CNN
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The iconic Argentinian clubs that legendary Diego Maradona once played often “got to school,” and that’s what happened, and that’s a lesson we can all learn.
This week, some of the biggest names in football will gather in New Jersey for the semi-finals and finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, making it a highly interesting audience to watch from more than 8,000 miles away in New Zealand.
Christian Gray is the defender of Oakland City FC, the only amateur side to play in a tournament hosted in the US. Christians are physical education teachers for trainees who have just happened to acquire what they call their life goals. A lightning header against the powerful Boca Juniors that counts Uruguayan icon Edinson Cavani to its rank. This was one of only six goals Gray scored in four years for the Kiwis.
“It felt literally like a dream. You know, I often don’t score goals, but scoring in that game was like a surreal moment. As we know, Boca Junior is a huge, huge club and we are clearly a tiny little club in New Zealand,” Gray told CNN Sports.
“It was a surreal feeling, a bit disbelief. I can’t believe it was me who scored the goal. But by the time I handled it, my teammate, Meyer Bevan, was on my back, jumping onto my back and we had a big group of embraces.”
Christian’s goal was to fail to advance to the final 16, when both teams ended the tournament, with his team winning a 1-1 draw against the South American Giants.
After such historic results from the Oceania Champions League winners last year, there was time for celebration, but not much.
“We spent a few nights to have fun with our team and supporters. Then we went back to New Zealand for 30 hours and then I was back straight back to assignments and my studies. Luckily it’s a school holiday.
Gray returns to his day’s work at Oakland Grammar School on July 14th, where the hero’s welcome awaits him.
“From what I heard, the school was lively for me. They were very happy for me. There were some messages from the staff. I know how passionate the boys and how passion they have about their sports and football, so I’m sure they’ll be pretty happy,” he told CNN Sports.
“There is a lot of learning from this tournament, and you know what you know, if you believe in yourself, you know what you know.
For Auckland, the headlined draw with Boca Junior was particularly pleased given that he lost 10-0 to European heavyweight Bayern Munich and lost 6-0 to Portugal’s Benfica in the tournament. Double-digit losses at the hands of the Bayern Giants were particularly difficult to take.
“We realized it was Bayern Munich, one of the best teams in the world. But the club has a history of being proud and successful. We felt a sense of shame and disappointment in the outcome, but we thought we could do better.
The Oakland City team is made up of real estate agents, other teachers, soda salesmen and barbers in a world away from the multimillionaire experts they faced at the Club World Cup.
A typical Christian day begins around 6:30am, ends with duties after 9pm, allowing him to teach the school’s senior soccer team and his own training and fitness. As a player, he has overcome much more along the way, not just Vertigo last year, but also foot and hip injuries. But missing out on the Club World Cup was not simply an option.
“A lot of the boys and I have taken unpaid leave for travel, and we say we are lucky to have these opportunities.
This year’s newly improved 32-team Club World Cup total prize money is $1 billion. By playing in the tournament and securing a draw against Boca Junior, Auckland has won over $4.5 million, but it remains to be seen how well the club itself will benefit from the financial boost.
“We don’t know. There is currently a dispute between the club and New Zealand football on this subject,” Auckland City general manager Gordon Watson told CNN Sports. “Unfortunately, we cannot provide a satisfactory answer to your questions as there is no crystal ball.”
New Zealand Football told CNN in a statement: “The exact amount is commercially sensitive, but a portion of the FIFA Club World Cup prize money will be sent to Auckland City FC, and amounts will also be allocated to support the sustainability of clubs in the national league system.”
One thing Watson is proud of is the resilience and dedication of the team and its players, whatever the future of the club is.
“99% of the players and clubs on this planet are amateurs and we felt we represented them all in many ways. This was the message we had since qualified. It seems unlikely that we will return due to the changes in Oceania’s football, the emergence of the OFC Pro League.
What about the goal of making Grey’s history?
“First of all, Christian is such a modest person, and the attention he gains must be somewhat offensive to him. That’s what else can you say about the quality and courage of the goal itself? It was an incredible header. We are very proud of him.”
“We liked finishing 32 out of 32, but each had five professional clubs that finished under us. That’s incredible given the resources more than we do. The club’s profile is the best ever, and we hope we can get a chance to grow even further,” Watson added.
As for Gray, he says he dedicates his goals to everyone who supports the broader Auckland City FC community and team. And keep this in mind: we can hear his name mentioned for years to come. After all, his exploits against Boca Junior not only ensure that he lives long in memory, but also value trivia nights.
“I mean, it’s cool. It’s honest. I actually really like it. I love pub quizzes and I love sports knowledge.
