Teen keeper grabs chance with both hands
Mason sheds nerves to make strong fist of it
Napier City Rovers goalkeeper Oscar Mason made an unexpected senior debut in what could be his first and last game for the club. The 15-year-old, who replaced first-choice Richard Gillespie because of illness in the second half, became the youngest player to appear for Rovers this season.
Mason, who had been on the bench for the opening three games of the Central League season, helped guide Napier City Rovers to a 2-1 victory over Miramar
Rangers AFC at Bluewater Stadium on Sunday.
But, the young shot stopper, who said the debut was completely unexpected, is due to leave the club after their next game.
“The first-choice keeper was sick, so he had to come off. I really wasn’t expecting to come off the bench at all,” he said.
“I got quite nervous when I got told. But I came and slid out to make a save and that calmed me down — then I got into it.”
The Napier-born teenager is due to move to Auckland after their match at North Wellington United today.
“I went to Napier Boys’ High School, but I’m moving up to Auckland Grammar next term to get more specific goalkeeper coaching,” he said.
“It gives me the opportunity to play in front of the New Zealand Under-17 coaches every week to try to get a call-up for qualifiers and then the World Cup in 2021.”
Mason will be plying his trade for Central United and Auckland Grammar first XI.
Still in his first season at Napier City Rovers, the youngster said the decision to move north was hard, but one he hoped would help his international career.
“I was at Napier Marist Football Club last year, but I was only able to train with their first team as I wasn’t old enough to play senior football,” he said.
“Moving to Auckland will help me get specific goalkeeper training every week and get in front of the right people every game I play.
“My family will be staying in Hawke’s Bay and I will board up there so it won’t be easy. But international football has always
"The first-choice keeper was sick, so he had to come off." Oscar Mason
been a goal of mine.”
The Napier City Rovers number 21, a Napier Marist player since the age of 5, said while football ran in his family, he was the first to play between the sticks.
“My dad played for Taradale and my brother plays in Hamilton, but my brother’s a striker and my dad is a midfielder, so I’m not sure where the goalkeeping comes from.”
After two goals from Rovers’ JC Mack, Napier City Rovers moved up to second in the league — three points off Western Suburbs.
Rovers travel to Alex Moore Park, Wellington, to face North Wellington United at 2.30pm today.