For someone who hails from Siberia, Roy Krishna is hot property.
That's Siberia, Labasa, Fiji, of course. Not the cold, vast region that covers 77 per cent of eastern Russia.
The 21-year-old is being courted by A-League clubs the Wellington Phoenix and North Queensland Fury and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven recently enquired after him.
The Phoenix are Krishna's most likely destination but it has become apparent he has outgrown the NZFC. He is, along with Waitakere team-mate Neil Emblen, the best player in the league.
Waitakere coach Chris Milicich has said he would be "incredibly stunned" if Krishna was still playing NZFC next season, meaning today's grand final against Auckland City could be his last match at that level.
"I am very confident that before the end of the season, we will have some firm direction of where Roy will be going," says Waitakere chairman Rex Dawkins, also acting as Krishna's agent. "It will be within Australasia.
"He's got time. He will go to Europe, no question about that. We have heard from PSV but there's no use throwing him into the fire. The next step will be the A-League."
Dawkins and Milicich had been in Fiji scouting another player but turned their attentions to Krishna after watching him in the same game.
He had been a standout at the Oceania under-20 tournament in 2007 but had received as much notoriety for his petulance, when he kicked out at opposition players and threw the ball at others, as for his sublime skills.
That aspect of his play seems to have been ironed out.
"I used to play like that," Krishna says, "but I learned from my mistakes. I realise I have to be patient."
Much like his career.
Baby steps, he's constantly reminded.
"It's good for me [to be patient] because I will be more experienced and professional. But it would be my dream come true [to play in Europe]. I want to play in front of big crowds."
Then he would really know about feeling the heat.
Soccer: Krishna outgrows NZFC
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