Dragons snare youth international
Canterbury United have snapped up youth international Andre de Jong to play alongside ex-All White Aaron Clapham in the national league team’s midfield.
De Jong, 18, played for New Zealand at the Fifa under-20 World Cup tournament in New Zealand this year.
He is the son of New Zealand Football high performance manager and former All White Fred de Jong.
De Jong has had two seasons in the ASB Premiership with Wanderers SC, a New Zealand under-20 training group formed to get match experience before the World Cup.
He impressed observers with a standout performance in midfield, in opposition to Clapham, when Wanderers visited the Canterbury Dragons in the 2013-14 season.
The teenager has been playing in the Northern Premier League at East Coast Bays under new Canterbury United coach Willy Gerdsen, who is now bringing de Jong south with him.
‘‘Andre had several options, so it is a real vote of confidence in what we are trying to create at Canterbury United for the coming season, for him to move down to Christchurch,’’ Gerdsen said.
Canterbury United have retained the nucleus of their 2014-15 squad and added de Jong’s New Zealand under-20 and East Coast Bays team-mate Brock Messenger, Napier City Rovers duo Angus Kilkolly (striker) and Ruben Parker (goalkeeper), Nelson Suburbs’ former New Zealand under-17 international keeper Coey Turipa and Guatemalan striker Juan Chang from Wellington club Western Suburbs. English import Gary Ogilvie is also in contention.
Gerdsen has moved to Christchurch and will gather the Canterbury United squad on Tuesday to start pre-season training.
Several local players have been invited for a trial during the first week of training before the final squad will travel to Methven for a two-day training camp.
Gerdsen said he could not wait to get his full squad into camp to start building towards a successful campaign. ‘‘I think we have gathered a pretty promising group of experienced players and exciting new talent to give our fans an attractive, and hopefully winning, brand of football.’’
The ASB Premiership kicks off in November.