Old Boys Reunion in last 16 of Cup · Yellow Fever Nga Wana Kowhai

Old Boys Ready for Chatham Cup Reunion

June 26 2008

AUCKLAND ï¿½ Central United strikers Milos Nikolic and Grant Young may be at other ends of the experience spectrum but both are geared up for the Chatham Cup holdersï¿½ visit to Mount Albert Grammar in the fourth round of footballï¿½s national knockout competition on Saturday.

Eighteen-year-old striker Nikolic ï¿½ part of the Mount Albert Grammar team that were knocked out by Central United at Kiwitea Street in the third round last year ï¿½ is hoping for a happy homecoming and a quarterfinals place when he returns to his old stomping ground to face many of his old team-mates.

ï¿½I was just excited to see the draw, and that we had got MAGS,ï¿½ Nikolic said.

ï¿½Theyï¿½ve got most of the players that were around last year, so I pretty much know all of them. I talked to the captain this week and we wished each other luck.ï¿½

Despite already netting 10 goals in all competitions, the Auckland City academy player said was he was looking to learn as much as he can from the more experienced players in the squad.

One such player, 37-year-old striker Grant Young ï¿½ with whom Nikolic has struck up a blossoming partnership in recent weeks ï¿½ was full of praise for the teenager.

ï¿½Heï¿½s a rare talent,ï¿½ Young said.

ï¿½Heï¿½s an out and out striker, very composed and a great finisher. His attitude is tremendous ï¿½ heï¿½s got a very bright future.ï¿½

Young ï¿½ a former South African international and twice NZFC Player of the Year ï¿½ already has a 2007 Chatham Cup Winnersï¿½ medal to his credit and said the romance of the 85 year old trophy was still alive.

ï¿½Thereï¿½s been talk that the Chatham Cup had lost a bit of its metal in recent years but itï¿½s always an honour to win a trophy of that stature because of all the history associated with it.ï¿½

ï¿½The atmosphere down at Te Puke in the last round was tremendous, and MAGS will certainly be up for this game because of the magnitude and tradition of the cup.ï¿½

Mt Albert Grammar have been in scintillating form in this cup campaign with free scoring wins over Okaihau-Kaeo (9-0), Western Springs (6-0) and Fencibles United (5-4).

A comparatively modest 2-0 win over Mangere United in round three took them into the last 16 for just the second time but Young sounded a warning to Kevin Fallonï¿½s schoolboys ahead of their toughest test yet.

ï¿½We know MAGS will be up for it but I think the firepower that this Central side has will prove too much for them.ï¿½

ChathamCup - Round 4 (Last 16)

Mount Albert Grammar School v Central United

Venue: Mt Albert Grammar School
Kick-off 2pm

MAGS Road to Last 16
Round 3: Mangere United 0 Mt Albert Grammar School 2
Round 2: Fencibles United 4 Mt Albert Grammar School 5
Round 1: Western Springs AFC 0 Mt Albert Gammar School 6
Qualifying round: Okaihau-Kaeo AFC 0 Mt Albert Grammar School 9

Central United ï¿½ Road to Last 16
Round 3: Te Puke AFC 0 Central United 5
Round 2: Oratia United 2 Central United 9

Chatham Cup Round 4

All matches June 28 unless specified. All kick-off at 2pm.

Glenfield Rovers v Melville United ï¿½ McFetridge Park
Metro v East Coast Bays ï¿½ Phyllis Street
Mount Albert Grammar v Central United ï¿½ Mt Albert Grammar School
Hibiscus Coast v Waitakere City ï¿½ Stanmore Bay
Miramar Rangers v Lower Hutt City ï¿½ Centennial Park
Wellington Olympic v Western Suburbs ï¿½ Newtown Park (June 29)
Nelson Suburbs v Avon ï¿½ Saxton Fields
Dunedin Tech v Caversham ï¿½ Caledonian

Uli Stieleke2008-06-26 17:16:28