North Queensland Fury striker Dyron Daal can’t get enough of the steamy Townsville summer despite regularly training in above 30 degree heat.
The tall Dutchman was originally brought to the club on short-term injury replacement contracts but last month signed a permanent deal for at least one more season.
The 26-year old, who’s played most of his career in Europe, says his fondness for the club only grows as the mercury rises.
“I’m good, I’m happy,” Daal said.
“I’m just happy to be out of the snow to be honest,” he joked.
“I’ve been in the snow for a long time so I’m all good now, when I talk to all my friends at home and in Scotland it’s all snowing now, so I’m just happy.”
“I’m having a great time here in Townsville.”
But the striker says he’s only just coming to terms with the State’s geography and the intense rivalry between the Fury and their next opponents Brisbane.
“It’s starting to come (to me) now because people have been talking about it all the time and labelling it the Queensland derby.”
“(Even though it’s so far away)…it’s still Queensland, they were called the Queensland Roar which I only found out two weeks ago,” Daal said.
With both Brisbane and North Queensland playing to keep their seasons alive, Daal says whoever can best convert their chances will succeed.
“I think against Wellington (0-3) we had some early chances and we didn’t take them and we come out second half and they score so you always have to take your chances,” he said.
The Fury and the Roar played out a 1-1 draw when they last met at Dairy Farmers Stadium way back in September, then Brisbane were 2-0 victors at Suncorp Stadium last month.
“That was an off day for the whole team,” Daal said.
“Right now I can’t see any bigger motivation you can get cause we lost to them in the last game, we’ve got a chance to still get into the top six, we’re playing at home again, so I don’t know what other kind of motivation you need to perform.”
