For most of his life, Dillan Kahale has followed football wherever it led him - from local Sydney pitches to a formative year in Spain.

Now, at 27, that same instinct for adventure is carrying him across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, where he and his wife Ashley are preparing to start a new chapter rooted not only in ambition, but in faith, family, and a belief that the best is still yet to come.

Soccer, he says, was written into his story almost from birth.

Dillan on the field: Supplied

“My mum would always tell me how my brother would yell at me as a newborn baby and tell me to hurry up and grow up so we could play together,” he laughs.

By 13, that childhood passion turned serious when he was scouted to a club in Barcelona and spent over a year living in Spain - an experience that confirmed the game was more than a hobby.

Behind every milestone stood his mother, his greatest supporter.

“Mums everywhere deserve more credit,” Kahale says, reflecting on the countless hours and sacrifices she made - but like many young players, Cristiano Ronaldo was also someone he looked up to, but it was his family that kept him grounded.

The New Zealand opportunity emerged almost unexpectedly.

While honeymooning there years ago, Dillan and Ashley fell in love with the South Island's lifestyle.

Dillan and Ashley in Malta: Supplied

When he later noticed a local team rising into the Southern League, he reached out - and soon enough, conversations turned into contracts.

What excites him most isn't just the competition, but the pace of life.

“The outdoors, the beauty everywhere you look, the snow, the people, the non-chaotic and more relaxed attitude towards life.”

Leaving home hasn't been easy.

“You don't really miss the environment,” he admits after months travelling abroad, “only your family and friends."

Having Ashley beside him has made the leap possible.

Dillan and Ashley adventuring: Supplied

“Every man thinks they have the best wife but I truly do.”

Strong in faith, Kahale sees the move as part of something bigger.

Time in prayer, he says, prepared them for an opportunity they could never have planned themselves.

A year from now, success won't be measured only in goals.

“Honestly just being happy,” he says.

Dillan on the field: Supplied

And to young players chasing big dreams, his message is simple - “passion drives performance.”

One day, when he looks back on this chapter, Dillan hopes he'll remember the memories made, friendships formed, and lessons learned - proof that sometimes the bravest journeys are the ones taken far from home, guided by love, belief, and the beautiful game.