Soccer: Mid-table finish letdown for Kingz fans

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The second season in a new competition is supposed to be more difficult than the first.

On that count, the Football Kingz would probably award themselves a pass mark for their middle-of-the-table finish from their 30 matches in the 2000-2001 Australian National Soccer League.

They finished eighth - the same as their first season - with 43 points, of which six were handed them for the two games they should have played against Carlton.

The 3-0 scoreline accompanying those points also contributed to their goal tally of 52, including two own goals - down from their 59 (from 34 games) last season.

Individually, Dennis Ibrahim went one better than Aaron Silva's 11 goals first up, but there remains the feeling that others charged with scoring should have done better.

Tim Stevens and Paul Urlovic had six between them after three games as the Kingz shot to third place - their best ever - but by season's end that number had increased by only three.

Stevens, one of a couple of players on a performance-based contract, had only eight starts - the last on February 16. He played only four full games all season.

Urlovic finished with five goals - one fewer than Wynton Rufer who started in less than half the Kingz' matches.

Rufer remains a class act. The two goals he scored against Wollongong Wolves in the last-ditch 3-2 win at Ericsson Stadium hold special significance.

At 38 years and 114 days when he scored the penalty and then the winner last month, Rufer became the oldest regular NSL performer to score at that level.

Bobby Charlton scored as a 42-year-old at Blacktown City in 1980, but he was a guest player.

No one doubts Rufer's ability as a player or the passion he retains for the game here. Questions remain, however, over the coaching style adopted by him and his assistant coach, brother Shane.

With a squad including 15 All Whites boasting almost 300 internationals between them, along with hand-picked overseas players, the fans expected - and, surely, deserved - something better.

Too often the supporters were frustrated by a lack of go-forward from players who obviously had some attacking ability but, for one reason or another, did not appear to be encouraged to do it.

The feeling remained that too often the first instinct - or instruction - was to play the ball square, or worse, back.

The fans were great and encouraged their team through good and bad. Making the playoffs, and with it another home game, was the least they deserved.

Now, the attention is with the 2001-2002 season. While the faithful might accept this season's results, they can justly demand better next time.

The off-field appointments will be crucial. On-field success should follow. But there is the feeling that the urgency often lacking on the field is also lacking in the boardroom.