Soccer: Kingz keep low profile on eve of debut

It is shaping as one of the great mysteries of New Zealand soccer. It's even got the Australians baffled ... what to make of Auckland's Football Kingz.

They have bulldozed their way into the Australian national league and been granted the distinction of kicking off the 1999-2000 Ericsson Cup with a home game against Carlton at North Harbour Stadium next Friday night.

But their two European heavyweights are no longer coming and their player-coach Wynton Rufer, though off crutches after an Achilles tendon operation, is avoiding physical contact at training.

Are they ready?

Fast-talking Kingz chairman Chris Turner is overseas, the team's cellphone is switched off and Rufer's answerphone - half in English, half in German - is on.

Better try the Australian perspective.

"We play them third game but we haven't heard a lot about them," South Melbourne's New Zealand-born striker Vaughan Coveny said.

"Everyone's pretty glad they've been accepted into the league but they aren't huge news at home [Australia]."

South Melbourne have been in training for eight weeks. They are the defending league champions and are currently involved in the Oceania club championships in Fiji.

The Football Kingz have been in training for a similar period but their ranks have chopped and changed at the whim of Rufer.

Coveny hopes the Kingz are better organised than they are being given credit for.

"I hope they are competitive and do well because it will add something to New Zealand soccer. I hope they keep coming back too - it adds another dimension to the league.

"They've got a tough draw. Carlton first up, even at home, is hard. Away to Marconi and then home to us - the league champions.

"They have to win that first game otherwise it might get real hard for them."

The Kingz have 20 contracted players, including five Australians, two Chileans and a Brazilian. They also have Solomon Islander Batram Suri who is classified as a home player because he comes from the Oceania region.

The ranks could swell to 22 if Gavin Wilkinson and flamboyant All Whites goalkeeper Michael Utting are signed. Wilkinson had been talking with Queen's Park Rangers but he is back in New Zealand.

Utting is awaiting a work permit to play in Europe and was keen to keep his hand in with the Kingz but his former team, South African club Supersport United, has slapped a hefty transfer fee on him which the Kingz aren't contemplating paying.

The Kingz also have former All Whites captain and goalkeeper Jason Batty in their ranks. Batty is training well after a recent groin operation.

Coveny has no knowledge of the Brazilian midfielder Ednilson or Chileans David Moya and Aaron Silva, but feels the Kingz have shopped wisely in Australia.

Robert Middleby, Dino Mennillo and Marcus Stergiopoulos were signed two months ago and are "top quality" while recent additions are former Marconi midfielder Fabio Macolino and Olyroo (Australian under-23) Levant Osman.

"I played with Middleby at Woolongong a few years ago and he was very young but very good. Mennillo was a top player at Adelaide City last season," Coveny said.

There is also a deep respect for his former All Whites team-mate Rufer.

"I haven't seen Wynton for two years but I know he'll be fit.

"He'll try and play things down and he'll offer a lot to that team on and off the park.

"I know all the New Zealand-based players so there won't be any surprises there."

Kingz squad: Wynton Rufer (player-coach), Fred de Jong, Ivan Vicelich, Batram Suri, Riki Van Steeden, Stu Riddle, Jonathan Perry, Harry Ngata (captain), Lee Jones, Jason Batty, Chris Jackson, Che Bunce, David Moya, Aaron Silva, Marciel Ednilson, David Mennillo, Robert Middleby, Marcus Stergiopoulos, Levant Osman, Fabio Macolino. - NZPA