Soccer: Sign here, Sydney urges Rufer's son

Caleb Rufer impressed Sydney FC after scoring the winner against their first team. Photo / Photosport

A New Zealand player has been offered a contract with Sydney FC which, in itself, is not particularly remarkable. But it takes on added significance when it happens to be a Rufer.

Sadly, Wynton Rufer hasn't discovered the secret to eternal youth and resurrected a fabulous career. But his son Caleb has been offered a one-year contract to join Sydney FC as one of their three mandatory under-21 players for next season.

The 19-year-old striker went on trial last week and impressed enough for them to signal their intention to sign him - he scored the winner for the reserves in a 3-2 win over the first team in a training game. He has an Australian passport through his mother, who was born there, meaning he qualifies as a local and won't take up one of five import spots.

Rufer, however, is yet to put pen to paper. Wynton, who acts as his son's manager, is talking to two Dutch Eredivisie clubs interested in taking Rufer jnr on trial. Sydney have also said they will wait until after their Asian Champions League commitments end in mid-May before offering a formal contract.

Things can change quickly in football but Wynton is confident the offer will still be there next month.

"Caleb had an unbelievable week with them," he said, "and they offered him a contract. It's wonderful news.

"It's not going to be one of those super contracts because he's still only 19, but it's a professional club ... and it's not about money. If he makes it, he will have more money than he knows what to do with.

"I've also arranged a couple of trials with Excelsior and Heracles in Holland and that's the icing on the cake. I played with the two coaches there. I hope he signs with one of those two because it's a better level - but it's a great position to be in to have an offer already."

The news has been tempered somewhat by Rufer's omission from the 20-man New Zealand under-20 squad to play in this month's World Cup qualifiers. He was seen as one of the more technically gifted players in the wider training squad, and often excelled in training, but a lack of match fitness meant he failed to flatter in games.

Rufer was named as one of three non-travelling reserves and could be included in an expanded 23-man squad should New Zealand qualify for the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia in July and August.

Being a Rufer brings its own pressures and expectations and comparisons were common during his time in Germany where he had trials with Hanover 96, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Werder Bremen - the club where his father made his name in Europe. He spent a season with German lower league side SV Wehen Wiesbaden before returning to New Zealand last year.

Being a Rufer also opens doors. Wynton has contacts around the world which provides opportunities, like the one in Sydney (he is "mates" with Sydney youth coach Steve Corica) and the looming trials in the Netherlands.

The Wellington Phoenix still have to sign three under-21 players for next season and Rufer was a member of the Phoenix reserves who played all eight ASB Premiership clubs in challenge matches. But he spent considerable time on the bench in those games.