Soccer: Dugdale aims high

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Christmas behind him, Football Kingz coach Ken Dugdale now contemplates the second half of an NSL season which still promises much.

The midway point also gives "the boss" time to reflect on a year which has taken him almost to the North Pole and back again.

Back in New Zealand, and for the first time in Auckland, 51-year-old Dugdale reflected on his time with Norwegian second division club FK Vesteralen (deep inside the Arctic Circle) and compared it with his experience at the Kingz.

"There are big differences," said the former All Whites coach. "The facilities we have here and the standard of football is much better. In other ways the attitude in Norway might have been better.

"Despite not being a great team, the players, who all held jobs, never missed a training. They gave it their all.

"Occasionally, I feel we have let our standard slip. Partly that is due to us not having a second team playing in a meaningful competition. For that reason the attitude of some of those not playing [in the first team] is less than desired.

"Some [poorer] performances in recent games involving our second team have already been addressed."

Dugdale said the door is open for younger players intent on taking the step up.

Some have, he reckons. Others have not.

"You only have to look at players like James Pritchett and Steven Turner as youngsters who have done well. Overall though, I would like to see younger players being more consistent.

"It is no good being a 10-minute wonder. Given opportunities in the first team, it's up to the players to take them.

"But, having said that, different things can get in the way of these youngsters coming through."

Dugdale said that for a player such as first-season left back Jonathon Taylor the step up [to professional football] was still a learning curve.

"He was never going to perform for a whole season. Players have to get used to training and playing every day. That is a challenge [assistant coach] Stu Jacobs and I have to face and attempt to get the best out of them.

While most players experienced highs and lows, some such as Mark Atkinson, Dugdale agreed, had been ultra consistent.

"I always knew Mark would do the job. He provides the kind of leadership all teams need. He always does his best. His commitment can never be questioned."

Dugdale is not sure he gets that from the others.

"By the rule of thumb, I would like to think that all players come off 100 per cent knackered. You can't ask for more than that. Some might not be comfortable playing in the positions we ask but as long as they give their best Stu and I are happy."

He sees Harry Ngata as a good example of this.

"He prefers to play central midfield but we wanted him up front. He has done that job without question. He scored four when we beat Napier 6-2 this week."

Of Mark Burton's sometimes indifferent form, Dugdale said it had been a frustrating season for the club's former player of the year.

"He will come on. It is difficult to come into a season injured. He wanted to play from the start but I and the medical staff wanted to hold him back.

"He is coming right. He is a good player ... just needs time."

As Dugdale contemplates a hectic holiday schedule - the Kingz fly to Australia tomorrow morning to play Sydney United on Sunday, return Monday, fly to Perth Wednesday, play Saturday, return Monday and then play Wollongong at Ericsson Stadium on Friday (January 3) - he sees a flicker of light.

"We hope we will be at full strength as we go into these games. Only James Pritchett and Paul Urlovic have reported any even slight injury concerns."

And by mid-January Dugdale should be able to welcome Chilean defender Mauro Donoso into the first team fold.

"He is going to be an asset judged on what he has shown in the training games. He has stamped his authority. You can see his class. He is tough, hits good balls and has shown out as a natural left-side player which is something we haven't got."

And Dugdale added: "He is working on his language."

Donoso should be cleared to play NSL frontrunners Olympic Sharks in Sydney on January 18.

While he missed "the guys and the involvement with the All Whites", Dugdale said he was happy to be working with players every day. "While I enjoy the daily involvement [current All Whites coach] Mick Waitt has an almost job.

"It is fine to play big games every two years in the World Cup qualifiers or Nations Cup but they need more.

"You have to speculate to accumulate."

And that's something he will be hoping to do with the Kingz in the coming weeks as the push for a place in the all-important top six continues.