Catch up on all the exploits of the overseas-based All Whites, Football Ferns and coaching professionals in recent days with the latest edition of Kiwis Abroad.

Kosta Barbarouses/Jai Ingham/Storm Roux (Melbourne Victory, AUS): All three All Whites were included in the starting line-up as the Victory took on Oakleigh Cannons in their first match of pre-season. Barbarouses featured most prominently of that trio, assisting in the opening goal before scoring himself with a perfectly curled free kick from the edge of the box in a 4-2 win.

CJ Bott (Vittsjo GIK, SWE): Has joined fellow Football Fern Hannah Wilkinson at Vittsjo after putting pen to paper on a deal with the Swedish top-flight club. The fullback arrives on the back of a one-year spell in the German Frauen Bundesliga with USV Jena and will hope for a more successful campaign after suffering relegation in her first year as a professional.

Michael Boxall (Minnesota United, USA): Made his 50^th MLS appearance as Minnesota earned a 2-1 win over New England Revolution and followed that up with a 5-1 thumping of Los Angeles FC. It was the third consecutive win for the Loons, who are now seventh on the Western Conference ladder. Boxall will face All Whites team mate Stefan Marinovic this Saturday as Minnesota visit the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Tyler Boyd (Vitoria de Guimaraes, POR): Has returned to his parent club after spending last season on loan at fellow Primeira Liga outfit CD Tondela. The former Wellington Phoenix player has featured notably in pre-season, setting up a goal in a 2-2 draw with Desportivo das Aves and scoring himself in a 3-2 win over CD Santa Clara. He will face his former loan club in the Portuguese League Cup on Monday.

Katie Bowen (Utah Royals, USA): Came up against her former international captain as Abby Erceg’s table-topping North Carolina Courage paid a visit to Utah. Erceg captained the Courage from her usual spot in the middle of defence while Bowen continued to line up in the less familiar role of right back. Erceg nearly scored with a header early on while Bowen had a shot from distance saved in the 70^th minute of the nil-all draw.

Jeremy Brockie (Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA): Finally got off the mark for the Mamelodi Sundowns, sweeping in a rebound in a 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs which claimed the Ultra Cup. While it was only a pre-season encounter, nearly 50,000 fans witnessed Brockie’s debut goal for the Sundowns, which came after 13 appearances and 528 minutes of action.

Myer Bevan (Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN): Has returned to Canada after a productive loan spell in Sweden at Husqvarna FF, in which he scored two goals in five starts and made nine appearances in total. The 21-year-old is yet to appear for the Whitecaps first team but looks to be forcing himself into the frame, making the bench for a 1-0 loss to Montreal Impact in the Cascadia Cup but remaining unused.

Kip Colvey (Colorado Rapids, USA): Has been loaned out to USL outfit Colorado Springs Switchbacks, who formerly had fellow All White Chris James on their books. Colvey made his debut in a 1-0 loss to Sacramento Republic and played the full 90 minutes again at right back in a 4-2 win over the Tulsa Roughnecks. “He knows this league and is eager to play. Hopefully, he can come in and do a job for us,” said coach Steve Trittschuh.

Max Crocombe (Salford City, ENG): Has a new manager to play for this season after Graham Alexander, who previously coached Clayton Lewis at Scunthorpe United, took over at Salford in May. Crocombe was on the bench for a 1-0 pre-season win over Woking and there is now only one friendly remaining before the National League, the highest level of non-league football in England, kicks off on August 4.

Simon Elliott (Sacramento Republic, USA): Now head coach of Sacramento Republic in the MLS, the former All White steered his side through an unbeaten run in July. The latest positive result was a 1-1 draw at home to Oklahoma City Energy FC. Elliott’s charges are now fifth on the 17-team Western Conference standings and have been beaten just five times in 22 matches.

Jake Gleeson/Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers, USA): Both were unused substitutes in a 2-2 draw with Montreal Impact, which took the Timbers’ unbeaten run in the league to 13 games. But Tuiloma did earn a start a few days earlier in a US Open Cup quarter-final against Los Angeles FC, playing for 79 minutes of a 3-2 loss before being replaced for a more attacking option as Portland looked to equalise.

Niko Kirwan (Reggina, ITA): Switched clubs but has remained in the Italian third division after joining Reggina from AC Mestre. The 22-year-old made 21 appearances in Serie C last season, his first as a professional, and has signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional two years. He will aim to force his way into the plans of All Whites coach Fritz Schmid after being named on stand-by for the Intercontinental Cup in June.

Cameron Knowles (Portland Timbers 2, USA): Nominated for Coach of the Year in the Fans’ Choice USL Midseason Awards. “Knowles has instilled a greater sense of belief within T2’s squad that has allowed its young players to flourish so far this season,” his nomination stated. “The club has almost tripled its win total from a season ago in the first half of the season and is in with a chance at its first trip to the USL Cup play-offs.”

Clayton Lewis (Scunthorpe United, ENG): After a frustrating first season as a professional, Lewis is looking to make more of an impact with Scunthorpe in the upcoming campaign. The Iron are currently on a pre-season tour in Austria and Lewis has featured heavily, playing for around 70 minutes in both of the previous two matches. He helped set up a goal in the latest game and also had a couple of chances to score himself.

Stefan Marinovic (Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN): Made his return after two months out through injury in a 1-0 loss at Montreal Impact in the Cascadia Cup and tasted defeat once more a few days later in the MLS. Vancouver were on the road again to the Seattle Sounders and fell 2-0, Marinovic misjudging a long-range strike for the second goal but redeeming himself with a one-on-one save in the second half.

Adam Mitchell (Bolton Wanderers, ENG): Still with Championship side Bolton Wanderers but is currently on trial at League One Walsall. The 22-year-old – who has played for New Zealand at U-17, U-20 and senior level – was a regular for Bolton’s U-23 side last season and is now one of several defenders fighting for a deal at Walsall. He featured for the Saddlers’ in a 2-0 pre-season victory over Dutch giants Ajax.

Meikayla Moore (MSV Duisburg, GER): Left relegated FC Koln to remain in the Frauen Bundesliga with Duisburg, whom fellow Football Fern Emma Rolston joined just a few weeks previously. “My aim is to continue to grow and develop as a player in the game I love while giving above and beyond 100 per cent of myself to this team and this new adventure,” she said.

James Musa (Phoenix Rising, USA): Was at the heart of the action in a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders, picking up a yellow card and assisting towards the winning goal. Musa played the full 90 minutes in front of a sell-out crowd of over 7,000 in searing heat and his long pass allowed Chris Cortez to break away and find the net. The Rising are now in second place on the Western Conference standings of the USL.

Steven Old (Morecambe, ENG): Has just completed pre-season with Morecambe and is about to enter his second campaign in League Two. The Shrimpers kick off their season away against Crewe on August 4 and will be hoping for a change in fortunes after avoiding relegation from the Football League only on goal difference last season. Old is likely to line up in the centre of defence after featuring prominently last time around.

Winston Reid (West Ham United, ENG): Will miss the first two months of the Premier League season after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury. “Winston has been suffering some swelling around the knee injury that he sustained at Swansea last season and is in need of explorative surgery to clean up the area,” said Richard Collinge, head of the club’s medical department.

Matt Ridenton (Newcastle Jets, AUS): Has made an impact with his new club already, most recently starting in a 9-0 pre-season friendly win over a Mid-North Coast Select. Former All Whites team mate Glen Moss was also handed a berth between the sticks and the pair are now off to Spain for a training camp and three friendly fixtures as the Jets continue their A-League preparations. 

Ali Riley (Chelsea, ENG): Joined one of the most famous clubs in the world after swapping Sweden for English giants Chelsea. “She has an unbelievable engine and will run all day for fun – I have learned that her parents are both marathon runners and I am not surprised,” manager Emma Hayes said. “She has exceptional experience, wonderful character and wonderful qualities which I think will take us to another level.”

Logan Rogerson (Carl Zeiss Jena, GER): Added to the ever-growing Kiwi contingent in Europe by signing for German third-tier outfit Carl Zeiss Jena. After impressing in a pre-season game against Union Berlin, he was quickly snapped up on a two-year contract which includes an option for a third. “I definitely know I’m going to improve here because the standard of the football is a level above what I’m used to,” he said.

Marco Rojas (SC Heerenveen, NED): Building towards his second season in the Dutch Eredivisie and will hope to feature more strongly after an injury-interrupted first campaign at Heerenveen. The former Melbourne Victory star is already off the mark in pre-season after finding the net from close range in a 3-3 draw with German side Borussia Monchengladbach.

Katie Rood (Bristol City, ENG): Became the latest Football Fern to head to the English top flight after signing for Bristol City. “Roodie is a player who we feel will add a lot to our squad in terms of her experience at both club and international level,” manager Tanya Oxtoby said. “The style of football we’re looking to play really suits her attributes and we’re excited to have her on board.”

Shane Smeltz (Sydney FC, AUS): Took the first steps in his post-playing career by being named assistant coach of the Sydney FC U-20s team. The former All White was one of several new staff members confirmed by the Sky Blues and will work alongside U-20s head coach Giancarlo Italiano. Smeltz moves into coaching after an international career that brought 24 goals in nearly 60 appearances.

Tommy Smith/Deklan Wynne (Colorado Rapids, USA): Only Smith made the pitch last time out, taking full part in a come-from-behind 2-2 draw at Real Salt Lake while Wynne remained on the bench. In a match interrupted by a lightning storm, the Rapids looked dead and buried at 2-0 down but came back to salvage a point, Smith hitting the crossbar with a left-footed strike early in the second half.

Rebekah Stott (Sky Blue, USA): On the comeback trail after picking up an injury a month ago and was on the bench as North Carolina Courage came to New Jersey, winning 4-0 with Abby Erceg getting on the scoresheet with a header. Stott was again an unused substitute a week later as Sky Blue fell to another defeat, this time 2-1 to the Portland Thorns.

Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle, NED): Strongly rumoured to be on his way out of Zwolle with a likely destination being one of the big Dutch clubs. His current club appears to be preparing for life without Thomas by making a couple of attacking signings and the All Whites midfielder was not involved in the most recent pre-season game. He did feature in the previous two friendlies though, winning a penalty in one of them.

Nik Tzanev (AFC Wimbledon, ENG): Extended his stay in England’s League One by signing a new contract at the Dons. He is likely to be third choice but manager Neal Ardley is pleased to keep him at the club. “Nik has done really well and is one we think has got a real chance in the future,” he says. “We are delighted that Nik has put pen to paper and, fingers-crossed, he could be part of the future in a few years.”

Rosie White (Chicago Red Stars, USA): Had a weekend off as Chicago sat out the action with the bye but played a winning role off the bench a week earlier. With the scores locked at nil-all against the Seattle Reign and only five minutes left on the clock, White entered the fray and was involved in a couple of goal-scoring opportunities before Australian superstar Sam Kerr finally hit the winner to claim a 1-0 victory.

Chris Wood (Burnley, ENG): Nearly opened his pre-season account in a 2-0 win over Macclesfield, heading over from a pinpoint cross before stabbing a shot against the foot of the post. Both those chances fell in the first half and Wood was again unlucky in the second, his follow up from a saved Johann Berg Gudmundsson strike being blocked on the line.

Michael Woud (Willem II, NED): Brought his three years at Sunderland to an end by moving to the Dutch top flight with Willem II, making his first team debut against Belgian outfit Gent in a pre-season friendly. Woud played the full 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw while fellow Kiwi James McGarry, who has also joined Willem from the Wellington Phoenix, played the whole second half.

Article added: Wednesday 25 July 2018