Fijian international Petero Dauniseka is the latest high profile acquisition for the Wairarapa United men's soccer team which will contest the Capital premier division competition in 2006.
His signing follows on those of Solomon Islands representative Stanley Waeata,Cook Islands goalkeeper Tony Jamieson and James Oxtoby, an Englishman with New Zealand citizenship
who played for the Palmerston North-based Red Sox club last season.
Like Waeata, Jamieson and Oxtoby the services of Dauniseka were sought by Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley after he had watched him perform at the Fijian national club tournament at Lautoka.
Dauniseka was part of a Suva side which Keinzley assisted in the coaching sphere and he was hugely impressed by the skills of the imposing 6ft 6ins fullback.
"He's very quick and very aggressive?he's got that take-no-prisoners attitude which you need on defence," Keinzley said. "And I liked the way he was keen to learn, he was a good listener and he took things in?..every game he got better."
But it wasn't only Dauniseka's general play which captured Keinzley's attention.The power and accuracy when he took free kicks also left a lasting impression.
"Honestly, he hits the ball harder than anybody I have seen," Keinzley said. "It goes like a rocket?twice the ball struck the head of players standing in the wall and knocked them out. And when the keepers did get their hands to the ball they usually couldn't hold onto it, the force of the shot was just too much!"
Dauniseka will add much needed depth to the Wairarapa United defence in the fullback area, a position in which two of the club's more seasoned campaigners Robbie Bull and Paul Watkinson did such a sterling job last season in their side's Capital division one championship-winning performance, despite both having their share of injury problems.
Bull and Watkinson will be on deck again, and there is a strong chance too that talented youngster Hayden Spierling will be available on a regular basis after missing most of the 2005 campaign. He is a versatile player capable of excelling at fullback or in the midfield.
"Defence is very important at the top level and we were a bit thin there at times last season," Keinzley said. "Having the extra depth there will be a big plus for the club, it gives us cover that we haven't had before."
