A reduced 14-round league makes a good start even more crucial to mount a challenge for one of four playoff spots in the fifth season of the New Zealand Football Championship.
– Canterbury finished last season much stronger than they started it, but history suggests carrying that form into this season may be tougher for Korouch Monsef’s squad who have only beaten Manawatu twice in 13 games. Manawatu were erratic but entertaining last year so impact of players like Jason Hayne, Raf de Gregorio and Jan Weissenfeldt will be closely watched.
– Auckland racked up 16 wins and 50 points last season, both of which were club records, but the year will be remembered for the fact that their mortgage of the silverware was finally broken. The three time former champions have added Ivan Vicelich and Xavi Roca seeking a return to glory. They welcome Otago United to Kiwitea St who will need to arrest last season’s horrible away form to get any change out of City.
– The battle between last season’s fourth and fifth place-getters could be crucial in determining the make up of an extended four-team playoff series. Off the field, Waikato have pulled themselves back from the brink of extinction but what effect will it have on their on-field performance against a Hawke’s Bay side who could be ready to shed the unwanted tag of ‘only club never to qualify for the playoffs’.
– Champions Waitakere United have a tough O-League game under their belt heading into the first round against a Wellington side of some promise but written off in many quarters. Sound familiar? Will we see a replay of last season’s opening game where underdogs Team Wellington knocked over the then minor premiers to announce their title ambitions or will it be a repeat of the grand final where Waitakere produced their ruthless best to claim the title?
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Canterbury United v YoungHeart Manawatu
English Park
November 8, 2008
Kickoff: 3pm
Referee: Jamie Cross (Wellington)
Head to Head: Played 13: Canterbury 2 wins, Manawatu 8 wins, 3 draws
Canterbury United Dragons
The players: Adam Highfield returns in goal after a horrific eye-socket injury cut short his 2007-08 season, while James Reichwein is back in Canterbury colours after 12 bit-part roles for the Dragons in the first two NZFC seasons.
The vital statistics: Canterbury’s 5-1 home win to finish last season was the first time the Dragons have beaten Manawatu in regular time (their only other win was on penalties in the 2005-06 playoffs).
Ten of Canterbury’s 12 points last season came in their last six games.
Squad list: 1-Adam Highfield (GK), 3-Matt Boyd, 4-Bill Robertson, 5-Andy Pitman, 7-Ryan Faichnie, 8-Garry McDermott, 9-Tom Lancaster, 10-Jamie Smith, 11-Gareth Turnbull, 12-Michael Fifii, 14-Stuart Kelly, 15-James Reichwein, 16-Nick Wortelboer, 19-Darren Overton, 21-Ben Harris, 22-Chris Sinclair (GK)
Contact: Korouch Monsef (Head coach) 021 998 195
YoungHeart Manawatu
The players: Jason Hayne returns to New Zealand from a winter stint on the Gold Coast but at a new club after spending last season as part of all-conquering Waitakere, while Raf de Gregorio’s move north from Team Wellington has raised a few eyebrows. Last season’s joint golden boot Gonzalo Nieres leads the line again, while new import Jan Weissenfeldt should add some German steel to YoungHeart’s defence.
The vital statistics: Last season Manawatu finished with the leakiest defence but with the best attack outside the top three.
Squad list: 1-Chris Marsh (GK), 2-Adam Cowan, 3-Pablo Yackson, 6-Matt Kennedy, 7-Jason Hayne, 8-Nathan Cooksley, 9-Gusatvo Saralegui, 10-Leo Shin, 11-Scott Robson,12-Dave Boyack, 14-Jan Weissenfeldt, 16-Raf de Gregorio, 18-Finlay Milne, 19-Andrew Bailey (GK), 20-Gonzalo Nieres, 21-Brook Tozer
Contact: Bob Sova (Head coach) 021 606 652
Auckland City v Otago United
Kiwitea St (Auckland)
November 9, 2008
Kickoff: 3pm
Referee: Antony Riley (Palmerston North)
Head to Head: Played 12, Auckland 9 wins, Otago 2 wins, 1 draw
Auckland City
The players: Colin Tuaa has included seven players who did not feature in Auckland’s trophyless 2007-08 season. Matt Friel and Matt Williams move north from Waikato while Nelson Sale and Alick Maemae are back with their former Manawatu mentor. Up-and-coming Central United striker Milosh Nikolic is promoted from Auckland’s academy, Oly-Whites stopper will push for a start between the sticks, while former All White Ivan Vicelich makes his long-awaited NZFC debut. Auckland are without their other big off-season signing as Xavi Roca is out for four weeks with a knee injury sustained in the O-League draw with Waitakere. Greg Uhlmann carries a suspension over from the end of last season.
The vital statistics: Grant Young will make his 100th appearance for Auckland City over three competitions – NZFC, O-League and FIFA Club World Cup. If the NZFC’s top scorer (48) and most capped player (82) plays all possible NZFC games this season – 14 league games, two semi finals and a grand final – he will reach 99 caps in the NZFC alone.
Squad List: 1-Ross Nicholson (GK), 2-Nelson Sale, 3-Matt Friel, 5-Matt Williams, 6-Ki-Hyung Lee, 8-Chad Coombes, 9-Paul Urlovic, 10-Grant Young, 11-Alick Maemae, 12-Jacob Spoonley (GK), 14-Keryn Jordan, 15-Ivan Vicelich (Captain), 19-Salesh Kumar, 21-Riki van Steeden, 24-Milosh Nikolic, 25-Adam McGeorge
Contact/s: Colin Tuaa (Head Coach) 021 734 380
Otago United
The players: Irish import Colin Falvey leads a side that includes a returning-Blair Scoullar who scored a club record 19 goals over the first two NZFC seasons before shifting north to Canterbury,
The vital statistics: Otago picked up a league-worst three points from a possible 33 on the road last season.
Squad List: 1-Liam Little (GK), 2-Rys Henderson, 3-Tristan Prattley, 4-Barry Gardiner, 5-Colin Falvey (Captain), 6-Michael Smith, 7-Robbie Deeley, 8-Blair Scoullar, 9-Tom Jackson, 10-David Dugdale, 11-Andy Coburn, 12-Aaron Burgess, 13-Callum Flaws (GK), 14-Sean Brand, 17-Tim Horner
Contact/s: Terry Phelan (Head Coach) – 027 230 0095
Hawke’s Bay United v Waikato FC
Bluewater Stadium, Park Island (Napier)
November 9, 2008
Kickoff: 3pm
Referee: Chris Kerr (Auckland)
Head to Head: Played 12: Hawke’s Bay 2 wins, Waikato 6 wins, 4 draws
Hawke’s Bay United
The players: Gone is last year’s All Whites strike pairing of Jarrod Smith and Jeremy Brockie, but added are English import Daniel Kirkup (Carlisle United), former All White Che Bunce along with Wairarapa pair Seule Solomon and James Oxtoby.
The vital statistics: Fourth last season, Hawke’s Bay (29 points) were as close to third placed Wellington (47) as they were to seventh placed Otago (15).
Squad List: 1-Mitch O’Brien (GK), 2-Chris Davies, 3-Alex Barlow, 4-Greig Henslee, 5-Campbell Parkin, 6-Che Bunce, 7-Cole Peverley, 8-Chris McIvor, 9-Daniel Kirkup, 10-Seule Soromon, 11-Graham Fyfe, 12-James Oxtoby, 13-Leon Birnie, 19-Andrew Abba, 22-Anthony Floyd, 23-Shaun Peta (GK)
Contact: Jonathan Gould (Football Manager) 021 734 919
Waikato FC
The players: Hit hard by player defections in a tumultuous off-season, Waikato have still managed to pick up age-group internationals in the form of Stu Hogg (Hawke’s B
ay) and Joel Matthews (Auckland), and despite the loss of two U-23 defenders, have held on to Oly-Whites playmaker Shaun van Rooyen and the club’s top scorer Steven Holloway. Former All Whites and Waitakere defender Graham Pearce should have an increase impact at his new club.
The vital statistics: Waikato finished last season with a six-match winless slide.
Squad List: 1-Jason Mann (GK), 2-Joel Mathews, 3-Ben Hunt, 4-Graham Pearce, 7-Joe Simpkins, 8-Paul Stewart, 9-Marco Rojas, 10-Stu Hogg, 11-Steven Holloway, 12-Daniel Rattray, 13-Shaun Van Rooyen, 15-Rhys Ruka, 16-Sam Margetts, 18-Nick Robson, 21-Jon Stables, 25-Nathan Strom
Contact: Dave Edmondson (Head Coach) 027 333 4102
Team Wellington v Waitakere United
Newtown Park (Wellington)
November 9, 2008
Kickoff: 3pm
Referee: Matt Conger (Palmerston North)
Head to Head: Played 13, Wellington 2 wins, Waitakere 7 wins, 4 draws
Team Wellington
The players: Brian Little returns to his old stomping ground after stints with Auckland and Portland Timbers. Oly-Whites Jeremy Brockie and Sam Jenkins have moved from Hawke’s Bay to join their Olympic coach Stu Jacobs. Experience could be an issue as Wellington have lost Graham Little, Rupert Ryan, Wiremu Patrick and Sean Douglas to retirement, Darren Cheriton, Cole Tinkler and Mike Wilson have headed off shore while Raf De Gregorio (Manawatu) and Daniel Ellensohn (Waitakere) will only use the away dressing room at Newtown Park this season.
The vital statistics: Team Wellington have won their last six home games, but it’s biggest loss last season was a 1-5 mauling at Newtown Park against Waitakere.
Squad list: 1-Phil Imray (GK), 3-Steve Gulley, 5-Michael Eagar, 7-Sam Blackburn, 8-Peter Howe, 10-Luis Corrales, 11-Brian Little, 12-Andy Barron, 13-Karl Whalen (Captain), 14-Sam Jenkins, 15-Allen Chote, 17-Jeremy Brockie, 19-Craig Allerdice, 23-Tim Schaeffers, 24-Jake Gleeson (GK), 25-Paul Whitmarsh
Contact: Stu Jacobs (Head coach) 021 724 944
Waitakere United
The players: Daniel Ellensohn returns to Waitakere lining up against a former club. Last season the scenario was reversed and Ellensohn opened the scoring. Jeff Campbell also returns to Waitakere, while Ian Hogg (Hawke’s Bay), Aaron Scott (Waikato), Dan Robinson (Waikato) and Adriano Pimenta (Bragantino) have all joined the reigning champions.
The vital statistics: Waitakere lost only one game on the road (2-3 v Manawatu) last season.
Squad list: 1-Richard Gillespie (GK), 2-Jonathan Perry, 3-Aaron Scott, 4-Tim Myers, 5-Danny Hay (Captain), 7-Daniel Ellensohn, 8-Paul Seaman, 9-Benjamin Totori, 10-Allan Pearce, 13-Daniel Koprivcic, 14-Jeff Campbell, 15-Christopher Bale, 16-Neil Emblen, 17-Jake Butler, 18-Ian Hogg, 21-Kayne Vincent, 22-Danny Robinson (GK), 29-Adriano Pimenta (two to be omitted)
Contact: Chris Milicich (Football Manager) 021 222 6959
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