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Auckland City defender Ben Sigmund has taken a step up from the New Zealand Football Championship to land a professional contract with Wellington Phoenix FC, the Phoenix announced yesterday.
The 27-year-old quit his full-time job two years ago to pursue a career as a professional footballer and has finally realised his ambition by signing a one-year deal with the Phoenix for the Hyundai A-League 2008-09 season.
Sigmund has been a stand-out performer in the NZFC with Auckland City and also with the All Whites, who are coached by Phoenix mentor Ricki Herbert.
