KEY POINTS:
Managing football teams is often a dog-eat-dog world. But not, it seems, for Paul Posa who has stepped in as caretaker coach at Auckland City.
For Posa and his players, losing 4-2 to long-time rivals Waitakere United in their New Zealand Football Championship clash on Saturday was a bitter pill. But there was none of the shenanigans which sometimes, sadly, goes hand-in-hand with such results.
Posa was first off the bench to congratulate Waitakere's gaffer Chris Milicich, did the same with referee Jamie Cross and his assistants, had a quiet word with his players and turned his attention to waiting media.
"I just feel a bit disappointed for the boys. They gave 100 per cent. Waitakere were very good and took their chances. We have to get better and learn from it."
A refreshing view.
Just as his comment about the way the game was controlled. "No complaints. The referee was pretty good. Some decisions will go your way, some won't.
"I have faith in the system. They make mistakes - we all do but I believe they are honest and dedicated."
No surprise in that given his long playing career Posa picked up only a handful of yellow cards and was never sent off.
Pitched into what many see as the toughest job in domestic coaching when Colin Tuaa called it quits at City, Posa quickly showed he was level-headed, enthusiastic and happy in his work - on and off the field.
Away from the pressure of trying to satisfy City fans, Posa and his wife Duchesne have, for the past 17 years run their successful Ranfurly Dental Care practice in Epsom.
It is his commitment to his work and family - two soccer-mad boys and a daughter threatening to play this winter - that led Posa to agreeing to take the top job at success-driven City only until the end of the season.
"I'm happy to step in and help out," said Posa, 47, who has been on the City board since day one. "I don't ever see myself working fulltime in football - and that is what really is involved in a role like this. There are other important things in my life. Family comes first and we have a business which involves us five days a week."
Born in Otematata in North Otago - 75 minutes inland from Oamaru where his Croatian father worked on the construction of the Benmore Dam - Posa began playing at the Henderson Soccer Club (now Waitemata) when the family moved north.
He played at Eden and later in the Onehunga High School first XI alongside sometime City coach Paul Marshall, current All Whites manager Phil Warbrick and Herald columnist Chris Rattue.
After a stint in the Blockhouse Bay reserves, and a year at Auckland University, Posa headed to Otago University where he completed a BSc in chemistry and mathematics before doing four years study in dentistry.
In Dunedin he played regularly in the Southern and then National League alongside top players including All Whites Steve Wooddin and Mike McGarry.
Back in Auckland he linked with Lynndale, playing under John Morris for two years, before joining Central United.
"I was just playing for them until one day out of the blue when I was in Melbourne for a wedding, the club contacted me and said Peter Kelly had resigned as coach and would I take over," said Posa.
"For the next eight years I was involved either as coach or assistant with Kevin Fallon and then with Ricki Herbert through to the end of 2000. Since then I have basically been coaching anyone from kids under-5 right through."
Coaching at Auckland City/Central United is hard. The fans are passionate but, even Posa admits, can at times be "over the top".
"There were times when we as coaches tried to have people banned from above the dugout."
Encouraged by City chairman Ivan Vuksich, who Posa rates as one the best administrators in New Zealand sport, he has kept his feet firmly on the ground.
"It is Central United/Auckland City who have kept me in football," insists Posa. "Not football keeping me at Central and City. For me, that is important."
The pity is that a person who brings so much commonsense to a sometimes tumultuous environment is not ready to hang about.
The sport needs more people like Paul Posa and what he brings to the beautiful game.
