Franchini Pasten (26), who is from Concepcion, Chile, moved to Dunedin a couple of months ago after spending the past two years in Auckland.
He made the move to be with his girlfriend, Fernanda Flores (21), who is studying oral health at the University of Otago.
The midfielder, who models his game on German Toni Kroos and Chilean Arturo Vidal, has not played club football in Dunedin but is part of the Southern United team which has a win and a loss to show after its first two games in the ASB Premiership.
After an impressive 1-0 away win over Canterbury United last weekend, Franchini Pasten, speaking through Flores as a translator, said the team was taking the positives from last week's game into today's match.
''I think we have a good chance because we have been doing things right,'' he said.
''Our last game was positive and we are excited to do everything right tomorrow to win.''
Having played football since he was six, he said Chileans played with more flair and technique than their Kiwi counterparts, but he said the standard of football in the league was good.
While the Chilean native, who is working as a painter decorator, does not speak fluent English, he said it was not an issue on the field.
Franchini Pasten has fond memories of Chile's World Cup campaign in Brazil earlier in the year, despite his country falling to Brazil in the second round.
While he misses his family and friends, he is enjoying life in Dunedin.
''It's a quiet city - you can live in peace. The only thing not so good is the weather. I'm not used to it, yet,'' he said.
With just two competition games under his belt for Southern United, the midfielder is not looking too far ahead, but he and Flores will be in Dunedin for at least two more years, and he has committed to playing for Mosgiel AFC in next year's FootballSouth Premier League.
''For now I am just focusing on doing things right here. I want to try to slowly improve, but I'm only thinking about what's happening this season,'' he said.
Southern United and Waitakere United both sit in the middle of the competition standings with three points, with Waitakere losing to Auckland City FC last weekend.
Today's game is the second match at Forsyth Barr Stadium this year, after Southern United lost 3-0 to Auckland FC under the roof last month.
Kickoff is at 1pm and entry is by gold coin donation.
- Robert van Royen
