Selwyn Times: July 28, 2021

Selwyn Times Wednesday July 28 2021
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24
SPORT
Former Selwyn player
saving goals in the US
• By Coen Lammers
BAILEY JORDAN is
taking stock after a
rollercoaster first season
in college football in the
United States.
The former Selwyn United
goalkeeper (right) has
just finished his first eventful
semester at Northwest
College in Wyoming,
dealing with Covid disruptions,
extreme hot and cold
weather, a new sports scene
and team-mates from all
corners of the globe.
The 18-year-old was
offered a scholarship at
the junior US college after
catching the eye in 2019 at
the National U17 Tournament
with Selwyn after
which he was selected to
attend a United Kingdom
Football Academy.
“The coach of that
invitational team has some
connections in the States
and recommended me
to a coach at Northwest,”
says Jordan, who suddenly
found himself in the wild
west of Wyoming at the
start of a bitter winter.
“You could say that I
wasn’t really prepared
because when walked to
the gym on my second day,
I was only wearing shorts
and jandals but stepped
into snow that was knee
deep, so I quickly had to do
some shopping for better
footwear,” laughs Bailey.
Jordan was shocked to
find himself in a squad
with four goalkeepers, including
an academy player
from Chile’s top club,
but after the two others
departed for greener pastures,
Bailey was suddenly
the back-up to the best
goalkeeper in the league.
“This guy was a six foot
four and the best player I
have ever come across so
I learned a lot from him,”
says Bailey who was given
a few opportunities in
the first team, including a
match against the top team
in the conference that also
includes teams from Nebraska
and Colorado.
“Usually a freshman
does not get any game time
in the first year and the
game was against Casper
who were ranked No 6 in
the States. We only lost
2-0 so was pretty stoked,”
says Bailey who hopes to
claim the No 1 jersey when
he returns after his ‘summer’
holiday back in New
Zealand.
Much of this will depend
on which players the college
will recruit for their
squad which last year was
mostly made up of overseas
students.
Bailey hopes a good
season with Northwest
will then create a pathway
into a strong senior college
as well as professional opportunities
and possibly a
crack at the New Zealand
squad for the next under
20 World Cup.
“I’m just taking it one
day at the time, but training
every day in a professional
environment with
so many good players is
really helping me to grow
my game,” says Bailey who
is heading back to the stifling
heat of the American
north-west in August.
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