SWANS: ‘The whole nation got behind it’: Just on his World Cup, and the road to Swansea

Elijah Just has packed a lot into a short space of time. A first World Cup, a summer move to Swansea City, and a fast start in the Championship that has the Swans among the early pacesetters.

The New Zealand winger, who joined from Motherwell in the summer, says he has settled quickly in south Wales, helped by two familiar faces.

“I’ve settled in quite fast. Marko Stamenic and Stephen Welsh have helped me a lot. The boys in the locker room are good,” he said. “It’s been a good start, so everyone has positive vibes.”

A long way from the academy

Just’s route to the Championship has been anything but direct. He left home at 14 for a football academy in Auckland, a move his parents backed, and it proved the making of him.

“That’s where I met Marko and quite a few other boys who were playing professionally around the world. I had a good few years there, learned a lot,” he said.

From there came a first professional contract in Denmark, five years there, a year in Austria, and then the move to Motherwell that changed everything, engineered by a former manager.

“One of my old managers, Jens, brought me to Motherwell, and then the whole team kind of came together in this really nice way where we played good football,” he said. “We exceeded the expectations and I was just lucky to be a part of that. That’s what has brought me here, as well as having an enjoyable World Cup.”

Reunited with Stamenic

The academy that shaped him also gave him a friendship that has now come full circle at the Swansea.com Stadium, with Marko Stamenic having helped bring him to Swansea.

“I met Marko at 14. He’s a little bit younger, but was one of the local boys, so he didn’t live at the academy, and I trained a lot with him. We go back a long way,” he said.

“That’s something so special about that academy, over a few years there were so many boys who have gone on to play around the world, so we all keep in touch and see each other on national teams. It’s a small world, and in football even smaller. It’s great that I get to see Marko every day.”

Three goals on the biggest stage

The high point of Just’s year came at the World Cup, where the winger scored three times for New Zealand, a tournament he calls the experience of a lifetime even amid the disappointment of a group-stage exit.

“The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and it was just an incredible experience. It would have been lovely to get out of the group,” he said. “The way we played, we definitely gave ourselves a chance. So a little bit disappointing, but an incredible experience.”

He remembers the release of scoring early in his opening game.

“I was really fortunate that it was the seventh minute when I scored. That definitely helped get the nerves out of the way, and then to score again, that game was quite special,” he said. “I never expected to score three goals in the tournament. There’s definitely some moments that I’ll remember forever.”

Back home, the country was watching.

“We had a lot of travelling support, and I know a lot of people back home were watching. We got sent videos of kids in school watching and people in different pubs and bars,” he said. “The whole nation got behind it, which was pretty special.”

For a boy who grew up on the Premier League, it was proof of how far he had come.

“That’s everyone’s dream in New Zealand, everyone watches the Premier League. You wake up in the morning to catch the game,” he said. “It’s a long season, but you always hope that you can get there.”

Adjusting to the Championship

Just has found the Championship every bit as demanding as he expected, and different in character to the Scottish football he knew at Motherwell.

“It’s similar in a lot of ways, it’s very physical, but the quality of players is definitely higher in the Championship,” he said. “The intensity is a little bit higher, and then having so many games one after each other, that also takes a toll. That’s probably the biggest difference.”

He is honest that there is more to come from him in a Swansea shirt.

“I’m still adjusting a little bit. I don’t think I’ve shown my best out on the pitch yet, but I’ve still enjoyed it,” he said. “The team’s been great, and anything I can do, I’m trying to do to help the team.”

Deployed wide at Swansea, Just hints that his best position may be further infield.

“My time playing out wide was always more of a freer role at Motherwell, starting from wide and coming inside, whereas at Swansea they’re more out-and-out wingers,” he said. “I would say playing in midfield suits me more. I’m really happy to be playing that eight or ten role.”

Lincoln, and a break in the sun

For now, the focus is on Saturday’s trip to Lincoln City and a good feeling heading into the international break, when Just links up with New Zealand for games in China and Japan.

“We’re just working hard each week in training, and hopefully we can get a good result against Lincoln and go into the break feeling good,” he said.

“We’re off to China and Japan, which, although it’s not close for us, who are used to going back to New Zealand, is almost a short flight. It’s the first time we’ve been back together since the World Cup, so it’ll be nice to see everybody.”

Author

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com