Gibson signs with Southern United
Kristian Gibson does not mind spending a summer in Dunedin. After all, he is from Northern Ireland.
‘‘It’s probably the best place for me, down south. It’s going to be too warm [anywhere else],’’ he joked.
The 22-year-old Nelson Suburbs centre-back has signed with Southern United for the upcoming ISPS Handa Premiership, adding to the large Irish contingent at the franchise.
‘‘There were a few teams back home that were reaching out to me but I want to give the full year in New Zealand a go because I have been enjoying it,’’ Gibson said.
Gibson arrived in New Zealand at the beginning of the current Mainland Premier League season, signed as a replacement for defender Daniel Allan.
Despite picking up two suspensions for red cards, Gibson has been an otherwise ever-present figure in Suburbs’ back four and quickly caught the attention of Southern coach Paul O’Reilly.
Once talks with Tasman United stalled, Southern ramped up their interest and Gibson, whose intention was to play his way into Premiership consideration, did not take long to agree terms.
‘‘I didn’t want to go home, not just yet anyway. I was just hoping somebody was going to give me a chance. I knew I was good enough to play in the majority of the teams in the league it was just getting the chance to get your foot in first,’’ he said.
‘‘The main goal is to play as high as I can, and that’s just another step along the way. Now I just need to put in more hard work so I can go even further again.
‘‘I just want to do the best I can out here and hopefully it will set me up for the future.’’
Gibson said he will see out the season with Suburbs, who have just three games left to play, before moving to Dunedin to commence pre-season training.