New Zealand international Joe Champness returns to action with a debut goal in Turkey

After a challenging period of being without a club for nearly a year and a half, New Zealand international Joe Champness found a new home. The talented player’s journey took a positive turn as he signed with Adanaspor, a Turkish football club competing in the second tier. The signing marked a new chapter in Champness’ career, offering him an opportunity to reignite his passion for the game and showcase his skills on the field once again.

Champness made a remarkable entrance into his new team. In his debut match of the season against Boluspor, he left a lasting impression by scoring a goal that contributed to Adanaspor’s 2-0 away victory last Friday (11st August). This triumphant start not only showcased his footballing prowess but also signaled his intent to make a significant impact in his new surroundings.

Prior to joining Adanaspor, Joe Champness had experienced a stint with Giresunspor, another Turkish club, where he competed in the first-tier league. Despite his undeniable potential, circumstances led him to a period of uncertainty in his professional journey. However, his determination, dedication, and undying passion for the sport drove him to persevere and seek new opportunities to reignite his career. Champness left Giresunspor after only 13 matches played for the club due unpaid salaries; the attacker terminated the contract and proceeded with a FIFA Dispute Resolution claim. FIFA found in favour of Champness and awarded him €790,000 Euros (1.33 million New Zealand Dollars) plus interest.

JOWIC, as Champness is known in the music world, will be looking pave his way back to the All Whites. The player is known for having a break in his football career in the past in order to pursue a career in musical industry as a rapper. It was tought the player could had done the same after being for so long without competitive football, but he recently signed a new deal with Adanaspor, as mentioned, and already proved his capabilities to be a key figure in the battle for promotion to Turkey’s top-tier.