Council now in hot seat after United's promotion

Gary Caffell
The Masterton District Council are in the hot seat now that Wairarapa United have earned the right to play in the 2009 Central League soccer competition.
Locating a local venue which has both the ground conditions and facilities necessary for this level of play is one of the immediate problems confronting Wairarapa United but coach Phil Keinzley is comforted by comments he said were made by Mayor of Masterton Garry Daniell some weeks ago.
"He (Daniell) said he personally would ensure the Pugh Sports Bowl would be brought up to scratch if we made it to Central League and hopefully he will deliver on that promise," Keinzley said. "It's an ideal venue for soccer, no one is arguing that."
While Wairarapa United played a number of their Capital premier division games at the Sports Bowl this season concern was often expressed at the roughness of the field with the cricket wicket block tending to cut up badly in bad weather.
Also a decision by the council to charge Wairarapa United for the public toilets there to be open on match days meant they were kept closed, much to the annoyance of spectators.
Keinzley said situations like that would not be tolerated by those responsible for the administration of Central League matches, which are second only to the NZ Football Championship in terms of importance on the domestic soccer scene in this country.
"The ground conditions have to be the best they can possibly be and toilets have to be handy and available, anything less wouldn't get a pass mark," he said. "Fortunately they are requirements which can be met at the Sports Bowl providing we have the council on our side."
Clubs from places as far afield as Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Wellington will confront Wairarapa United in the Central League with Keinzley estimating that the costs for Wairarapa United to compete there will be $60,000 more than what it was for them to play in the Capital premier division this year.
"Finding that sort of money is a big ask but obviously we are depending a lot on the local business community getting behind us & the profile we can give them has to be a big help in that respect," he said.
Imperative too, according to Keinzley, will be the enhancing of the club's own administrative base with more volunteers needed to fulfil certain organisational tasks.
"I would think the majority of Central League clubs have paid staff to do this sort of work but obviously we don't have that luxury," he said. "And, quite honestly, I can't see that changing, not at all."
Keinzley is optimistic that the nil response so far received by Wairarapa United to advertisements appearing in recent weeks looking for coaches and managers for the club's numerous senior and age group sides next year isn't a bad omen for their debut season in the Central League.
"Soccer is on a roll here and hopefully enough people will come forward to fill all the vacancies," he said. "It's a very rewarding experience once you get involved."
On the playing front the good news is that the entire squad which served Wairarapa United with such distinction this season will be available again next year.
However, Keinzley believes that for them to be consistently competitive in the Central League, their playing resources will need to be boosted, probably by as many three players.
In the recent past most of their "imports" have come from the Pacific Island but while the likes of Pita Rabo, Sakeo Valevou, Waisake Sabutu and Seule Soromon have been roaring successes Keinzley says future acquisitions were likely to come from elsewhere.
"The Pacific Islanders we have give us enough flair and unorthodoxy, we can afford to look for more specific skills now," he said. "Maybe we can even find what we need amongst the local soccer community, they'll get their chance to put their hands up too."
Keinzley is mindful that come next season some of his current stars might miss Wairarapa United's first few Central League games because of national league obligations.
Seven of them are in the reckoning to participate in that competition when it gets underway in early November with the finals set down for next April, then same month in which the Central League will get under way.
"We need to get a squad together early so we have the depth to handle that sort of situation," he said. "It's great for us to have so many players being noticed nationally but, yes, it could create a problem too."
On that note Keinzley also revealed he was "working hard" to get Vanuatu international, Seule Soromon, a trial with the Wellington Phoenix after a season which has seen him score a record 35 goals for the club, and constantly entertain and thrill the veritable army of Wairarapa United supporters with his speed and inventiveness in the process.
"I know some people will say we should worry about ourselves first but my belief always has been that we should give our players every chance to reach the highest possible levels," Keinzley said. "He (Soromon) could be an A-League player, at least he deserves the opportunity to have a crack at making it."
Whether Keinzley himself will be at the coaching helm for the Wairarapa United Central League side next season is something which the man himself is still to decide.
Work commitments had reached the stage where he needed to spend more time there and juggling them and his soccer commitments, which this season amounted to about 20hrs per week, was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Right now I'm undecided but if someone else was keen to coach then they should certainly put their name forward," was the parting shot.