In the new format of the FIFA Club World Cup, the spotlight naturally falls on the powerhouses of Europe and South America. And yet, a team from New Zealand – Auckland City – has already earned everyone’s respect.
They may have suffered a 10-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in their opening group stage match, but that hasn’t dampened their spirits one bit. They’re living the dream.
Born in Auckland, den Heijer also had a stint in the Netherlands with NEC Nijmegen. Now he’s leading Auckland City’s efforts in this revamped tournament, proudly representing the entire Oceania region.
A player who, in addition to football, also works full-time to make ends meet – putting in nearly 60 hours a week to keep chasing his dream.
Den Heijer’s exclusive interview with SDNA
“It’s a huge honor to represent Oceania”
– How does it feel to represent your region in such a prestigious tournament?
"It’s a huge honor for us to represent the Oceania region in this new format of the FIFA Club World Cup. As a team, we’ve worked incredibly hard over the past four years to perform well and earn qualification. We’ll do everything we can to leave a good impression in our final two matches."
– Playing against world-class players must be an unforgettable experience, right?
"For us, it’s a real privilege to witness up close the quality of these players. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to play against some of the biggest names in world football. These are memories that will stay with us forever."
“I’m proud – I’ve dedicated 20 years to get here”
– What does this tournament mean to you personally?
"On a personal level, it means everything. I’ve dedicated 20 years of my life to get to this point, and to have fulfilled my dream of playing at this level is something I’ll always be proud of."
“60 hours a week – it’s not easy”
– How difficult is the daily life of a footballer who lives far from the limelight and likely has another job to support himself?
"It’s very difficult. With work and football combined, we’re working nearly 60 hours a week. It’s a massive sacrifice – both for our families and for our careers outside of football. We’re fighting every day to make these football dreams come true."
“We want to inspire the youth of the Pacific”
– What’s the deeper message behind your team’s participation in this tournament?
"We want to make the football world proud of us, especially everyone who comes from our part of the world. We want the youth of the Pacific to know that it’s possible to achieve their football dreams. To make that happen, we’ll give everything we have on the pitch and show that we can compete against the world’s best."
