory over Al Ahli in the world club championship.

It was right up there in significance as well, helping propel the Auckland club to fifth place in the elite Fifa tournament to cap a wonderful year for New Zealand soccer. The 26-year-old Coombes, Hamilton raised, and now a physical education teacher at Rutherford High School, was suddenly in the headlines.

His Auckland City coach, Paul Posa, says Coombes is blossoming after six seasons at the club and believes he is an outside shot to make the All Whites squad for the World Cup finals.

Here, Coombes takes a few questions from Supersport.

Talk us through that fabulous goal in Abu Dhabi.

I was tucked in a right wing position, saw a bit of space, took a touch and looked up to pass but I thought I'd have a go and swung the left foot as hard as I could. I knew it was something special as soon as I hit it. Some people said my celebration should have been more dramatic, but I just wanted to share the moment with the boys.

Where did soccer start for you?

I always played cricket and football, never rugby or league, and my brothers played cricket and rugby. I think my dad, Dennis, represented New Zealand in clay target shooting but I wouldn't say we were a huge sporting family.

Sporting heroes?

As a kid my heroes were cricketers - Adam Parore, Martin Crowe, people like that. Because my family wasn't a soccer family as such, I never watched senior football when I was young. As for the '82 All Whites, I hadn't even heard of them and didn't even know who they were. I've learnt more about them since then of course. In the early days of playing football, David Beckham at Manchester United and all that superstar stuff was an attraction.

Your soccer high point?

Definitely this tour with Auckland City and scoring that goal - and playing quite well over the three games in Abu Dhabi.

And low?

Drawing with Waitakere in an O-league match when we needed a win to get through.

Favourite coach?

You'll get me in trouble. It's funny with coaches - every coach has his own way to click with you. In recent times, it's been Paul Posa (Auckland City) and Shane Knowles (Lynn-Avon). I've been at Lynn-Avon the past two winters and Knowlesy has definitely worked on my passing. Paul has worked on my state of mind.

Favourite ground?

Everyone will expect me to say this - there have been a few over the years but right now it's Kiwitea St [Auckland City's home ground]. It's unique, buried in amongst the houses and the crowd is so close.

Did you ever have aspirations to play for the Phoenix?

I had a few games off the bench for the Kingz - I was under Ken Dugdale at first but he got fired, and then Tommy Mason. They were pretty crazy times. I'm not someone to put myself forward. I always let people come to me if I'm good enough. I've put education first so far and I wanted to get registered as a teacher which I did this year. I want to go to England next year to teach and play. The ultimate aim would be to play as a fulltime professional.

The word is you used to have problems with a fiery temperament.

I've been like that since I was 14. It's pretty much frustration of not performing to where I want to be - then I'll give the ball away and make a late sliding tackle. My problem has been silly yellow cards. I was the King of Two Yellow Cards. It wasn't dirty stuff, more stupidity. It was a lot of wasted energy. Paul Posa and I have a good bond - he puts an arm around me like my old man, gives me the time to get back on the right track. I haven't had a red card at Auckland City for two years.

Another common theme has been versatility.It's the story of my career. As a young kid at Hillcrest High I was always a striker and scored quite a few goals. At Mt Albert Grammar under Kevin Fallon I was a right winger and made New Zealand secondary schools and under-20s. In my first year in the national league with North Shore I played at right back and at Central under Alan Jones I played up front, right back, central midfield.

If you got an All Whites call-up, what would be your preferred position?

I used to think versatility could be my downfall but I find I can adapt quickly to the different positions now. I'm most comfortable at right back. Our old captain Ben Sigmund is number one for the All Whites on the right side at the moment ... James Pritchett and Aaron Scott have been around for a couple of years but I believe I'm as good as them at right back and I can offer more going forward. I've always had the ambition to play for the All Whites and my aim is to make the World Cup squad. I played quite well in the 2006 world club championship and did pretty well in the three games in Abu Dhabi. I feel I thrive in those environments, in the higher quality games.