Soccer: Student prince aims to take Kingz all the way

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Leading the Football Kingz on to Ballymore at the start of the new NSL season tonight caps an amazing year for new captain Sean Douglas.

Twelve months ago Douglas was with Melbourne-based Carlton. Within weeks and without pay, he and his team-mates were tossed on soccer's scrapheap as the club, in their fourth season, went under.

Thrown a lifeline, Douglas returned to Auckland and joined the Kingz.

After being used as a substitute in his first four outings, Douglas' first start came in late January. He started in the remaining 11 games of the season.

His form was good enough to earn further international honours, including World Cup matches against the Socceroos. Along the way he also found time to get married.

The captaincy is the icing on the cake.

Ironically, Douglas' only other experience in the role came in his debut season with Carlton - in their first season - when he took them to the grand final where they lost to South Melbourne.

There are other links with defunct Carlton. Andy Vlahos, who will start against the Brisbane Strikers tonight, was the club's leading goalscorer that season. John Markovski, likely to play off the bench tonight, was at Carlton until they folded.

"I'm sure John will do a job for us," 29-year-old Douglas said before he and his team-mates left for Brisbane yesterday. "He has a fantastic shot. Give him the ball and he will hold it for a month and a day."

Douglas, who will oversee things from his defensive role, is excited about the new season: "There are a lot of guys hungry for success. Our fitness trainer Darren Welch has made a big difference. There is no doubt we are fitter than we have been in the past."

While he has inherited the captaincy from Harry Ngata, Douglas' feet remain firmly in his boots.

"I like to lead by example," he said. "I'm not a superstar. I'll pick up the balls and the drink bottles like anyone else. I think this team is capable of making the top six [play-offs]. If we can get all the new players to gel, I think anything is possible. I would love to play in another grand final."

Douglas, who has a double university degree in commerce and science, continues to juggle his football and education as he completes a graduate diploma in finance.

"I'm studying part-time - it helps to keep my mind ticking over," he said.

He and his Australian wife, Kerry, who has her own business practising feng shui, are here for the long haul.

There would be no better start to what promises to be a great season than taking maximum points tonight.

The game against Brisbane (kick-off 9 pm NZ time) is the first of a tough start for the new season. The Kingz play five of their first seven games away from home. Five of those games are against teams who finished in the top six last season.

Kingz (likely): Michael Theoklitos, Sean Douglas (capt), Vinko Buljubasic, Mark Atkinson, Jonathan Perry, George Goutzioulis, Mark Burton, Gerard Davis, Paul Urlovic, Wynton Rufer and Andy Vlahos.