The former South African international, who appeared at two FIFA Club World Cups for Auckland, helped Auckland City to three ASB Premiership crowns, two Oceania club titles and also appeared in an Oceania XI against the likes of Christan Karembeu, Zinedine Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff.
For the past 13 years, Jordan has fought a harsh battle with cancer, enduring 12 operations – including two brain surgeries and numerous radiation courses.
Auckland City chairman Ivan Vuksich says Jordan is one of the best players ever seen in the New Zealand Football community.
“He had an amazing scoring rate [76 goals in 100 games] and formed an incredible bond with our supporters,” Vuksich says.
Jordan retired in 2011 but has continued to play for various team at Central United, Auckland City’s feeder club. Last year he turned out for the club’s third team scoring a last minute goal against Ellerslie to seal a 3-2 win.
Though his future is uncertain, as he said goodbye to his former teammates and his son Liam who remains in New Zealand, Jordan says he still has several goals to achieve.
The first is to see Liam – a promising young footballer looking to follow in his father’s footsteps – play at the One Nation Cup this year in Turkey. After impressing in the last edition in 2011 where he scored twice against Werder Bremen, 14-year-old Liam will again be part of the Wynrs Academy team taking on club sides from across Europe and Asia.
And even further into the future are plans for a father-and-son trip to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
As the guest of honour watched his former teammates take a hard-earned victory the departing Jordan shared his opinion of the match.
“Personally I think we could have scored far more goals in the first half,” he says.
“To let Otago back in was a bit poor. I reckon they should have given young David Browne a bit more time.”
And Auckland City coach Roman Tribulietx seems to agree with Jordan’s assessment.
“I think we were a little bit hung over from last week,” Tribulietx says.
“It wasn’t our best game by a long way. There were so many chances we should have put away.”
In other ASB Premiership news, Wellington downed the Canterbury Dragons 2-0, Waitakere put away nine goals to Waikato’s one at Porritt Stadium, while Hawke’s Bay beat Manawatu 5-1.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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