Xuan Loke is the fourth Wellington Phoenix academy player to graduate to the men’s first team squad this year.
The Phoenix men’s reserves captain has signed his maiden professional contract, penning a two-and-a-half year deal with the club, the first one and a half years of which are on scholarship terms.
Loke, 19, started 16 of the reserves’ 18 matches in this year’s Central League, scoring four goals from right back, including a brace against eventual champions Wellington Olympic in June.
The New Zealand U-19 international made his first team debut for the Nix in the Australia Cup round of 32 defeat to South Melbourne in August and has been on the bench for three A-League matches this season.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano has praised the role the academy and reserves coach Chris Greenacre has played in Loke’s development.
“From when I first saw Xuan to now there’s been a drastic improvement,” Italiano said. “Greeny has obviously done a good job with him at the academy and got him up to a really good standard.
“Since he’s been in the first team environment he’s shown he’s very dedicated and has great focus.
“Xuan took a couple of knocks at training but has shown a lot of resilience and bounced back straight away.
“He can play fullback or as a wingback, but he’s the sort of player you sign in one position but because they work hard they can apply themselves in another couple of positions.
“Xuan’s got a really good mindset so I’m really looking forward to working with him over the next couple of years.”
Xuan Loke is originally from Dunedin and played for Green Island and Dunedin Technical (now Dunedin City Royals) before moving to Wellington as a 12-year-old to join the Olé Football Academy.
He moved to the Phoenix academy at the start of 2022 and made his debut for the Phoenix reserves last year.
“The past two years with Chris Greenacre and Luke Tongue (reserves assistant coach) has been absolutely amazing,” Loke said. “I’ve grown so much as a person and a player and I owe a lot to them for my development.
“They’re not only great coaches, they’re great people as well. They’ve also helped me through personal challenges.
“I give them a lot of credit for the position I’m in now.”
Loke also gives a lot of credit to his father Kin, who left his life in Dunedin and moved to Wellington to help further his son’s football career.
“My dad’s been amazing. He’s been my biggest supporter and biggest influence in my life.
“It was a big move for us. He left his job and his friends. For him to make that sacrifice for me; I wouldn’t be here without him.”
They made the move just two months after Loke’s mother passed away from breast cancer.
“It was the biggest challenge of my life.
“My dad and I have grown together through that, which has been great.
“I owe a lot to him and all I want to say is thank you.”
Xuan Loke is the 12th Phoenix academy graduate in the now 27-strong men’s first team squad.
