ISN is excited to have former Lansing United and New York Cosmos B standout Brian Cunningham as a guest columnist. Each of his blog entries will share part of his journey as he lives out his dream of becoming a professional footballer across the globe in New Zealand.
It’s been a minute, but I’m back! Hopefully you missed me. I certainly went through quite a bit over the last two weeks; I’d say growing pains and adjusting to the new lifestyle. Nevertheless all is well and has been well. So I can officially release that I am playing for Waitakere United Football Club in the ASB Premiership of New Zealand. Preseason is fully underway; we are actually about half way through our training program in preparation for the season opener on November 8 against Auckland City Football Club! Practice, practice, practice and I love it. Even when I’m not training, I’m always thinking about what I can do to take my game to the next level. You know me, always striving for something. I’ve realized more and more over time that some of the intangibles can enhance your game. It’s not always going to the field and doing 1,000 things, but focusing on detail and making each repetition count, reading and watching certain aspects of the game are paramount to success!
Social life is so nice here! You certainly pay for quality, and pay generously, but it is really enjoyable to experience the culture and lifestyle here. Please accept my apology, I snapchat everything and kind of forget to take actual pictures to post on Instagram—I’ll do better, I promise. Highlight of the week! On Tuesday, I ventured into Ponsonby and spent a day in the area. I grabbed a savoury muffin with zucchini, tomato, herbs, spinach, and pumpkin seeds. I chased it with a superb café Americano. All that goodness came from a neat cafe/ shop called Ponsonby Central. If ever you’re in Auckland, GO THERE. I went for a walk with my Aussie friends Jack and Matt, along with Jack’s parents. We visited Motat, a history museum based on the transportation, railroads, and industry of New Zealand back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It’s amazing how things have developed over time in this country. After Motat, we took a tram to the aircraft museum. Excuse my ignoarance, but who knew that New Zealand had such a role in the both of the World Wars?! The military here is actually quite connected with the United States Armed Forces.
After training Saturday, I went out for lunch with my teammate and homie Nate Foster. We drove out to Mission Bay, and ate at a fresh Italian restaurant named Portofino. I ordered rigatoni con capesante; again, a MUST HAVE if you enjoy scallops and pasta. Mission Bay is a district/neighborhood right on the coast, where houses and restaurants line the expressway. Think of something like the strip in South Beach Miami or the I-5 in southern California. Literally, you can jump into the water from the street. We ate in the covered outdoor area, and I took in the beautiful views. Pristine water and sailboats, with mountainous terrain in the shadows of the background. Breath-taking.
Well that’s all for now! I’ll be back much sooner now that things are rolling smoothly and I’m settling in. I’ll have more photos next post, I PROMISE! Until then, please follow me on IG: @Brian_OC, or Twitter: @BOCunningham.”
