Cape Argus

Now Kiwi striker is setting PSL alight

SuperSport’s canny Brockie has knack of knocking in great goals

- Rodney Reiners

NEW ZEALAND’SBlack Caps got the better of the Proteas in a tense, nail-biting World Cup cricket semi-final yesterday. The All Blacks have, over the years, just been too good for rugby’s Springboks. Now, there’s a Kiwi taking the Premier Soccer League (PSL) by storm.

SuperSport United’s New Zealand striker Jeremy Brockie, in his first season in the PSL, has captured the attention with his performanc­es and goals for the Pretoria club. The 27- year- old Kiwi from Christchur­ch has netted four league goals since coach Gordon Igesund brought the player to SuperSport during the January transfer window.

And, if Brockie hadn’t already been noticed, he would certainly be in the minds of many after his stunning goal knocked Orlando Pirates out of the Nedbank Cup last weekend. The tie looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate and perhaps extra-time when the Kiwi popped up to score a glorious goal, volleying a cross and watching gleefully as the ball curved into the Pirates net.

It all happened for Brockie during Igesund’s tenure as coach of Bafana Bafana. The SA national football squad played in New Zealand and Australia in May last year, where Igesund was impressed with Brockie’s displays for his national team, known as the All Whites.

Brockie’s career in New Zealand saw him turn out for Nelson Suburbs, Canterbury United, Hawkes Bay and Wellington Phoenix. He has also played for Sydney FC in Australia and for Canadian club Toron- to FC in Major League Soccer in the United States. He jumped at the opportunit­y to come to South Africa, a country he remembers fondly from having been here with New Zealand for the 2009 Confederat­ions Cup and the 2010 World Cup.

“I’m glad to have gotten off to such a good start in my career here,” Brockie said in a recent interview. “But there’s still plenty of work to do.”

After his magnificen­t match-winner against Pirates, the Kiwi was named as the man of the match, but dedicated the award

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