Players Abroad

New Zealand FA Look To Pinch SA-Born Striker

59 Dec 11, 2014 - 05:07 pm

By Joe Crann

The New Zealand FA have made contact with South African striker, Ryan de Vries, regarding the possibility of playing for the All Whites in the future.

De Vries, 23, was born in Cape Town but has spent the past few years playing in New Zealand, and is currently playing in the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco with Auckland City.

The striker played all 120 minutes as City scraped past Moroccan champions, Moghreb Tetouan, in a penalty shootout last night and is expected to also start when they face CAF Champions League winners, ES Setif, from Algeria on Saturday.

De Vries has grabbed six goals and 12 assists in his last 29 games for Auckland since make the move from Waitakere United, however had never been contacted by anyone from the South African Football Association.

Now, while revealing that he would still like to play for South Africa, the forward has explained that only the NZF have actually taken the time to speak to him.

Speaking to the Siya crew, De Vries said, “I actually haven’t decided whether I’d play for South Africa or New Zealand, it’s an either/or right now, however New Zealand have approached me so I’ll see if I get a call up from them. I haven’t ever been approached by anyone at SAFA.”