Aung Thu of Myanmar holds off Bill Tuiloma of New Zealand during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand Group A match between Myanmar and New Zealand. Photo / AP.
Aung Thu of Myanmar holds off Bill Tuiloma of New Zealand during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand Group A match between Myanmar and New Zealand. Photo / AP.
We're told a number of international scouts have set up camp in New Zealand in the past three weeks to watch the 24 teams at the under-20 World Cup, searching for potential signings for their various clubs across the globe.
A number of New Zealand players may have caught theireye - particularly in the last game against Portugal - but the most impressive of them all is off limits for the meantime. He has a professional contract already. He's the captain, Bill Tuiloma.
Against Portugal, Tuiloma was immense. On the right side of a back-three, he expertly marshalled his defensive troops against the onrushing Portuguese, repelling almost everything that was thrown at them.
In possession, Tuiloma was absolutely assured. On a couple of occasions, the ball was hurriedly banged towards him by a team-mate under pressure, but the skipper was completely unfazed. He simply altered his body position, brought the ball down and played his pass.
Rarely was that pass a long one; more often it was a short ball into midfield or out to Andrew Blake on the right flank.
In the pressure-cooker of the biggest game a New Zealand under-20 side has ever played, Tuiloma played a massive role in modelling how his team-mates should play. They clearly gained confidence from him and followed the impressive example he set. In short, he led. They followed. They too decided against long balls and played the sort of passing game rarely seen by teenagers in a New Zealand shirt.
Tuiloma is already a fixture in the full All Whites side. Since a starting debut in the final game of Ricki Herbert's tenure against Mexico in Wellington in late 2013, he has started all of New Zealand's internationals in the last 18 months.
It'll be fascinating to see in which position Tuiloma ends up playing. For the full New Zealand side he's played often at fullback. He doesn't appeal necessarily as a centre-back in a traditional back-four, but looked good as part of a three-man central defence.
It may well be though he plays in the crucial defensive midfield slot. It's a role he could fill for New Zealand for a decade or more. He certainly has the required skill-set and nothing seems to fluster him. He appeals as the perfect number six.
After the game in Hamilton, Tuiloma spoke of his pride in the performance of his team and gave credit to Portugal, before predicting a promising future for New Zealand football. As he stood in the bright glare of television cameras, lights and microphones, he was as calm and unaffected as he had been in the face of the onslaught of a European footballing powerhouse in the two hours previously.
In him, I saw a future New Zealand captain. And a very good one.
