Andrew Boyens' future is a little unclear, but it will be a
while before the smile leaves his face.
Boyens, the Kavanagh College old boy and former Dunedin
Technical defender, was part of the Los Angeles Galaxy team
that won the Major League Soccer Cup with a 3-1 win over
Houston Dynamo on Sunday.
He watched from the bench as superstar David Beckham made his
final appearance for the American club.
Boyens (29) described the scenes at the Home Depot Center in
California as ''amazing''.
''The atmosphere was electric. We had just over 30,000 in our
home stadium,'' he told the Otago Daily Times in an email.
''It was one of the loudest games I've been a part of behind
the play-off game in Wellington with the All Whites.
''It's been a fun-filled last few days with a lot of
partying.''
The Galaxy also fielded former Tottenham and Liverpool
striker Robbie Keane and American pin-up boy Landon Donovan.
But the biggest star in the Galaxy for the last five years
has been English veteran Beckham, arguably the
highest-profile footballer in the world next to Lionel Messi.
For a bloke from Dunedin, rubbing shoulders with Beckham -
and getting to know him as a person, not as a cultural icon -
has been exciting.
''It's been pretty impressive. He's a pretty amazing guy on
and off the field,'' Boyens said.
''For someone to carry himself the way he does, with all the
different kinds of pressures and commitments on him, and
still perform the way he does on the pitch, is the most
impressive part.''
Boyens is now something of an MLS veteran.
After being drafted out of the University of New Mexico, he
played for Toronto FC (2007-08), the New York Red Bulls
(2008-10) and Chivas USA (2011) before joining the Galaxy.
He started the first couple of games this season before
missing three months due to sports hernia surgery.
Boyens has now been made available for the ''re-entry
process''.
He and five Galaxy team-mates may be drafted to another club.
''I'm just not sure yet. I will know more over the next
couple of weeks.''
Boyens remains keen to add to his list of caps (19 full) for
the All Whites, but knows national selection is not getting
any easier.
''We have such a great batch of defenders playing in good
leagues around the world. It's hard to get in the team now.
''I don't think my injury and not playing helped me. I almost
travelled to China for the last game but the Galaxy wouldn't
release me due to our play-off commitments.''
Boyens, wife Claire and daughter Harriet will be back in
Dunedin to catch up with family next month.
He has had to give his summer football camps a miss this year
as he is participating in a professional coaching camp in
late December.
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