Football
Wairarapa United coachWairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley won't buy into the debate that sparks should fly in his team's Central League match with Napier City Rovers at Howard Booth Park, Carterton, on Sunday.
"Keep me out of that, we're treating it just like any other game," Keinzley said yesterday. "I know there are people who will think otherwise but all we are concerned about is getting a good result, that's the bottom line."
It was Napier City Rovers who started the controversy which culminated with Wairarapa United being disqualified from the national knockout competition, the Chatham Cup.
Wairarapa United beat them 2-1 in a third round match played at Napier but things turned to custard when Napier City Rovers protested the result on the basis that Vanuatu international Brian Kalteck, who came off the bench inside the last 10 minutes, was ineligible to play. Wairarapa United, for their part, were adamant Kalteck had been cleared by New Zealand Football but not only did the latter uphold the Napier City Rovers protest they also turned down a later appeal by Wairarapa United.
Unsurprisingly, this state of affairs left a sour taste among Wairarapa United's supporters frustrated their side was out of the reckoning to repeat their Chatham Cup final success of 2010. Although Keinzley makes no secret of his disappointment, he doesn't see it playing a big part in Saturday's game.
"Quite honestly it would be unfair to blame their players for what happened, like our guys, they were no more than interested observers," Keinzley said.
"There's always keen rivalry between us and that won't change but that's as far as it should go."
The coach says the main focus for his side will be more about bouncing back from last weekend's 5-3 defeat by Western Suburbs in a game marred by the ill discipline of both sides.
"It always hurts when you get into a winning position and blow it, but the way we did it made it even worse," Keinzley said. "We just have to pick ourselves up and go again, only this time we need to keep our heads and concentrate on the football."
As if the loss of one of their impressive Frenchmen, Alssney Cissoko, who was sent from the field against Wests after picking up his second yellow card, is not bad enough, Wairarapa United have also lost the services of the other, Charles Mallman, with an injured hamstring.
Their absence seems certain to see Keinzley start with the versatile Kalteck as Seule Soromon's partner up front and he will also have to give serious consideration to starting one or both promising youngsters in Arnon Tapp and Jamie McMaster, who will have turned out for Wairarapa United seconds in an important Capital third division fixture with Petone Armanis the day before.
"It's a big ask to ask them to play two hard games in two days but they are young and keen and I'm confident they would manage it," Keinzley said.