He has only played a quarter of an hour at the top level but Graham Arnold’s next youth prodigy is hoping to create a name for himself on the Central Coast.
He has only played a quarter of an hour of A-League football but Graham Arnold-s next youth prodigy is hoping to create a name for himself on the Central Coast.
And what a name it is.
Storm Roux has arrived at the reigning Hyundai A-League Champions and is aiming to cement his spot at the back for the Mariners and get his A-League career off to a stellar start.
Born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand, Roux headed to Perth with his family as a teenager where he made his way into the Glory-s youth team before making one substitute appearance for the senior side.
Set for the biggest tournament of his life, the 20-year-old received the call he had been dreaming of since he first kicked a ball around as a toddler.
“I was at the U/20 World Cup with New Zealand when I heard that they had offered me a two year contract and it was an amazing feeling.
“To know you are going to be playing with the current champions of Australia under Graham Arnold is brilliant.”
With Arnold-s eye for talent it would not surprise football pundits, or Roux himself, if the young gun was injected into a defensive line that conceded on average under one goal a game last season.
“He (Arnold) told me that he is pretty comfortable with promoting youth players to senior side.
“If you are good enough than you will get the opportunity to play.
“I am aiming to get that experience and become a first team player.
“It is my first professional contract so I don-t expect everything to come all at once but I am focused on getting the game time and establishing myself in the A-League.”
Roux credits much of his rise through the ranks to his time playing in the far west where the Perth Glory youth player had his first exposure to top tier football.
“When I was at 16 I trialed with Perth Glory having been at the WA National Training Centre and got into their youth side.
“We occasionally got to train with the senior team which steadily introduces you to just how quick the game is going to be at the top level.
“It was great to get that experience as you learn it is going to be a whole different game when make the step up.”
It was his performances in the Glory youth side that got him the call up to the U/20 World Cup where he lined up for the Junior All Whites.
“It was a brilliant opportunity to play against the game-s future stars who play at top level clubs around the world.
“We lost to Uzbekistan (3-0), Uruguay (2-0) who went on to make the final, and Croatia (2-1) but recognised the level that we need to be at on the international stage.
“I realised what I was doing well as a player and where I need to improve.”
With his first junior caps under his belt for his nation Roux could be a bolter for the New Zealand squad that are set to take on the fourth placed CONCACAF nation in November for the right to go to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
“I am fully focused on playing first for the Mariners and then hopefully that will lead to further selections.
“I am striving to get to that level but know I need to be performing in the A-League for it to happen.”
Roux played his first minutes for the Mariners last night as he came on in the second half against the Central Coast Mariners Academy, with the senior side going down 2-1.
The Mariners will next take on Gladesville Spirit on Thursday 29 August at Christie Park, Macquarie Park with Kickoff at 7pm.