SOCCER: Format under scrutiny

Pacific Premiership

Soccer

THE strength of any region's soccer comes from its home-grown talent and a healthy dose of realism before a season kicks off.

Sure, the structure of a competition may not be fool proof and the calibre of players may not be the best and, no doubt, the ritual of blaming referees and their assistants is ever present.

With the ComputerCare Pacific Premiership kicking off in Hawke's Bay today, coaches from the eight teams have set targets that perhaps reflect where the beautiful game is at in a format that offers two rounds of home-and-away games before finishing with top-four-bottom-four play-offs.

Last year, nine teams played two rounds of games each but this year they will play only 17 games plus Federation Cup and Hawke's Bay Knockout Cup games.

Ironically, the first word goes to the premiership defending champions who are the only non-Bay side in the competition:

TEAM GISBORNE:

Coach Blake Mulrooney has retained 95 per cent of his squad with the departure of predecessor Brett Derry to Christchurch as a transferred schoolteacher.

Mulrooney has recruited schoolboys for his composite side who will play all their home games on a Sunday.

He also brings a different philosophy this winter to Jennian Homes Team Gisborne.

While mindful the expectations of defending the title will weigh heavy on him and the players, the Gisborne soccer development officer will not let that get them down.

"We want to play a style of football that will draw crowds - win, lose or draw," he says.

"We don't want to be one dimensional, something we're guilty of in Gisborne.

"We don't mind winning ugly if it's an important game but I'd prefer all 11 players on a pitch to make a contribution at any given time."

HAVELOCK NORTH:

Bruce Barclay is back at the helm, but this time as a full-time coach due to age and the demands of his job as a police officer.

With the demise of Cru Bar Maycenvale United following their demotion from Central League last season, the villagers have picked up veteran Dion Adams, who is helping Barclay coach.

"Dion brought some kids, who respect him, with him," Barclay says, adding they didn't approach three or four of them but simply gained from a seasonal rate of attrition.

Making the top four play-offs is a reasonable goal for Best United Travel Havelock North Wanderers AFC.

Barclay feels sorry for those (Central Football) caught between demands to satisfy everyone's wants in finding the perfect format.

MAYCENVALE: It's life after Central League for the men in orange who will have a rash of new faces on the park.

One face that will be familiar is captain Nick Lucas who will keep the Cru Bar Maycenvale flame burning despite losing just about every fibre of Central League experience in his squad of 12 men.

Lucas, a former National League player, says the hastily arranged team will have a multi-cultural look about it with Maori, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu players in the mix.

"After the Central League relegation, it's see yer all later. I don't even know where half of those players came from," he says.

On Thursday, Maycenvale trained without pre-season coach Richie Howard, who last night confirmed he had handed in his resignation and it had been accepted.

Former premiership coach Tony Bartlett also brought his son, Kade, down to help make up the numbers.

"He put in his 10c worth but the most of us are adults so we're just trying to get some fitness," Lucas says, adding they are still looking for a coach.

NAPIER CITY ROVERS:

Rookie coach Matt Hastings, following in the daunting footsteps of his father, Grant, says the expectations are to win the premiership.

The Central League feeder team, Promotem Napier City Rovers, will be built around the seasoned trio of Stu Wilson, Andy Pickering and Sven Exeter as other aspiring, youthful players will go up and down the two leagues.

"It's a new challenge for me and the players are excited, too," says Hastings, who has inherited Ollie Chapman from the Maycenvale exodus.

NAPIER MARIST:

It's back to the drawing board for coach Dave Carswell with about five or six pieces of chalk, let alone oil and canvas, in the beautiful game.

"We lost a lot of players off season. We're trying to rebuild so we won't be as strong as last year," says the policeman who'll have goalkeeper Ryan Todd as his assistant for the Hot Shots Napier Marist.

Commenting on the new format, Carswell says: "It doesn't bother us because at the end of the day we'll still play football."

PORT HILL:

Coach Tim Claudatos returns with Murray Loader stepping down due to family commitments.

The only way is up for Ericksen Honda Port Hill United who finished dead last.

Claudatos asked his men what their goal was and they replied: "Better than last season."

He hasn't seen his full squad yet. In the format stakes, Claudatos prefers a three-round premiership.

"You can't improve your standings in the top-four-bottom-four format," he says, wondering if the two rounds will determine the champions or the top qualifiers risk losing the title in the play-offs.

With the knockout cup matches, he believes the teams will still have enough football.

He questions Central Football's decision to grant Gisborne home games to boost their crowd amid speculation thy intend to build revenue with gate charges.

"We play away games on a Sunday so it's not too flash," he says.

TARADALE: With several players leaving after the side finished runners-up last winter, coach Robbie Parker sees this season as a rebuilding phase.

Cape Physio Taradale have lost former national league prowess in Chris McIvor, Warren Gilbertson and Wayne Atkins.

Add to that goalkeeper Chris Penny.

But all isn't lost with the advent of goalkeeper Toby Doyle, defenders Brendan Adema, Manton Collings, Mark Henderson and Bay United midfielder Matt Bruin.

Enter the short-twitch fibre brigade of Chris Bruin, Moritz Lua and veteran Leon Birnie.

Heath Caldwell and Calvin Mills are not far off from long-term injury, either.

"It's probably fair to say we have more options and depth than in previous campaigns - something we were aiming for," Parker says.

He hastens to add injuries and unavailabilities will emerge and, in the first few weeks, some players may be missing.

Central Football employee Birnie has coaching duties with age-group sides while Moritz Lua also has work commitments.

Compounding their problems is Tim Jeffares who has been ill all week while injured Mike Daly and Richard Gearey aren't fit.

"Leon's unavailability is a particularly big loss as he's already shown in the couple of sessions he's had with us what a class player he is. If he can stay fit, he'll be a huge asset for the side and his impending combination with Dean Johnston and Matt Bruin looks pretty dangerous."

Taradale expect a tough battle today against Havelock North, traditionally a rugged side who have caused a few upsets in previous seasons.

"We'll need to ensure our attitude is right in order to earn the three points," Park emphasises.

He believes playing at home in the opener should mean there are no excuses for not starting brightly and aggressively.

WESTERN RANGERS:

Another policeman, Nathan Ross, will be player/coach but the Hastings club is looking for a full-time coach.

"We have realistic goals but we want to finish in the top four," says Ross who has the help of former Vale players Mark Saunders and veteran Sam Stove. Havelock North's Zac Glenny has also crossed the floor.

"Players who have come over can see the potential in our club."

Ross, whose troops have been training since early February, prefers a three-round format plus a play-off format. "But it's what it is and we're stuck with it."