Soccer: The foriegn legion boosting City

Auckland City's imports (left to right) Albert Riera, Emiliano Tade, Ramon Tribulietx (coach), Manel Exposito, Angel Berlanga and Andrew Guerao. Photo / Sarah Ivey

At first glance the Auckland City roster has a United Nations look about it but head coach Ramon Tribulietx quickly refutes suggestions the club is hellbent on success at any price.

Of the overseas players on their books, only Spaniard Manel Exposito and new signings Emiliano Tade (Argentina) and Andreu Guerao (Spain) are regarded as "guests".

Fellow Spaniards Angel Berlanga and Albert Riera meet New Zealand Football's criteria of having lived continuously in New Zealand for six or more months and are regarded as "residents".

Clubs are entitled to have four guest players.

Tribulietx is keener to stress his club's determination to promote younger players, pointing to the change of role for last season's co-coach Aaron McFarland.

"With his new role as director of football, Aaron has a greater responsibility for the players in our youth academy," said Tribulietx. "We are trying to link our first team squad with the youth academy.

"Our main focus is definitely, in the medium-term, to develop our academy players. By working with these players we want them to understand what we are trying to achieve. While our short-term focus is on the Club World Cup in Japan, we still want to give Kiwi players every opportunity. I don't want to bring in any more imports."

The Spanish influence is, nevertheless, obvious.

Tribulietx first came to New Zealand 12 years ago. He has been here on a more permanent basis for a little over three years.

He happily switches from English to his native tongue when attempting to get his message across to his Spanish players, but says when in a group situation all talk is in English.

"They have settled in well. We have had no problems getting them to adopt the style we want to play. Sometimes they speak in Catalan amongst themselves but their English is improving. Language is not really a problem. They can all speak a little English. That is getting better all the time."

Auckland City return to Kiwitea St for the first time this season on Sunday for their ASB Premiership second round clash with Team Wellington brimming with confidence.

They followed a pre-season win over A-League club Central Coast Mariners with a 3-2 win over Waitakere United in the Charity Cup, a 5-1 triumph over Waikato FC in the opening league round and a 4-1 O-League win in Honiara last weekend.

Exposito, who scored two, Berlanga and Riera started against Koloale while Tade, who scored City's third, and Guerao also had game time. It will be no surprise if the quintet again are in action on Sunday as Tribulietx continues to build towards next month's Club World Cup.

He spent time this week watching a tape of Team Wellington's first-up 2-2 draw with Otago United and will be well-prepared.

"They are a different team than last year. They have a number of younger players and seem quite aggressive and bring a lot of players to the attacking third," said Tribulietx who had his players out for a training session in Brisbane during their Monday stopover on their return from Honiara. "We still have to compete every weekend even if our major focus at present is on Japan."

ASB Premiership

Round twoAuckland City FC v Team Wellington
Kiwitea St
Sunday, 2.30pm
Referee: Matt Conger

Otago United v Waitakere United
Forsyth Barr Stadium
Sunday, 2pm
Referee: Campbell Kirk Waugh

Hawkes Bay United v YoungHeart Manawatu
Park Island
Sunday, 2pm
Referee: Chris Kerr.

Canterbury United v Waikato FC
ASB Football Park
Sunday, 2pm
Referee: John Rowbury