'I hope he would be very proud': The heartbreak driving new All Whites striker

Corban Piper’s journey to the All Whites has been anything but straightforward, with heartbreak, uncertainty and a willingness to take risks shaping his path to a first senior international call-up.

Piper was one of several new faces named in Darren Bazeley’s squad for this week’s fixtures against India in Auckland and Christchurch, making his selection more special because he has never represented New Zealand at age-group level.

But behind the excitement of earning his first senior call-up is personal motivation, with Piper determined to make his family proud, particularly his late father, Dallas Piper, who died in 2022 when Piper was just 19.

Rather than allowing the loss to derail his ambitions, Corban Piper says it has strengthened his desire to succeed and prove he belongs at the highest level.

That determination has taken him on a unique journey, from playing in the National League to heading overseas to Ireland before returning to New Zealand and impressing Wellington Phoenix coaches to earn a professional contract following a train-and-trial deal.

At the time of his father’s death, Piper vowed to make him proud and hopes he is doing so as he prepares to realise a childhood dream by pulling on the All Whites jersey for the first time.

“I hope he would be very proud,” he said. “Mum’s told me several times that he’s proud.

”If anything, it drives me more, just to prove people wrong and do my family proud, so it’s a bit satisfying putting on the badge today."

Piper first went on Bazeley’s radar last year when Bazeley told him he saw him as a future international if he kept performing.

After the Phoenix’s 2-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners, Piper missed two calls from Bazeley. He called back to find out he was in.

His mother was overcome with emotion when he told her about his selection.

“She just straight away was like ‘oh, really?’ And then it hit her and she started crying, as you can imagine any mum would do.

“It’s every kid’s dream. For me it’s been a really emotional ride, so it means so much to me.”

Piper will have his mum, sister, aunties and uncles in the stands on Thursday, when he hopes to get his chance to wear the Silver Fern.

After beginning his footballing journey at Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland, where he enjoyed considerable success as a junior, Piper moved to Birkenhead United, before taking a leap of faith in Ireland.

The decision to join Wexford in the League of Ireland First Division came with no guarantees of a contract, but living alone played a key role in his development.

“Going overseas by myself with no contract guaranteed, just a trial and a hope, and all my savings behind me and just really backing myself, it 100% changed me completely as a person,” Piper said.

“Living by myself in the middle of nowhere, it really does shape you and it makes you almost hungrier for the goal.”

Piper then returned to Birkenhead before getting a call from the Phoenix, who offered him the chance to join the team for pre-season, which led to a permanent deal.

Corban Piper was playing for Birkenhead United in 2024. Photo / Photosport

Despite having played most of his football in the midfield, he was recruited to play defence and quickly became a fan favourite due to his robust and physical style of play.

He is now playing striker and has made a strong start to the A-League season under new coach Chris Greenacre, bringing up 50 A-League caps.

Piper said he’s enjoying his role up front.

“It’s tough when you only know that you’re playing that position a week prior, so you’ve got a week to think about what you’re doing and who you’re playing and stuff,” he said.

“But I’ve been a striker now for two solid seasons in a row, so for me it’s all about just knowing my roles.”

The matches against India will be Bazeley’s last with the All Whites after New Zealand Football opted not to renew his contract.

Piper was one of three uncapped players, named alongside Phoenix teammates Nathan Walker and Matt Sheridan.

The All Whites have been forced into a late change to their squad with defender Tyler Bindon ruled out through injury, which has seen Michael Boxall and Lukas Kelly-Heald called in.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.