Former Auckland FC midfielder and New Zealand international Joe Champness has revealed why he parted ways with the club just eight games into the season. 

The All White left the new A-League club last month with what was described as “mutual consent” eight games into their maiden campaign. 

Champness told the Herald: “At this point in my career, I feel like I’m in my prime years of football. To take up the challenge overseas [is] what I should be doing.” 

The 27-year-old signed on this month with Iranian top-flight club Havadar without having made a competitive appearance for the Black Knights. He said the move wasn’t money-driven – it was more so the appeal of playing football abroad. 

“Before going to Auckland, there were a lot of overseas offers that I could have taken up,” he explained. “I wanted to make sure I went back and joined the club, but once I got back, I also soon realised that being overseas was where I needed to be.” 

“Going to Auckland, it’s where I’m from. I love the city and I really love the club. It’s such a great thing for New Zealand football, so it was really awesome for me. 

”It’s the first thing I wanted to do as soon as I knew the club was announced because my priority is to represent my country, represent my city, so it was just an extension of that." 

While playing in the Middle-East, Champness hopes to continue balancing his professional football and music. 

The hip-hop singer – who performs under the name JOWIC – has been singing since he was young and throughout his time at eight professional football clubs. 

In 2019, while contracted to the Newcastle Jets, Champness initially gave football away to concentrate on music, based in Los Angeles. 

“When I’m off the pitch, I can also have another outlet – they go hand-in-hand,” he said. 

“For me personally, everyone’s different. Some people only want to focus on one thing, but I’ve found with many passions, I can make it all work to benefit each other.” 

Adding more strings to his bow, Champness has recently launched a new tech company, Arrafund, which he says is the world’s first social investment network. 

The platform allows everyday creators to earn and invest through their everyday posts, but it also rewards buyers with same-day payouts and other benefits. 

“It’s super-exciting, and just something that is really starting to build momentum and something I’m really proud of. 

“Everyone and anyone can earn money on the platform, just by even driving one sale through their posts.” 

Champness said the users number in their thousands, and the endeavour even has backing from top football players. 

“The A-League’s Rafael Struik, who has 4.6 million followers, jumped on and shouted out the platform. 

“We’re just seeing a lot of really cool organic growth.” 

Champness told the Herald he doesn’t doubt he’ll be able to collectively give football, music and Arrafund the attention required for success. 

“It’s just been a part of how I’ve always been like my whole life. I can focus on the field on football, and then when I’m off the field, I can take my mind to other endeavours. 

Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.