The Platts now have more in common than just playing in the midfield.
Abi and Noah Platt are now both on football scholarships in the United States, with the former flying out to Southwest Kansas last week.
The Nelson Suburbs Women co-captain had interest from half a dozen junior colleges trying to woo her to the US.
“It was really hard. I went back and forth, trying to decide which one to go for. In the end it came down to the offer I got and I felt the school I chose wanted me more than the others,” declares the just-turned 19-year-old.
The lucky school was Garden City Community College in Kansas, with its location also a major factor.
“It is near Missouri where my best friend Jasmine Barney, another Suburbs player, is about to start her third year of study. It is so good to be close,” says the former Waimea 1st X1 girls football captain.
She hopes to see plenty of football action, after sharing the leadership roles at Suburbs this year, and study for a sports administration degree as well.
“The season has gone a lot better than I thought it would, with some goods results.”
Abi got some good advice too, from her older brother Noah.
“There are lots of opportunities over there. Just focus on yourself and have fun,” advises the 21-year-old, who is heading back to the states next week after a two-month break between schools.
Noah spent two years at Eastern Oklahoma State College and played more than 50 games in that time.
“I was injury free, started every game for the Mountaineers, and captained them in my second season,” says Noah.
His efforts were rewarded with selection in the broader conference team.
Now he is off to Felician University in Rutherford, New Jersey, just 10 minutes from MetLife Stadium where the Fifa Football World Cup final was staged last month.
Noah will be playing in the much tougher AA collegiate competition and looking to achieve off the field as well with a Bachelor of Exercise Science degree.
The midfielder was pressed straight back into action for Suburbs in the Southern Premier League in June and July, scoring in the first two of his five games.
Noah was on the bench for last month’s Chatham Cup quarter-final victory and finds it “pretty annoying” that he will miss the up-coming semi-final.
“I have to be back for pre-season training before the competition starts at the end of the month.”
After seeing his sister off, he was hoping to get in some snowboarding before returning stateside himself.
