Dauntae Mariner will represent the Nelson district in the OFC Pro League after the duo was signed by South Island United for the newest professional competition in the world.
A Samoan international Mariner was part of the Nelson Suburbs team in the past two Southern League seasons.
The duo will soon join a brand-new South Island United squad to prepare for the opening match against Auckland FC at Eden Park on January 17.
Sydney-born Samoan Kiwi Dauntae Mariner is a well-travelled footballer, moving to Brisbane at the age of 13, before signing a two-year deal for English Championship club Blackburn Rovers at 16 years of age, where he ended up playing against a Liverpool youth side at Anfield.
Mariner next moved to Portugal where he enjoyed two seasons in the youth team with Vizela in the Portuguese second tier.
The midfielder returned home to Australia in 2021 to play for Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanders in the National Youth League before stints at Gold Coast Knights, Logan Lightning and Brisbane Strikers in the Queensland State League.
In the meantime, he had also started exploring the possibility of playing for Samoa, through his Christchurch-born Samoan father, to be able to play alongside cousin Kyah Cahill, son of Socceroos legend Tim Cahill.
He was welcomed with open arms by Samoa national coach Ryan Stewart, who also coaches Nelson Suburbs.
“Skippy (Stewart) floated the idea to come to Nelson and after two seasons in the Southern League, the timing is perfect to continue my football journey in the OFC Pro League with South Island United,” says Mariner, who could also have access to Mauritian passport through his Australian mother.
“But I can only carry three,” laughs Mariner. “I feel Australian first, because I grew up there and my family lives there, I feel Kiwi second because it has been my home for the past two years, and of course, feel Samoan as that is my heritage and my culture.”
Once South Island United was named as one of the eight clubs in the OFC Pro League, the Nelson Suburbs midfielder jumped at the opportunity to play professional football in his new Kiwi backyard. He made a strong impression on the coaching staff at the South Island United trial match in October to earn a contract.
