Soccer: City go international in opening double-header

Chad Coombes (left), back from his OE, will be a welcome addition to the City line-up. Photo / Richard Robinson

Auckland City go international with a double-header to kick off their pre-season build-up towards a busy 2011-12 season.

The O-League champions kick off their campaign - aimed initially at December's Fifa Club World Cup in Japan - tonight with a game against top Fiji club side Rewa on the new Bill McKinlay Park artificial pitch.

Tomorrow City will be at the Western Springs club ground to play the "All Refs" - a skilled team of New Zealand-based refugees. The game will be the finale of the annual over-40s tournament at Meola Park.

City co-coach Aaron McFarland welcomes the chance to get his players back in action.

"Rewa are an exciting team and will provide a great challenge to our players at this early stage of the season," he said. "They bring a quite different brand of football.

"Although we are in the very early stages of our preparation, there is a real feel of stability in the camp, with many of last year's O-League-winning team back.

"Last season it took some time for the many new players to gel and while we won the O-League, we felt we had more to offer."

Although there has been little in the way of off-season movement, McFarland and co-coach Ramon Tribulietx welcome Chad Coombes back after he missed last season as he took his European OE. Coombes was the standout in City's sparkling Club World Cup effort in late 2009.

Former Team Wellington player Emiliano Tade has moved north to play at Kiwitea St but perhaps most interest will focus on youngster Stephen Carmichael, who joins the ASB Premiership/O-League squad after his stunning hat-trick at the recent Fifa Under-17 World Cup.

McFarland is keen to use Carmichael and other young players Tom Doyle and incumbent Andrew Milne in his wider squad as they build towards the ASB Youth League and perhaps push for a first team spot.

The early-season double-header for the Ivan Vicelich-led City side gives the players and coaches a chance to assess progress as they build towards next month's premiership and O-League campaigns.

Rewa will be back at Bill McKinlay Park on Sunday to play Waitakere United at 3pm.

THE GAMES

AUCKLAND CITY v REWA (Fiji)

Bill McKinlay Park

Today 7.45pm

AUCKLAND CITY v ALL REFUGEES

Seddon Field, Meola Rd

Tomorrow 4.30pm