A Review- by Roger Sleeman

For those Australian football supporters who witnessed New Zealand eliminate the Socceroos from

the World Cup qualifiers, 35 years ago on May 16 th , 1981, and subsequently defeat China to qualify

for the 1982 Finals in Spain, it took a long time to heal the breach.

Fortunately, payback took place in 1985 when Australia returned the compliment and knocked the

All Whites out of World Cup qualification for the 1986 final series in Mexico.

However, New Zealand repeated the dose in the 1989 World Cup qualifiers when they beat the

Socceroos 2-0 in Auckland which meant they had to beat Israel in the final match of the group in

Sydney to qualify for Italia 90.

Despite Paul Trimboli’s late equaliser, it was another failure for Australia and for months after I

could only reflect on that disastrous loss in New Zealand.

Many fans in Australia had forgotten about New Zealand football until the Football Kingz entered the

NSL in 1999/2000 and it was significant that a young, aspiring defender called Ben Sigmund made his

debut with them in the 2001/2002 season.

It was a hard road for Sigmund but it all paid off when the Wellington Phoenix succeeded the New

Zealand Knights in the A- League for the 2007/ 2008 season and he finally became a permanently

respected fixture with the Phoenix and the All Whites.

While many players telling their story will hide facts from the sporting public, Ben Sigmund has left

no stone unturned in telling all.

When you meet him it’s like you have known him for many years because he has such an outward

going and friendly disposition, unlike many professional footballers who would prefer to keep their

distance from both public and the media.

Therefore, it was easy for Sigmund to open up in the book and invite the reader into his life.

Defenders aren’t always regarded as glamorous footballers but Sigmund always demonstrated a

strong discipline and determination, and throughout the book he indicates he was always

attempting to achieve a higher level of technical competence.

Football became his life and his 31 appearances for the All Whites were played with a gusto and

commitment to the cause which few could emulate.

This infectious positive attitude won him the respect of all team-mates over the years and some of

the comments in the book made by established icons of New Zealand football like Ryan Nelsen, Glen

Moss, Tim Brown and Andrew Durante are testimony to his popularity and the great respect he

earned in the dressing room.

Sigmund had his disappointments, particularly when he wasn’t selected by Ricki Herbert in the 2010

World Cup Final matches in South Africa, and although this was a difficult time for him, he still

fought back and continued to put 100% into his playing career.

His comparison of the two coaches, Herbert and Ernie Merrick at Wellington Phoenix, makes for

fascinating reading and is a clever way of conveying his protest to Herbert.

Despite the apparent glamour, sometimes not all is as it seems in a professional footballer’s life and

Sigmund must be commended for having the courage to give his account of the frightening

experiences he and his wife , Deanna ,endured with the birth of their first son, Cameron.

There is even a chapter told by her which is illuminating.

However, this is the nature of the man and sticking firmly in my mind is the image of Ben Sigmund in

the last A-League season being escorted off the field with severe dehydration against the Wanderers

and his final match when he received a head injury only to return to the field because he couldn’t let

the team down.

Ben Sigmund must not be lost to professional football like so many players who the administration

turns their backs on, because the game is his life and his presence can benefit it so much.

This book reinforces this concept in every way and it is a must read for all football supporters and

sporting fans who want to relate to the life of a professional sportsman who is prepared to tell the

truth in the hope that all sports people can benefit and face life with all the tools necessary to be a

success.