The Kiwis continued to assert their dominance in Oceania during 2013 with both the Junior All Whites and the Young All Whites claiming the regional crowns for New Zealand.
But winless runs at both the FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Cups earned first round exits for the latest crop of young Kiwi talent.
Out of those two forgettable tournaments there is renewed optimism as individual talent emerges from the ashes of those failed campaigns.
One of those mercurial talents is 17-year-old Matthew Ridenton, son of former All White Michael, who joined New Zealand-based A-League club Wellington Phoenix for the 2013/14 season.
He made his debut in the side’s 4-2 loss to Perth Glory in late 2013 but it was his setting up of fellow New Zealand age-group starlet Tyler Boyd for the equaliser in the ‘Nix first win of the New Year over Western Sydney Wanderers which really turned heads.
“Away from home, with a parochial crowd having a go, I just thought he was very cool, calm and composed,” Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick said.
“He’s pushing for a first-team berth. I won’t reveal the team until the last minute but that’s the type of quality that’s coming out of New Zealand and I think there’s lots more.”
Merrick isn’t wrong about there being plenty more talent in the New Zealand Football pool.
Joining Ridenton at the Phoenix is fellow U-17 international Alex Rufer, another player of fine pedigree with a former All White for a father and the OFC Player of the Century for an uncle.
U-20 international Boyd and his teammate Louis Fenton are entering their second season with the club and both are starting to make more regular appearances while Luke Adams was added to the line-up this season.
They’re all joined in the A-League by Central Coast Mariners defender Storm Roux, who was previously with Perth Glory. Roux has made almost immediate impact since joining the club this season, scoring the only goal in his side’s 1-0 victory over the Wellington club in December.
A number of 2013’s U-20 crop continue to put in the hard yards on home soil with Joel Stevens, Hamish Watson, Justin Gulley, Rory Turner and Tom Biss all regular faces in the ASB Premiership.
Then there are the players breaking into professional leagues across the globe.
Since leaving the Christchurch-based Asia Pacific Football Academy Cameron Howieson remains a regular feature with the Burnley youth squad while goalkeeper Max Crocombe extended his contract with Oxford United.
Fellow gloveman Scott Basalaj, who signed a short-term contract with Scottish club Partick Thistle in September, has had his time extended until the end of the current season. U-20 teammate Jesse Edge is on the books at Italian club Vicenzo Calcio.
Bill Tuiloma joined French Ligue 1 club Olympique Marsaille following the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 and while he’s made appearances for the youth team, was most notably included on the bench for the first team against Lyon in early December.
And finally Ryan Thomas, who signed a one-year deal with Dutch club PEC Zwolle in September last year, recently announced a contract extension which will see him remain with the side until 2018.
The All Whites may not have qualified for back-to-back FIFA World Cup tournaments after falling to Mexico last year, but there is no doubt the depth is there for the team to put forth a strong challenge when the qualifications get underway for Russia 2018.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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