16.04.2008
By Gary Caffell
A team meeting on Monday evening organised to "clear the air" is expected to have positive results for Wairarapa United as they continue their participation in Capital Soccer's premier division competition.
The disappointing 4-1 loss to Tawa at Queen Elizabeth Park oval on Sunday was the catalyst to the meeting at which the possible defection of at least two of their Fijian players to another premier division club, Island Bay, was a major discussion point.
Coach Phil Keinzley said the first he had heard of that rumour was after the Tawa loss and that while no transfers had yet been signed or even asked for inquiries had indicated there was some truth in it.
Apparently two of the Fijian imports had been approached with the offer to play for Island Bay and going into Sunday's match they were still in the throes of considering a move.While making no excuses for his team's loss because of the excellence of their opposition Keinzley reckons there was "every chance" his team's performance was adversely affected by the "uncertainty and confusion" in the minds of the players concerned.
"I think it's fair to say they weren't quite as focused as they should have been and you can understand why," he said.
Keinzley was at pains, however, to stress that the vast majority of players "imported" by Wairarapa United from the Pacific Islands had served them with distinction over many years with two of the squad, Pita Rabo and Sakeo Valevou, now in their fourth season with the club. "They have been huge ambassadors for their country, both on and off the field of play," he said of that duo.
Keinzley said the upshot of Monday night's meeting was that all of the players present committed themselves to playing for Wairarapa United in 2008 although a question still remained over the future of fullback Petero Dauniseka, who did not attend
"There was a strong feeling that the Tawa loss has to be put behind us and that everyone in the squad has to be working on the same wave length," Keinzley said.
"What happened on Sunday is a hiccup, no more than that"
A statement which makes good sense when you consider that defeat was the first suffered by Wairarapa United in 2008, a season where they have already beaten three Central L eague sides on the way to winning the Hilton Petone pre-season tournament and thumped Kapiti Coast 4-0 in their only other premier division match.
Keinzley is, however, expecting Miramar to pose every bit the challenge Tawa did when Wairarapa United plays their third premier division fixture at Miramar on Saturday.
He said they, like Tawa, are pretty much a "no-frills" team which concentrates on doing the basics well and who have the tactical nous to take advantage of any weaknesses in the Wairarapa United game plan.
"They are a very good side but it's a good chance for us to show what we made of, to bounce back from last weekend with a good win," he said.
Meanwhile, Keinzley sees the decision of Rathkeale College to play their first XI in the junior premier league in Wellington on Saturday mornings this season as a "very positive" move, not only for Rathkeale but for Wairarapa soccer in general.
Keinzley said it would expose the side to a higher level of soccer on a regular basis and therefore have the players better equipped to perform well on the representative scene and for Wairarapa United, if they elected to play for them too
"It's a big step but the benefits for the sport should be considerable," he said.
