Football: WaiBOP aims to extend record

WaiBOP United have been in town this week building up for their game against Hawke's Bay. WaiBOP United player James McPeake shares the ball with Otonga School pupil Max Peterson, 9, (both at front) during a visit to the school. Photo / Ben Fraser

WaiBOP United will look to keep their winning record alive in Rotorua when they host Hawke's Bay United.

The two ASB Premiership sides will do battle at Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow at 3pm.

It is the second time WaiBOP have brought a home game to the city, having won here in November last year against Canterbury United 2-1.

WaiBOP coach Peter Smith said they wanted to continue that good form here.

"The stadium is a top-class venue. We won there 2-1 last year, so it has been a happy hunting ground for us."

He said bringing a game to Rotorua was very important for the brand of WaiBOP United.

"It's massive for the club. If you remember what the club used to be called, Waikato FC, it is now WaiBOP United. So it is important to get right around Waikato and the Bay of Plenty and engage the football community and sporting community," he said.

WaiBOP United have a chance to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder with a win tomorrow. They currently have a record of one win, one draw and three losses.

That record could have easily read 2-1-2 but WaiBOP were stripped of three points for an administration error earlier this season.

Smith said he was happy with how his team were progressing after the setback and they had recorded two positive results in recent weeks.

There have been question marks placed over the fitness of star striker Federico Marquez for tomorrow's game. He picked up a knock after scoring two goals against Wellington Phoenix reserves last weekend at Eden Park.

Smith said it was not looking good for Marquez yesterday but they would give him until tomorrow to prove his fitness.

The ASB Premiership, which has a modest following in New Zealand, received a big boost this week with the rise of Auckland City FC.

The ASB Premiership defending champions came agonisingly close to making the final of the Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco, losing 2-1 in their semifinal yesterday morning. The result could go a long way in promoting the ASB Premiership in New Zealand.

Smith said it was an awesome achievement for a New Zealand club side. "As a fellow premiership coach, I take my hat off to those players and staff. It is outstanding."

Smith and some of his WaiBOP players visited Otonga School and St Mary's Catholic School this week, mingling with the children.

The WaiBOP United youth team will also be in action tomorrow, playing in the curtain raiser at 12.30pm. Rotorua's James Towers plays in goal for the WaiBOP United youth team.

-WaiBOP United v Hawke's Bay United, Rotorua International Stadium, tomorrow 3pm. Tickets at the gate: Adult $10, students $5, children free.

WaiBOP champs
*Rotorua footballers Caramia Ali and Danaya McKenzie have won a national title with the WaiBOP United under-15 girls' team.
*The under-15 national age group football tournament was held in Wellington earlier this week.
*WaiBOP United won the girls' under-15 title during the tournament.