Soccer: Kingz have sights on three-point present

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Football Kingz will be looking for another early Christmas present when they tackle the Melbourne Knights in what promises to be a festive atmosphere at North Harbour Stadium tonight.

Buoyed by their best effort of the Australian Soccer League season - the 3-0 away win over Marconi last Saturday - the Kingz will chase their second home win in the key clash.

Determined to get as much support as possible for the side, the Kingz' management will throw the gates open free for children under 12. They will also have a range of Christmas celebrations, including a visit from Father Christmas.

On the field, determined not to let recent off-field hassles upset him, player-coach Wynton Rufer said that while he was keen to win at home he was not taking it for granted.

"They [Melbourne Knights] have a new coach and won their first two games with him," he said. "Even in losing last weekend they were regarded as being a bit unlucky."

Rufer will be without midfielder Chris Jackson - the first of the Kingz players forced out for a match after receiving four yellow cards - and the injured duo of Michael Utting and Aaran Lines.

"I will probably start up front with Fred de Jong, although Mark Elrick could be ready for his first game with us. Otherwise it is likely to be much the same as last week," Rufer said. "We do have to be aware of the yellow card situation however as we have a couple of players on three."

It was disappointing to have so many players receive cautions but he accepted it as part of football and the result of Fifa's instructions to referees to get strict.

"We are coming up to a difficult time. We have to travel [to Adelaide] on December 28 and have a home game on January 3 which I will miss because I have been invited to a world gala of football in Germany at that time."

The Kingz will also have a couple of games in January postponed because of commitments to the All Whites.

Rufer is hopeful, however, that Lines will be fit in time to play Canberra in Auckland on January 3.

Meanwhile, club chairman Chris Turner said all the players had now been paid all the wages they were owed.

"The money was transferred yesterday afternoon," said Turner. "We were always certain it will be sorted out before the match. Now we're happy it's behind us and we can concentrate on playing soccer."

Tonight's game will be preceded by a curtainraiser at 5.15pm between Tahiti under-15 and a Kingz under-15 invitation side.