But anyone hasn’t met 16-year-old Logan Rogerson.
The determined youngster is making a name for himself at the front the of the New Zealand U-17 pack at the OFC U-17 Championship – leaping to the top of the goal scoring ranks in Group A with five goals from two matches.
But all the glory is the result of some extremely hard work.
“I come from a small town close to Hamilton in New Zealand called Ngaruawahia, where football is not the main sport,” he explains.
“My family had never heard of football when I started, they’re definitely more of a rugby family.”
So how exactly has he gone from kicking about in Ngaruawahia to proudly wearing the fern in Samoa?
“I think it was just hard work from myself, just chasing the dream and not letting anyone say that I can’t make it.”
Having a supportive family has also helped.
“My family has never closed doors and always left opportunities like this open for me.”
Representing his country is a dream come true, but that’s not where this lad’s ambitions end.
“Obviously I’d love to be playing professionally and not have to work when I’m older. But I think this team will take me where I want to go and open a lot of opportunities for me,” Rogerson says.
With the team a stepping stone for Rogerson into an as-yet-unknown future, he’s happy to be doing his bit to drive them to the semi-finals, and hopefully beyond.
“I just try and work hard for the team and that’s my job, to try and score goals. So I just try and fulfil that role in every game.
“I think our team bonds well together. Off the field we’re kind of like a family but as soon as we cross this white line we’re very professional and like this result here [9-1 against Samoa], we get the job done,” he says.

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