Soccer: Breaking on through to the other side

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Tommy Mason is hoping some of the warm fuzzies surrounding the New Zealand Breakers' mid-season run in the Australian National Basketball League might rub off on the Football Kingz.

As coach of the struggling NSL team, Mason is happy to look anywhere for some inspiration as he tries to turn the Kingz' season around starting with tonight's game against Sydney United at Ericsson Stadium.

"We want every New Zealand team to do well," said Mason, who continues to battle the odds since taking over from Ken Dugdale at the Auckland-based franchise. "It would be great if we could do what the Breakers have done."

His team are firmly rooted at the bottom of the table but Mason is still giving it his best shot.

After working at his window cleaning business until 5pm and coaching until 10pm, Mason reckons by the time he gets to bed he is lucky to catch four hours' sleep.

"But that's life at the moment," said Mason. "So much to do, so little time."

He also has to find time to fit in a couple of hours to check video tapes of his next opponent.

"I've had a look at the tape of Sydney United's last game and the one we lost 2-1 to them in the second game of the season.

"They are a hard team to break down. They have the best defensive record in the league, conceding just six goals in 11 games. But they don't score a load of goals.

"Provided we have the players we want, we have to go in with an attacking frame of mind.

"Because of the changes we had to make in our last game, we went in with a 4-4-2 formation. We will probably revert to 3-5-2 for this one."

Mason will delay the naming of his starting lineup until later today.

He is hopeful goalkeeper Michael Utting will be back. He is also confident Mauro Donoso will return. Up front he has a full complement of fit strikers and will have to go for two from Harry Ngata, Mark Beldham, Tallan Martin and Paul Harries.

The midfield combination is under a slight cloud with Mark Burton requiring a fitness test on a slight knee injury. And Jeff Campbell has been suffering with a bout of flu.

With a week to prepare for this game and given the players he is likely to put out, Mason has a degree of confidence as he looks at his last game for nine days.

"It would be good to get something before Christmas," said Mason. "If the players' enthusiasm counts for anything, we are ready to give it our best shot."

The Kingz have five points from their 12 games, six points adrift of second bottom Melbourne Knights. Sydney United are fifth on 19 points. Kick-off tonight is at 8pm.