Soccer: Give us time to gel, says Rufer

By Terry Maddaford

Wynton Rufer is pleading for patience from Football Kingz fans, and from his players he wants, "more indians than chiefs."

Heading into their third Australian Soccer league game, against defending Ericsson Cup and Oceania club champions South Melbourne at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow, the Kingz are firmly rooted to the bottom of the points table with no points and just one goal.

But player-coach Rufer refuses to panic.

"I still think we will need three or four more games before we find our feet," he said. "We have to be patient.

"This first season is about finding our feet. There is no pressure from the board, which allows us to get on with things."

But Rufer must hope the fans who turned out to watch their first home game have the same patience and understanding.

The club is doing its best to keep pace. A week-long call for applications for the chief executive role drew 27 applications. Tomorrow's game will be preceded by a 1pm curtainraiser between a Kingz 15-year-old invitation side and the Australia-based West Ham Academy.

With Rufer set to play at least a large portion of tomorrow's game and leading the attack, there is the promise of something better after disappointing efforts against Carlton and a weak Sydney United side.

"It would be silly if I did not get involved, and play up front," said Rufer, who sat out last Sunday's game but showed some nice touches when playing as a striker against the New Zealand under-17 side in a midweek friendly.

"In hindsight, I should not have played against Carlton. It was a nightmare."

Rufer also bemoans two pathetic penalty attempts by his players but is not sure he will step forward should the need arise.

"I was famous for my penalties when I played in Europe. But my glory days are over. It is time for someone else to take that responsibility. Ironically, we all take a few penalties in training and hit the target."

The Kingz are awaiting the outcome of their plea to be allowed to name 17 players, with three substitutes to play, but it seems there will be few changes from the team who played against Sydney United.

Of the failure of Chileans Aaron Silva and David Moya to show out in the first two games, Rufer said: "They need time. You are only as good as the players around you. It is not quite gelling yet but it will get better as they pick up more English."

And of the debate surrounding the captaincy: "We have a few options but no one is set in concrete. We have quite a few chiefs but not enough indians. That is something else we must work on."