From Flying Kiwis. Bit rarer to get an overseas gig outside the Weenix/Ole pathways these days.
You may recall young Cantabrian gloveman Dublin Boon popping up in this column a few times. After moving to Roda JC from Nomads United, he’s appeared regularly for the U21s and has made the bench a couple of times for the first team already. Now here’s a bit of a feature on him from the RJC website so we can get to know his story in his own words...
Dublin Boon: “My name is Dublin Boon, I am 18 years old and I am from New Zealand. I am the keeper of Roda JC O21. I have already completed my studies at Burnside High School in my home country. I currently live on my own in Kerkrade. My previous club was in New Zealand: Nomads United from Christchurch. This season is my first season at the Roda JC Football Academy.
Exactly one year ago, in December 2022, I participated in a training camp in Melbourne, Australia. This was organized by Boris Ivanov of Victoria Football and several international scouts and trainers were present. A number of them had become enthusiastic about me and so I had the opportunity to go to the Netherlands in February.
I also had a number of trials at PEC Zwolle, FC Emmen and at OH Leuven in Belgium, plus also the opportunity to train at PSV, because trainer Albert van der Sleen had me seen at the training camp. All this took a few months, until Robert-Jan Zoetmulder, a PSV goalkeeper coach and former Roda JC goalkeeper coach, recommended this club to me. I went on trial before the season started and was finally hired for the O21.”
I also had a number of trials at PEC Zwolle, FC Emmen and at OH Leuven in Belgium, plus also the opportunity to train at PSV, because trainer Albert van der Sleen had me seen at the training camp. All this took a few months, until Robert-Jan Zoetmulder, a PSV goalkeeper coach and former Roda JC goalkeeper coach, recommended this club to me. I went on trial before the season started and was finally hired for the O21.”