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Manickum joins Navy Blues

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 27 September 2018

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC have signed exciting attacker Dylan Manickum from local rivals Waitakere United.

The 26-year-old futsal international spent four years with Waitakere United combined with a stint at Waitakere City where he scored an impressive 38 goals in 60 competitive appearances, winning a Lotto NRFL First Division title and a ISPS Handa Chatham Cup runners-up medal in 2016.

Manickum follows in the footsteps of other Waitakere United legends Ryan De Vries and Roy Krishna in swapping a white shirt for a Navy Blue one.

If he is half as successful as they were, Auckland City FC could be on to a good thing with both De Vries and Krishna eventually signing for fulltime professional clubs in the J.League and A League.

Manickum told www.aucklandcityfc.com he was delighted to make the crosstown switch to Kiwitea Street.

NEWS - Dylan Manickum signs for the Navy Blues

Auckland City FC have signed exciting attacker Dylan Manickum from local rivals Waitakere United.

"When Auckland City FC come in for you, you can't turn it down"

READ more: https://t.co/EN4oxoKGjW

#WelcomeDylan pic.twitter.com/gw4Aa8K1jK
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) September 27, 2018

"I'm pretty happy obviously as it was my long term goal to come here.

"Auckland City FC have better players and ever since I started playing in the ISPS Handa Premiership they are the club who have regularly featured in the OFC Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.

"It was tough to leave Waitakere United but also it was time to move on. I spent four years at the club and it was a roller coaster experience. Sometimes we did ok, sometimes we didn't.

"But when Auckland City FC come in for you, you can't turn it down. I'm very happy to be at the club, I'm stoked to be involved."

One element of the move that may require careful management is Manickum's futsal career.

Widely regarded as one of the best proponents of the indoor game to represent the Futsal Whites, Manickum admits some negoatiating was required to squeeze his international aspirations into an already busy schedule.

"The Futsal Whites have World Cup Qualifiers next year and I can play in the National League series in December. I'll miss two ISPS Handa Premiership games but fortunately there is one bye that helps ease things a bit.

"I spoke with Ramon at length about this and he told me we have a lot of games coming up but in principle he was fine with my international futsal commitments," he said.

Manickum is settling into his new surroundings well with the pattern of training everyday plus pre-season matches helping him fit in with team-mates he has met numerous times as opponents.

"Most of the squad I've played against before but as a newcomer everyone is nice and very welcoming and that's going to help me a lot.

"I'm more relaxed than I thought I might be coming into a new set-up but everyone is positive and encouraging.

"The Auckland City FC squad is very competitive and there is a lot of depth of quality and I'm happy to be involved however I can be.

"But my objective is to start games and I want to make a spot my own. I know it's going to be difficult but all footballers want to start matches and it's my aim to cement a place in the team."

Ends

FACTFILE
Name: Dylan Manickum
Age: 26
Nationality: New Zealand
Position: Attacker
Previous clubs: Waitakere United, Ellerslie AFC, Waitakere City AFC