Soccer: WaiBop squad announced

Jack McNab is the only Tauranga player to be named in the WaiBOP United squad for the 2013/14 ASB Premiership season. Photo / File

The WaiBOP United squad for the 2013/14 ASB Premiership season has been announced after an intensive five-week pre-season campaign.

Tauranga City United's stand-out striker Jack McNab is the only Tauranga player named in the squad, with club teammate Josh Nelson not considered because of injury.

Coach Peter Smith was disappointed for Nelson, who he believed would have acquitted himself well in the summer league.

Nelson and fellow injured player Adam Luque may come back into the reckoning during the January transfer window.

The 22-strong squad includes the previously unannounced signings of Nick Robson, Mikhail Bredeveldt and Marcel Galera Corbera.

Midfielder Robson comes to the side after involvement with Toronto FC from the US's Major League Soccer. He was drafted in January by Ryan Nelsen's Toronto FC in the third round of the MLS supplemental draft after a college career in New Mexico.

Bredeveldt was the leading scorer in the 2013 Northern Region Football League's Premier Division after banging in 11 goals for Three Kings United. Spaniard Galera Corbera has impressed during the pre-season and will add some creativity to the side from his position wide on the left.

Smith has added a Japanese flavour, with Masaki Nomoto and Takahiro Yokota added to the squad. Nomoto is a versatile central midfielder or defender, who played for Waitakere United during the 2012/13 season. Yokota, who played for Metro FC during the 2013 winter season, is a strong centre-half who looks impressive in the air.

Midfielders Shaydon Young and Alexis Varela forced themselves into the mix over the past few weeks. Young, who played for Takapuna during the winter, has pace to burn and will be a great option out wide, while Hamilton Wanderers' Varela, who played for Waikato FC last summer, adds strength to the middle of the park.

Youngsters Tom Probert, Xavier Pratt and Reid Drake have been taken on as apprentices and will be working and training with the first team squad. The apprentices will play for the WaiBOP United Youth Team and Smith sees their involvement as an important part of the development and regeneration of the senior team for future seasons. All White Aaron Scott will captain WaiBOP United this season.

WaiBOP United players, including squad numbers: 1 Andrew McNeil (Gk), 2 Liam Higgins (Def), 3 Aaron Scott (Def), 4 Takahiro Yokota (Def), 5 Tyler Lissette (Def), 6 Masaki Nomoto (Def), 7 Mark Jones (Mid), 8 Mikhail Bredeveldt (For), 9 George Slefendorfas (For), 10 Milos Nikolic (For), 11 Marcel Galera Corbera (Mid), 12 Jack McNab (For), 13 Ben Latham (Def), 14 Maksim Manko (Mid), 15 Jacob Hall (Def), 16 Shaydon Young (Mid), 17 Raymond How (Def), 18 Alexis Varela (Mid), 19 Nicholas Robson (Mid), 20 Danyan Drake (Gk), 21 Scott Hilliar (Mid) - Youth, 22 Wade Molony (Mid) - Youth.