SOCCER: 'Nam? Ha! I'm here!

HAMISH BIDWELL
If you're Joel Wakelin, then you're probably feeling a little confused at the moment.
In some ways, you're upset that you're not in Vietnam with the New Zealand A team, but by the same token, you're pinching yourself every time you go to Hawke's Bay United training.
Wakelin was one of four New Zealand under-20 team players, brought into the Hawke's Bay team for this summer's New Zealand Football Championship. And he, along with Phil Edginton, Ian Hogg, Leo Shin and our own Sam Jenkins, were due to tour South America just before the start of the NZFC season.
When that tour fell through, the majority of that under-20 team, including Edginton, Hogg, Shin and Jenkins, were named in the A team to play the Agribank Cup tournament in Hanoi. But not Wakelin. No, his travel plans ended up being no more exotic than filling up his car and making the trek down from Tauranga to Napier.
So, ask him how he's finding things in his new environment and the answers cover a range of emotions.
"I was really disappointed to miss out on Vietnam, because the opportunity would have been there if Jeremy Brockie hadn't been released (by Sydney FC)," said Wakelin at Thursday night's Hawke's Bay training.
"I'm pretty sure I'd been selected for South America and then that tour got cancelled and it all went downhill from there. Once Jeremy Brockie was released, that was the end of my chances of going on a tour, but I've just got to move on from that.
"It is harder that all the other guys went but, like I said, I just have to move on. I'm lucky being here, because I needed to get into an NZFC side and with the coaching staff here and Bobby (Gould) coming out, what greater opportunity could you get?
"They've coached at the highest levels and it's a fabulous opportunity for all of us, really."
Which is why Wakelin was a little cranky with himself after last Saturday's nil-all draw with Team Wellington at Bluewater Stadium. With time up on the clock, there was Wakelin, alone in the penalty box, with just the ball and Wellington goalkeeper James Bannantyne for company.
Here was a chance to be a hero in his first home match but, for some reason, he seemed to panic, scuffing the ball with his attempted left-foot shot and watching in horror as it dribbled harmlessly wide of the goal.
To use a word that Wakelin is familiar with, it was an "opportunity" that had to be taken.
"I was a bit upset, because I wasted the winning opportunity. I should've taken a touch, but I was a bit unsure and thought that maybe someone was right behind me," said Wakelin.
"So come Monday (against Auckland City) I really wanted to redeem myself and went out there and gave it my all. I got one in the goal, which is all part of my job.
"It was a funny game, because I felt the team did really well and the score (6-2) didn't reflect what the true outcome should've been."
Things don't appear as if they'll get any easier today, when Hawke's Bay host the surprise NZFC leaders YoungHeart Manawatu. Wakelin can't say if Hawke's Bay will win, but can confirm that victories aren't too far off.
"We're a new team and some of us have only just arrived. But with every training session we're gelling more and becoming more of a team and the results will come."