The
Dunedin Fringe Festival's new promotions assistant Koen
Naulaerts is on the ball. The 19-year-old is a former
professional footballer with top club SK Lierse in the
Belgium Pro League.
''I only made one appearance on the bench. There was a lot of
pressure and competition and I didn't like it,'' he said
yesterday.
He most recently played as a midfielder with Wolfsdonksport
in Leuven, Belgium.
''I mostly trained with the youth team, but also played with
the professionals. The most famous player I played with was
probably Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who is now doing well
on loan with West Brom in the English Premier League.''
Mr Naulaerts arrived in Dunedin last month for a three-month
internship with the festival. His duties include social media
and ticketing.
''It looked like a nice challenge and experience running a
festival in Dunedin. I have been studying each year in a
different country,'' the international business student said.
''I really love Dunedin, and especially New Zealand. I've
already been to Queenstown, Wanaka and the Catlins. It is so
different to Belgium. Here, it's like hills. Belgium is as
flat as a pancake. ... We're not close to nature, like
here.''
The 2013 Dunedin Fringe Festival runs from March 14-24.
nigel.benson@odt.co.nz
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