All White off to Sweden to try his luck
A few people have told Joel Stevens he has the potential to go far in football. So he’s gone to Sweden to discover how high the ceiling really is.
The 23-year-old former Team Wellington winger has signed a professional contract with Husqvarna FF in Sweden’s thirdtier. The team is based out of Huskvarna, a city of 21,500 people.
Stevens said it was simply a starting point as he attempts to make a career out of football.
‘‘In New Zealand’s there’s not a whole lot of opportunity and it’s hard to move away because you’re leaving friends and family. But I just wanted a starting point in Europe. I didn’t mind where I started, I just wanted a starting point to see how far I could go,’’ he said.
‘‘Obviously there’s a bigger shop window, and I don’t have a European passport which is hard, but I just want to see how far my football ability can take me. I’ve been told that it could take me far, so I just want to see for myself I guess.’’
Four years ago, Stevens’ star was on the rise. He played three times for the All Whites at the beginning of former coach Anthony Hudson’s tenure, was a key figure for New Zealand at the Under-20 World Cup and chalked up five appearances for the Wellington Phoenix.
However, separate shoulder injuries, suffered when playing for the All Whites and the Phoenix, stalled his career. For the past few years he’s been playing for Team Wellington in the ISPS Handa Premiership and Miramar Rangers in the Central League – simply because he wanted to enjoy playing football again.
After winning the national league last season, he felt the time was right to give professional football another push. So he left Team Wellington midway through the current campaign for a series of trials throughout Sweden.
Stevens never expected it to be easy, going out on his own to try and secure a contract in a foreign country. And he was right. He was greeted by freezing cold temperatures, often training in -12 degrees, and tore his calf muscle, which sidelined him for a month.
‘‘It always seems to be my problem, I try and do something with football and it goes wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘First it was my shoulders with the Phoenix, so I decided to play locally in New Zealand because I enjoyed it and I wanted to get back to enjoying football, but then I decided to come overseas and give a go, otherwise I might regret it, and the first thing that happens is I get injured.
‘‘It was pretty annoying and it still is pretty annoying because I just want to play.’’
Luckily for Stevens, he was still able to get on the field and clearly left an impression on Husqvarna’s coaching staff when he played against them while on trial for another club. So, by the time he arrived there for an audition, they already knew who he was and were happy to offer him a contract.
Stevens has only been involved in preseason but felt the level of competition was comparable to the ISPS Handa Premiership, the major difference being the gap between the top and bottom clubs.
‘‘It’s a weird one because I think this league is a lot closer than the New Zealand league is. Auckland City could probably compete in any league here, but other teams probably couldn’t,’’ he said.
‘‘The level in New Zealand is getting better but I think it’s a lot different because of money more than anything. Everyone here is the same and there’s so many people here. The bottom team could beat the top team. There’s a lot of good players and there’s a lot of people who play for enjoyment, like ex-professionals.’’
Stevens said he has not heard from new All Whites coach Fritz Schmid but, if he can impress and move up the ranks, a phone call may not be far away.
‘‘In New Zealand it’s so hard to get into the All Whites again unless you’re playing professional or a club in Auckland, well it has been in recent years anyway. I really want to get back into the All Whites, especially under a new coach. But right now I’m focusing on how far my career will go, and hopefully that will happen on the way.’’