Crackdown threatens United's future

The current playing stocks of Trust House Wairarapa United's central league football squad could about to be dealt a devastating blow which would place the survival of the club in jeopardy.
A tightening of the immigration rules is threatening to see five of their star players forced to return to their homelands well before the start of the 2011 season.
On tenterhooks awaiting a government decision on their futures are Fijians Pita Rabo, Waisake Sabatu and Sakeo Valevou, Seule Soromon from Vanuatu and Czech Miroslav Tvaroh.
Their plight is due to a rule that says visas for sportspeople only exist for one year and, once that period is up, they cannot return for the same reasons as before.
Rabo and Valevou have been resident in the Wairarapa for some six years now and Soromon, Sabatu and Tvaroh for slightly less. Although all five have fulltime employment away from their involvement with Wairarapa United, they are not exempted from that particular criteria.
The one hope they have now is that an appeal launched through Wairarapa MP John Hayes for dispensation will have a successful ending.
The basis of this appeal _ which has been supported by a host of community leaders _ is that apart from the notable service they have given Wairarapa United and football in the local region, both from a playing and coaching viewpoint, they have been outstanding citizens as well.
''It seems crazy that people like these who are absolute role models in the community are being asked to leave,'' Wairarapa United president Phil Keinzley said. ''They have been top value on and off the field and we are hoping upon hope that will turn the tide in their favour.''
Keinzley said Wairarapa United would be ''horribly weakened'' if the five players were not available for them next season, so much so that not only would their ability to compete in the central league be seriously jeopardised, but also the future of the club itself.
''Honestly, how do you adequately replace five players of that sort of quality. Frankly, you can't,'' Keinzley said. ''Without them, we simply wouldn't be competitive at central league, no way. And that would impact badly on the club too _ you'd have to question whether it would be worth carrying on.''
It is ironic the immigration hassles should raise their ugly head during a 2010 season in which Wairarapa United have achieved marvellous results at Central League level. Currently, they lie third in the 10-team series, with every indication they will retain that position through until the competition's end.
Keinzley is confident a similar squad to that of this year would be a huge chance to claim the central league title in 2011. ''It's what we have been working towards _ it's very much a possibility,'' he said.
Meanwhile, interest continues to build in the match planned for next Wednesday at Hullena Park between the Wairarapa United Central League squad and Wellington Phoenix, a game which could see as many as five of the All Whites World Cup included in the latter's starting line-up.
An unlikely starter for Wairarapa United is in-form goalkeeper Richard Gillespie, who pulled a quad muscle during his team's impressive 2-0 win over Western Suburbs last Saturday. He will be sidelined for the Central League match with Lower Hutt City this weekend and Keinzley doubts whether he will be ready for the Phoenix game.