United set to tackle the big guns

Self belief will be a vital commodity if the Wairarapa United men's soccer team is to capture national headlines by upsetting Napier City Rovers in their Chatham Cup second round match at Park Island, Napier on Sunday.
Coach Phil Keinzley understands that Wairarapa United will go into the game as 1001-1 outsiders against opposition which has won the Chattham Cup on four previous occasions (1985, 1993, 2000 and 2002), were national club champions in 1989, 1993, 2000 and 2002 and have been judged New Zealand Club of the Year no fewer than eight times?.1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001,
But he also knows that sport, and in particular soccer, is littered with shock results and that if Wairarapa United can play to their full potential for all of the 90 minutes victory is not beyond the realms of possibility.
"If we go into the game thinking we are no chance then we will be no chance," Keinzley said. "But if we take the view that anything can happen on any given day then who knows what the result might be. It's all a matter of self belief??..that's the key to it."
Keinzley said the challenge he was issuing to his players was for each of them to win their personal battles against their Napier City counterparts.
"Obviously we can't afford to under-estimate the value of working as a unit but the focus in this particular game is more on the individual than the team," Keinzley said.
"And if we come out on the right side of the ledger there we should do well in terms of the wider picture anyway."
Having yet to taste defeat in the Capital division one competition, which they lead by a clear three points, Wairarapa United certainly has form on the board ,but their coach is adamant they are still to play their best soccer, and he is optimistic that will come on Sunday.
"I honestly think we have not reached more than 75 per cent of our capabilities so there's a fair of improvement to come, isn't there?" he said.
The fact Wairarapa United are at full strength for Sunday's game is a definite plus. They have been depleted by injuries through most of the season but with everybody on deck this time there will be no excuses in that regard.
Another plus is that more than 100 supporters have already indicated they will be travelling to Napier for the game and Keinzley is sure they will make their presence felt.
"We know they are capable of making plenty of noise and I'm certain they will have the vocal chords tuned up for this one," he said.
The Wairarapa United squad for Sunday is: Charles Kendall, Paul Watkinson, Aaron Spierling, Andy Robertson, Troy Burling, Andrew Taylor, Pita Rabo, Murray Burling, Carl Shailer, Sakeo Valevou, Lai Gataurua. Substitutes: Evan Shailer, Marack Tvaroh, Robbie Bull, Paolo Frisone, Anarau te Rangi, Matt Steele.