Japan sojourn wraps up whirlwind year

Words: NZF Media

Wednesday 7 December 2016

The last 18 months have been a real whirlwind for Clayton Lewis but at least one more massive moment will be squeezed in before the year is out.

The All Whites midfielder is likely to be a key figure on Thursday night as Auckland City take on J.League champions Kashima Antlers in the FIFA Club World Cup play-off at Yokohama International Stadium in Japan.

A win would thrust the Oceania champions into the main draw and a quarter-final meeting with African counterparts Mamelodi Sundowns in Osaka three days later – not to mention potential clashes against South American champions Atlético Nacional and the mighty Real Madrid should the underdogs progress even further.

That would complete a remarkable period for Lewis who has already packed more into his short footballing life than many players achieve in their entire career – despite his 20th birthday not arriving until early next year.

"If we can get that first result, it could change the way football in New Zealand is viewed. It’s always been a rugby country and if we can get that first game under our belt and change the way people think about football in New Zealand hopefully it will change people with the All Whites as well and give us the support we need to beat Fiji in March.

"The experience against Sanfrecce Hiroshima last time was really good. Being opened up to a Club World Cup was a big feeling for me and going back this year and facing another J.League team is going to be really good. Having those two warm up games is obviously going to give us quite a bit of confidence and hopefully we can take that into the game.

“It’s obviously a dream to be in the All Whites and everything but I didn’t think it would all happen this early,” he admits. “So I’m just grateful and glad that I’ve been performing well enough to get my opportunity. Hopefully, I can keep taking those opportunities and then make the team to go to the Confederations Cup next year, I’m looking forward to it.”

But before all that will be a debut appearance for the Wellingtonian at the Club World Cup – just the latest in a string of significant tournaments and matches Lewis has been involved in. It all started in March of last year when the talented teenager first came to national prominence after being called up to the All Whites by coach Anthony Hudson – a turn of events that came as a pleasant surprise to Lewis as his main goal at that stage was to secure a national age-group squad place for the 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

After making his All Whites bow against South Korea, he went on to star for New Zealand at the U-20 World Cup on home soil, sign for Auckland City and establish himself as an important member of Ramon Tribulietx’s team, earn further senior international caps – including taking part in a highly-successful two-match USA tour – and spend time on trial at English Championship club Burton Albion.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. On the eve of the OFC Nations Cup in June, it was revealed Lewis had returned a positive sample for Salbutamol, commonly known as asthma medication Ventolin, after a game for Auckland City in February. That led to Lewis having to drop out of the All Whites squad and left his immediate future up in the air. But he received the news he was hoping for at the end of July when Drugfree Sport NZ ruled there was no significant fault or negligence on his part and imposed only a one-month suspension – the lowest possible penalty.

“That little drama I had with the asthma was quite a big downside for me but I’ve come back really positive and I feel like I’m just starting to hit a bit of form. Hopefully, I can take that into the Club World Cup, perform well and win that first game,” he says.

His experience of playing on some big stages for the All Whites will prove invaluable in Japan and Lewis says he has learned much from taking on the likes of South Korea, Mexico and USA in front of sizeable crowds.

“Playing in the USA was unreal, having all those fans there was crazy. I think we performed well and got some of the people who doubted us earlier in the year back on our side. Hopefully, they will stick with us all the way through to the Confederations Cup and beyond,” he says.

Lewis and fellow Auckland City youngster Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi – who had to drop out of the Club World Cup squad due to injury – are among the few amateur players in the All Whites set up but he says the high standards at City make what would otherwise be a tricky transition easier to bridge.

“Going from this environment to that one is not too much of a step up because you feel like you’re already a professional at Auckland City anyway. And the boys like Winston Reid and Chris Wood are not big guns about it. They bring you under their wing and tell you all you need to know to be in that sort of situation.”

That said, Lewis remains determined to make a living out of the game he loves and is likely to return to Burton at some stage for a further trial spell.

“My long-term goal is obviously to get into a professional environment and, if it’s with Burton or somewhere else, I’m looking forward to taking whatever opportunity comes my way,” he says.

Ends

Match Details
Thursday 8 December
FIFA Club World Cup Play-off
Auckland City vs Kashima Antlers
Yokohama International Stadium, Japan
Kick-off: 7.30pm local time/ 11.30pm NZST
Live Sky Sports 2

Story courtesy New Zealand Football with additional reporting by ACFC Media