Football: World and national mix works wonders

Sean Lovemore

Adroit striker Sean Lovemore doesn't often feel the urge to say much because he does most of his talking with his football boots.

But the Hawke's Bay United player, who is the leading golden boot contender in the ASB Premiership, has taken the muzzle off on account of few people giving them a chance of making the playoffs, let alone a historic grand final against premiership champions Auckland City in a 2pm kickoff at Kiwitea Street this Sunday.

"I can't take anything away from the lads who worked really hard because you can't take any shortcuts," said the 19-year-old Aucklander.

Lovemore is an integral part of a squad coach Brett Angell mustered from New Zealand and overseas to fly the Bay franchise flag after the majority of their players joined other franchises this summer.

The Ross Haviland-captained side dramatically overcame a two-goal deficit in a home-and-away semifinals to beat Team Wellington 4-3 last Saturday to make the grand final.

"To be honest, even I didn't think we'd come this far," Lovemore said. "We've come together as a team, that's the difference."

Team belief is so high they feel they can beat anyone in the national summer league, although they have lost twice to the Fifa Club World Cup highfliers.

"It's going to be a huge game and we're capable even though we've had very little support from everyone.

"But it's about us and we've made a lot of sacrifices so we're going to give it a good go."

Lovemore has 11 goals, one ahead of teammate Ryan Tinsley, but said it was about the team, not individuals.

The incentive for the underdogs to beat Auckland is automatic entry to the O-League next year.

"Auckland City has shown us it's possible for any team to play on a world stage," said Lovemore who has played for City and Waitakere United in previous O-League campaigns.

Haviland said everyone had "written us off from the start" but they had "proven people wrong" from game to game so he was proud of his troops.

"We try not to listen to all the negative stuff and just get on with it," he said, joining Lovemore in Saluting Angell and his assistant, Leon Birnie.

Haviland said his predominantly young players had a bout of nerves in the first semifinal but realised it was just another game.

He felt it would be ideal if Lovemore and Tinsley shared the golden boot honours this weekend.