Central League 2009

Miramar will not be as dominant this year and I can see them starting off the season very slowly like wests did last year, and maybe gaining some momentum in the later part, but hopfully teams are able to take advantage of this and just beat miramar 5-0 6-0 everytime, cant wait.

Hard-nosed midfielder Miriek Tvaroh looks certain to be part of the Wairarapa United team which will kick off their first-ever central league men's soccer campaign against Wellington United at Centennial Park, Miramar on Sunday.

Tvaroh had been in doubt after rolling an ankle in the warm-up before the pre-season match with fellow central leaguer at Petone a couple of weekends ago.

Initial fears were that Tvaroh might have broken the ankle, or at least strained it badly enough to keep him sidelined for several weeks, but he was moving freely enough during Tuesday's training session to suggest he will take his place in the starting line-up.

"He's the sort of guy who never takes a backward step, who is always willing to put his body on the line," Keinzley said of Tvaroh "He's a big presence on and off the ball, we're obviously a lot better team with him in the mix."

Making his debut in the Wairarapa United colours on Sunday will be Manawatu national league skipper Adam Cowan, who will play in the right half position.

Keinzley said Cowan had made an immediate impression at training with his vision and ball distribution skills and also added extra strength to an already powerful goal scoring department, having played mostly at striker for Manawatu. "He (Cowan) has many talents, and we intend to take advantage of all of them," Keinzley said.

Another newcomer to the Wairarapa United squad in midfielder Chris Kirkham is on the doubtful list for Sunday because of a knee injury which will probably see him rested for a busy Easter weekend. Then Wairarapa United will be at home to defending central league champions Miramar Rangers on the Friday and again to Taranaki United on the Monday.

Talented Rathkeale College utility player Kote Maeno is out for the opening game because of an inter-school commitment while Keinzley is still debating over who will start at right fullback with two proven performers there, Sakeo Valevou, and Andy Robertson, currently being bracketed in that role.

With two big wins over North Wellington and Petone in their pre-season build-up, Keinzley has good reason to anticipate a strong performance from Wairarapa United on Sunday, especially with Wellington United being one of the lesser lights in last season's central league series.

But Keinzley is well aware of the dangers of over-confidence and is quick to point out that teams can change dramatically from one season to the next in terms of personnel and he has little knowledge of where Wellington United are at in that respect.

"Honestly, I basically know zilch about them so it would be stupid to start talking about a likely scoreline," he said.

"What we do know though is that they understand what central league play is all about, and we don't. It's new to us and so we're taking nothing for granted, nothing at all."

The Wairarapa United starting line-up for Sunday will be: Sacha Nathu, Carl Shailer Waisake Sabutu, James Oxtoby, Andy Robertson or Sakeo Valevou, Adam Cowan, Miriek Tvaroh, Pita Rabo (captain), Aaron Spierling, Paul Gregory, Seule Soromon

Little wonder the Wairarapa soccer fraternity is buzzing with the news that Miramar Rangers are coming to town.

For it takes no more than a scant glance at their recent record to see why the side which will play Trust House Wairarapa United in a central league fixture at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval in Masterton on Easter Friday is regarded with awe in the round ball code.

National league winners in 2002 and 2003, Chatham Cup winners in 1996, 1992 and 2004 and central league winners in 2006 and 2008 & it's mouth-watering stuff for the soccer connoisseur, isn't it?

What it does too though is bode the question, how on earth can a Wairarapa United side basically fresh out of the Capital premier division grade even hope to be competitive against opposition likely to include at least one All White and a veritable host of Team Wellington representatives?

Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley admits the assignment facing his side on Friday is a huge one but he, for one, isn't about to concede defeat.

"Obviously when you look at the strength of Miramar it would be a bit silly to go out on a limb and predict a win but the chances of that happening are not hopeless, we can push them pretty hard," Keinzley said.

"If the attitude is right there might not be a lot in it."

The Wairarapa United coach is determined his team won't be intimidated by the strength of the Miramar Rangers line-up because he knows what will transpire if they go into their shells and allow them to call the tune in a tactical sense.

"We have to forget about how strong they look on paper and focus on playing our own game, if we give them too much respect then we will be chasing our tails all the way through."

Keinzley said Wairarapa United's "own game" would, as usual, be based around the philosophy that goals win matches, and therefore attack was the best method of defence.

"We certainly won't be going out there with the intent on keeping the score down, the emphasis will be on trying to score more goals than them," he said. "History shows we don't play well when we go all defensive, it just doesn't suit the type of players we've got so why bother?"

Keinzley recalls the last time Wairarapa United and Miramar Rangers met. It was in a Chatham Cup knockout game last season with Miramar Rangers winning 4-2 after racing out to a 3-0 advantage before halftime.

"We probably matched them in the second half but the game was over by then, you can't afford a slow start against a team of their calibre," he said. "They focus on hitting their straps early and getting goals on the board before their opposition has woken up, the first 20 minutes can be absolutely vital against a side like them."

Keinzley is also keen for Wairarapa United to fully exploit the unpredictably of its star attackers such as skipper Pita Rabo, Seule Soromon and one of the new boys on the block, Manawatu national league skipper Adam Cowan.

"These guys are natural ball players and they can create goals out of nothing, even a team like Miramar will find them a handful if we can give them a regular supply of possession," Keinzley said.

The Wairarapa United starting line-up for Friday's match, which kicks off at 2pm, will be published tomorrow with Keinzley having the happy situation of having all members of his squad fit and ready to play.

"It's not often you have everybody on deck & having to choose between players for certain positions it's a nice headache to have," he said

At least one All White? Who exactly? And does that mean that there could possibly be two? Or three?

The dude doesn�t let the truth get in the way of a good story. brilliant. I bet he used to write for the Sunday News