Soccer: Trio feel right at home in Kingz set-up

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Mike Petersen's love affair with New Zealand has quickly rubbed off on the players who have followed him across the Tasman.

Andy Vlahos, Michael Theoklitos and Vinko Buljubasic are among those who have taken a punt in swapping club and country. There are no regrets.

For Vlahos and Theoklitos, it was a case of following Petersen if not to the promised land then at least to something different.

Unlike the former South Melbourne duo, Buljubasic took the long haul from Perth to Auckland to play his football under a coach he had played against.

"Coming from Perth and their professional set-up, I saw the Kingz as having more potential, both as a club and a team, than any other in Australia," said the 28-year-old defender, who has topped 150 NSL games and won two championships with the Melbourne Knights.

"Perth as a team represented their state," Buljubasic said. "The Kingz represent the whole country."

Vlahos, who says his most memorable game was one against Adelaide City Force when he was sent off for "over-celebrating after scoring twice," played under Petersen at Souths last season.

He did not hesitate when offered the chance to follow him to Auckland. "What other club has as much going for it as the Kingz?" asked 25-year-old Vlahos, who is not far short of his 150th league outing.

"I'm enjoying what I'm being asked to do here.

"It [a wide attacking role] is what I have done for the last season and a half. I enjoy the freedom of being able to take players on."

Vlahos has been one of the Kingz' standouts in their first two games as he and Paul Urlovic have spread wide to taunt opposing defences.

Theoklitos, born in Australia to Greek parents and a veteran of just two NSL games - for the Kingz against Brisbane and Souths - admits the league has been a step up from state football. But it is a challenge he is relishing.

"It is the first time I have been away from home but I'm really enjoying Auckland and the Kingz," said Theoklitos who, at 20, is the baby of the team and who followed his brother, team manager Andy, from Melbourne.

"It was not too hard adjusting. I see coming here as a stepping-stone in my career."

Playing in the competitive world of professional football was a far cry from his only other job - selling biscuits.

But what of those two yellow cards in the season openers? "I'm not a hot head. It [getting booked] is not something that I usually have to worry about. Last season I was only booked twice. It is something I will have to watch because I don't want to miss any games."

The influence of players such as Vlahos, Buljubasic and Theoklitos is already evident.

Given a little more time to settle, there is no doubt Petersen's squad will round into a well-knit, highly competitive unit with the results to follow.