Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley now has first-hand knowledge of the task facing his side in their Chatham Cup semifinal football match with Bay Olympic in Auckland on Saturday, August 13.
Keinzley trekked to the city of sails last weekend to watch Bay Olympic take on Three Kings United in atop-of-the-table northern regional league match and was "hugely impressed" with what he saw.
Bay Olympic's 4-2 win meant the league title was theirs with still four series of matches remaining to be played. They led 3-0 at halftime and had a player sent from the field in the second half.
"Really it was like watching men against boys. Three Kings are a damn good side but they were made to look like second raters," Keinzley said. "They [Bay Olympic] made it seem so easy, it was like they were having a training run."
Tactically, Bay Olympic had a simple game plan, with the emphasis being on teamwork rather than individual brilliance.
"They have a lot of height and a lot of speed, and they understand the value of holding on to the ball for long periods. They like to control the pace of the game," Keinzley said.
Understandably, the Wairarapa United coach was staying mum about any possible weaknesses he detected in the Bay Olympic effort but he did suggest it would take something "really special" to head them off.
"We might have to be bit radical in the way we approach things, maybe even take a risk or two we normally wouldn't even consider."
Good news for Wairarapa United leading into the Chatham Cup fixture is that their squad seem certain to be strengthened by the return of Nobuyishi Ishi, Adam Milne and Miroslav Tvaroh, who have all been overseas.
Ishi and Milne could be on deck for their central league match against Olympic at Wellington's Wakefield Park this coming Sunday, a game likely to have a bearing on Wairarapa United's frantic come-from-behind chase for the league title. A win would keep them well in contention, a loss would make the task of overhauling leaders Miramar Rangers that much more difficult.
