Brown chance for Deeley to combine sport and education
THE books are just as important to Ben Deeley as his boots.
So the 18yearold has found a way to get the most out of both.
He has secured a football scholarship to Brown University in the American state of Rhode Island.
It had been a longterm goal for Deeley, who returned south to play for Southern United in last summer’s national football premiership.
An Ivy League school, Brown rates as one of the world’s top academic universities, while also playing in the top flight of college sport.
That mix was the selling point for
Deeley, who also prides himself on achieving highly academically.
‘‘I think the point of difference for me was that the States gives you a sort of professional environment to play football in, and to get a degree at the same time; it gives you that security.
‘‘It’s an amazing opportunity to get an education over there and experience a different culture.’’
The recruitment process began for Deeley after he made the New Zealand under17 side.
He played in the agegroup’s World Cup qualifiers in Tahiti, as well as the World Cup itself in India.
That enabled him to prove he could play at the top level.
After sending highlights, game footage and academic records away, he began receiving interest.
He has been in talks with several other Ivy League schools such as Yale, Columbia and Princeton.
However, Brown’s diverse education options, as well as the way it balances sport and academics, made it stand out.
He is planning to study business management and entrepreneurship, but is also looking into other options such as political science and international relations.
Deeley will leave in late July or early August and his season will start in late August.
Before then he is training to get into top physical shape, while also working in a coaching capacity for Football South and Playball.
He is not playing at the moment, but will probably link with a team before he leaves once the South Island league begins.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Deeley moved to Timaru with his family when he was 8.
He spent his final two years of school at Auckland Grammar School.
The opportunity to get game time for Southern lured him home and he was glad he made the move.
‘‘Playing men’s football and travelling to games, playing the best of what New Zealand’s got to offer was another way of progressing my football.
‘‘I learned a lot off the pitch as well.’’
He hoped to have as much success as possible with Brown, while playing in Major League Soccer in the US remained a longterm goal.
A Markus Fjortoft has signed with Scottish premier league club Hamilton Academical.
The Norwegian was a strong presence in Southern United’s defensive line during the most recent national premiership. He has signed a oneyear deal.
LONDON: Before returning to the top of the English Premier League, Liverpool got to savour a Manchester United humiliation.
Now, unusually, Liverpool needs a swift recovery by its great rival after United’s despair at being routed 40 by Everton yesterday.
Liverpool’s hopes of ending a 29year English title drought could hinge on a big favour from sixthplace United when it hosts Manchester City on Thursday.
After beating Cardiff 20 yesterday, Liverpool is two points ahead of City with three games remaining. But Pep Guardiola’s champion has a game in hand over Liverpool so defending the title is still under its control — unless it fails to beat United.
‘‘If you are only motivated by winning the holy grail then something is wrong with you,’’ Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. ‘‘We enjoy the ride together with our fans.’’
For Arsenal, the challenge in its remaining four matches is
sealing a topfour finish to qualify for the Champions League. That mission was hampered by a 32 home loss to Crystal Palace that left Unai Emery’s side in fourth place but ahead of Chelsea only on goal difference and a point behind Tottenham.
Liverpool’s breakthrough against relegationthreatened
Cardiff came only in the second half — the sixth successive league game which Liverpool has won by scoring a winner after the break.
Georginio Wijnaldum met Trent AlexanderArnold’s corner at the near post in the 57th minute.
‘‘The boys decided the routine
for the first goal in the dressing room at halftime,’’ Klopp said. ‘‘We had different routines but the players decided and I love that.’’
Liverpool was disrupted by losing Fabinho following a clash of heads and Milner was sent on to play what proved to be a decisive role.
Milner netted from the penalty spot in the 81st minute after Sean Morrison grappled Mohamed Salah, who fell to the ground.
Liverpool now has a clubrecord 88 Premier League points, beating the 86 managed in the 200809 season. But there is still a first championship crown since 1990 to secure.
Cardiff’s mission is staying in the Premier League and the south Wales side remains in the last relegation place — three points from safety with three games remaining.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologised to fans after United lost for the sixth time in eight matches in all competitions — a spell that includes the manager’s caretaker position being turned into a permanent job on a threeyear contract.
Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson scored before the break, and Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott added to United’s pain with further goals in the second half.
United’s loss meant Arsenal still ended yesterday in fourth place, two points ahead of Solskjaer’s side, despite the north London club’s 10match winning league home run ending.
After Christian Benteke netted his first goal in 20 games in the 17th minute, Mesut Ozil did level for Arsenal at the start of the second half.
But Benteke set up Wilfried Zaha to restore Palace’s lead in the 61st before James McArthur headed in the visitors’ third.
PierreEmerick Aubameyang scored in the 77th but Arsenal could not find two more goals to extend its 10match winning league run at home. — AP