Just ahead of making his debut for New Caledonia at the OFC U-17 Championship, which got underway on Wednesday in Luganville in Vanuatu, the Asia Pacific Football Academy (APFA) attendee made a trip to England for trials with Premier League club Chelsea and Sheffield United.
He has since been asked to return to Sheffield United to continue his trial from July to December and he couldn’t be happier with how his career is progressing.
“My goal has always been to go to England and play, no matter what the club, and I have succeeded. In January I went to Swansea City and at the end of March I went to Chelsea and Sheffield United,” Partodikromo says.
“It was good, they’ve got an eye on my and told me I am going to be a very good player and I have the level to play in the United Kingdom so it was great. Sheffield United want me back. I’m going to be playing with the U-21s and once I get to December they’re going to decide if I am going to sign a professional contract or not. I really enjoyed the environment, it’s really different to what I am used to, it’s very professional and I found I was in a different but enjoyable atmosphere.”
Partodikromo is the first Pacific Islander to attend APFA, which has seen some talented Kiwis off to the United States of America and England including James Musa and Cameron Howieson, and he is keen for that to become the norm rather than the exception.
“Attending APFA I am representing my country, but also every Pacific Islander. I am the first player from the Pacific Islands to go to England and I want to make my family and country proud of me,” he says.
“Going there has opened doors for people. New Caledonian players have the potential, they are good players but they just do it for fun. I just want to provide them with an example that shows that they can go far and realise their dreams because I know they want to be professional footballers but in New Caledonia it’s not seen as a possibility.”
He says there are a number of factors which have been crucial to his success so far and which will help him continue his growth and development in the game well into the future.
“Never cheating at training and working hard every day and being positive about what you want to do later. You have to make a lot of sacrifices, but the most important thing is to be respectful in your attitude inside and outside the pitch,” he says. “Be respectful with the others and give your best, 100 per cent, all the time. You have to return from training absolutely exhausted.”
However despite his obvious drive to succeed, it hasn’t always been an easy road for the former Mont-Dore player, who had to leave the comforts of home, friends and family to take up his spot at the academy which is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
“At the beginning it was very hard for me, especially in the first three months. But after that the people were very nice and they helped me to adjust because it was a different culture and language for me,” he says.
“I was always walking around with my dictionary so when I didn’t know a word I would find it and say it and now my English has improved a lot it is much easier for me.”
Partodikromo is currently captaining the New Caledonia U-17 side, a call-up he has long been waiting for, as they attempt to make history and qualify for their first FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013.
“Because there is no team from New Caledonia, either U-20 or U-17, who has won this competition so I want my team to be the first to qualify and go to the World Cup,” he says. “If we stay positive we can do it. We are a good team, there is a good atmosphere and we are like a family.”
The road to qualification got a little harder after New Caledonia lost 4-0 to New Zealand on Friday, but their skills and qualities will keep them in the running especially if other results fall in their favour.
New Caledonia will continue their OFC U-17 Championship title bid tomorrow at Luganville Soccer City Stadium in Vanuatu at 12.30pm against Cook Islands.

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