Soccer: Boos ring in Kingz' ears

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Booed off the field by disgruntled fans after a 0-1 loss to Parramatta a week ago, the Football Kingz flew to Australia after training yesterday hoping that they can get something going in tonight's National Soccer League game in Canberra.

The Canberra Cosmos also went down in their latest outing - 1-3 to bottom-placed Eastern Pride - and coach Tom Sermanni sees the game at Bruce Stadium as a chance to repeat the home win they had over the Auckland side last season.

"It's critical for us to get a home win this weekend," he said. "We need to bounce back from last weekend's poor result."

While not pushing the panic button, the Kingz have made changes.

Perennial squad member Riki van Steeden has been left at home and Aaron Silva, who has struggled to find a regular place this season, is out again. They have been replaced by Dennis Ibrahim and Jeff Campbell.

Goalkeeper Chris Marsh missed a couple of training sessions this week, but travelled. However, he will need to pass a late fitness test on his groin-thigh injury before being cleared to play.

Marsh was to have had Julio Cuello as his deputy, but the Argentine keeper rolled his ankle in training yesterday. Simon Eaddy received a late call-up for the flight to Canberra via Melbourne.

Michael Cartwright, Levent Osman and Sean Douglas - who has been in Melbourne this week - will again form the Kingz' rearguard.

Jonathan Perry, Mark Burton, Ivan Vicelich and Andy Bluhm will hold their midfield places, but it is likely that Campbell will play ahead of Aaran Lines.

Up front, Ibrahim will come in for usual captain Harry Ngata to partner Wynton Rufer.

Striker Paul Urlovic still has his foot in a cast and will miss this and perhaps the next game.

Ngata, Lines and Gerard Davis, who looked in reasonable touch in the time he had against Parramatta, will join Cuello on the substitutes' bench.

Campbell's inclusion could help to overcome the Kingz' shocking efforts at set play this season.

"Our set plays have been a nightmare," assistant coach Shane Rufer said. "The delivery has been poor. I can't remember us scoring a goal from set play this season."

While Rufer says he cannot fault the players' discipline or work ethics, some questions must surely have been asked.

For players under pressure and all too aware that the squad will be cut next season, and that there will be a surplus of players in the market, there must be real questions about their attitude.

Now, surely, is the time to start putting it right. Anything other than three points tonight will not be acceptable. The faithful will soon start voting with their feet.

In the key 12th-round clash today, leaders South Melbourne are at home to third-placed Sydney Olympic.