Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Football: Whanganui Athletic ready for preseason muster

By Jared Smith
Sports Editor·Whanganui Chronicle·
14 Feb, 2020 04:19 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Zac Farmer, Josh Smith, Tesco Grunwald, Rhys Crane, and Josh Ngapeka - the new acquisitions for Whanganui Athletic in their Federation League campaign. Photo / Jared Smith

Zac Farmer, Josh Smith, Tesco Grunwald, Rhys Crane, and Josh Ngapeka - the new acquisitions for Whanganui Athletic in their Federation League campaign. Photo / Jared Smith

There was handshakes and introductions all around at Wembley Park on Thursday for a GJ Gardner Homes Whanganui Athletic squad that might just be on their way to the top of the 2020 Federation League.

As he promised, new coach Tex von Kwiatkowski has gone out to both bring in or bring back a number of strong players, some who appeared for other league teams last season, along with a new international signing from Wales by way of the United States.

Meeting his team mates for the first time was Welshman Rhys Crane, who has played professionally in the United States, most recently for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

Crane will be up the front and if von Kwiatkowski can get his way by introducing more attacking structure to the side, will be a contender for the Golden Boot.

But he won't be alone as the coach plans to add several attacking weapons to a side which had the second-best defensive record in the league last season.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

To that end, coming home is Tesco Grunwald, a former Wanganui City FC club member who was part of last year's unbeaten champions Havelock North Wanderers, although a groin injury during the season lessened his impact.

"My expectations are to strengthen up the shooting force," von Kwiatkowski said.

Another to make his way home is Zac Farmer, a Whanganui lad who was part of the Palmerston North Boys High 1st XI in the league last year.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

While still only 17, Farmer adds depth to the side, especially as the coach intends to close the quality gap between his starters and those who will come off the bench inside the final 30 minutes of games.

"This is what can make a difference," said von Kwiatkowski.

Discover more

Football: Tex von Kwiatkowski named coach of Whanganui Athletic FC

17 Jan 04:20 AM

Whanganui's James Musa going back to MLS with Minnesota United

20 Jan 01:04 AM

Pedal to the metal in Meremere

13 Feb 04:43 AM

"You guys slept on us for awhile"

14 Feb 12:56 AM

"Physically, [Farmer's] not as strong at the moment, but it's worth it to have him in there."
Another former von Kwiatkowski charge is Josh Ngapeka, who was with him in his previous coaching tenure with the Wanganui City Renovators and is a "work horse".

"He will do that until you need to get the pace maker."

Balancing the young heads is the return to Whanganui of the veteran Josh Smith, who spent the last couple of seasons with Palmerston North Marist.

Marist's Federation League title win in 2018 was followed by a disappointing 2019 when they could not maintain momentum, which included losing to Athletic twice.

Smith is understood to have been frustrated by the decline, and von Kwiatkowski said after a friendly chat over a coffee in town, the veteran was happy to return to his former stomping grounds.

"He is mentioning there is a good team spirit, he will be one of my team leaders."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Alongside the new faces, the core of the 2019 Athletic squad has returned, including a fully fit striker Ryan Holden and towering defender Shaan Stuart, who had a big influence when he returned from the United States midseason.

Von Kwiatkowski said Stuart is so strong in the air and can stabilise any team's defence, "which is very, very important in my football".

It all points to Athletic being legitimate title contenders, alongside Napier Marist, Havelock, and perhaps the unpredictable North End.

"I never make promises, 2-3 get injured [and] that situation has changed," said von Kwiatkowski.

"We will make Wembley Park a fortress, but away games [as well], that is possible."

There are changes across the park at Wanganui City as well, with the news the club firsts have chosen to move back down to the third tier Western Premiership.

Still recovering from his broken leg last year, Anthony Bell will be co-coaching a new look squad alongside the returning Kelvin Francis, as they usher in a host to youngsters to join the handful for remaining veterans.

An off-season exodus has made being a competitive Federation League team unlikely, especially with rookies not used to the long travel schedules to the Hawke's Bay and Taranaki for matches.

"Last year, towards the end of the season, we did lose quite a few players," said Bell.

"For a lot of the [new] squad, it's not so much a step down, as a step up.

"It's a massive step to expose them to the higher level. Probably more of a risk not worth taking.

"Rebuild this year, we try to focus more to the future than the present."

Bell is likely to make only cameos off the bench in this campaign, with the team leaders being Latham Berry, Max Davidson, Kyle Graham-Luke and Eli Fleming.

City still have designs on being Premiership contenders, as they were in 2017 when they barely missed the title by one competition point to Hokowhitu FC Rangers, with the title decided on the last games of the season.

The City and Athletic relationship in the past three seasons could be described as cordial, and Bell wished their neighbours nothing but the best for their 2020 campaign.

"There is still the rivalry and we're still going to get to play the one game at the end of the season [Charity Cup]."

Veterans Scott Burney and Latham Berry clash in the 2019 Charity Cup game. After also meeting in Federation League the last two years, the local derby rivalry will cool until the end of the season.
Veterans Scott Burney and Latham Berry clash in the 2019 Charity Cup game. After also meeting in Federation League the last two years, the local derby rivalry will cool until the end of the season.
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

‘All options on the table’: Whanganui gears up for crucial call on water services

13 Jul 09:38 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

Family seeks answers over woman's death on Mt Ruapehu

13 Jul 09:12 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

'Easy option': Airport users unhappy with proposal to shut runways

13 Jul 06:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

‘All options on the table’: Whanganui gears up for crucial call on water services

‘All options on the table’: Whanganui gears up for crucial call on water services

13 Jul 09:38 PM

Under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms, all councils must submit a plan.

Family seeks answers over woman's death on Mt Ruapehu

Family seeks answers over woman's death on Mt Ruapehu

13 Jul 09:12 PM
'Easy option': Airport users unhappy with proposal to shut runways

'Easy option': Airport users unhappy with proposal to shut runways

13 Jul 06:00 PM
'What residents deserve': Water trial treatment plant to be set up in Marton

'What residents deserve': Water trial treatment plant to be set up in Marton

13 Jul 05:15 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP