Fans to petition to keep top 5 in country

The Wairarapa sporting public is being given the opportunity to
show their support for the five Wairarapa United Central League
football players whose residency in the local region is under threat
because of immigration hassles.
A petition will be circulated at Hullena Park, Masterton, on Saturday when Wairarapa United complete what has been a highly successful 2010 Central League season
with a match against old foes Western Suburbs, the sole purpose of which is to give their army of fans the chance to have their  say.
``A lot of people have indicated they would like to see the players
stay with us and this is one way they can positively reflect that
view,'' Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley said yesterday.
``Whether it will have any real effect on those who make the
decisions obviously can't be guaranteed, but at least it will give
them another reminder of the huge support the players have
here.''
Keinzley said it wasn't only the considerable footballing prowess
of Fijians Pita Rabo, Sakeo Valevou and Waisake Subatu,
Czech Miroslav Tvaroh and Seule Soromon, from Vanuatu, which
was in the public mind. It was also their commitment to Wairarapa in
many other ways.
``They are mostly family men and all of them have been excellent value both on and off the field. Their impact has gone far beyond their footballing skills,''
Keinzley said. ``You wouldn't get any better role models and I think
most people appreciate that.''
Keinzley is unsure when a final decision on the fate of the five
players will be known. Currently they are at grave risk of having to
return to their homelands within the next few weeks because of
them being deemed to be in breach of present immigration
rules and their situation has been referred to Wairarapa MP John
Hayes in the hope he can find an acceptable solution.
``Right now it's difficult to know what to think, but we are keeping
our fingers crossed that everything will turn out okay,'' Keinzley
said.
If the worst scenario exists, however, and the five aren't wear
ing the Wairarapa United colours in 2011 the very survival of the
club, particularly at Central League level, will be in jeopardy, a
sentiment openly expressed by Keinzley in recent weeks.
 
 
``There's absolutely no way we could find adequate replacements
for five players of their calibre and obviously the team as a whole
would be significantly weakened as a result. We simply wouldn't be
competitive in the top grade,'' he said.
Ironically the immigration hassles come at a time when Wai
rarapa United have produced their best-ever result in the premier
division of the Central League, their 2-1 win over Napier City
Rovers in Napier on Sunday, sealing third place on the points
table.
That took them to 31 points, behind only Olympic (46) and
Miramar Rangers (39) and well clear of fourth-placed Petone (23).
On a waterlogged ground, which required ``hoofing'' the ball
into opposition territory before building attacks, Wairarapa  United were made to work hard against a NCR side keen to get  their hands on the De Haas Trophy.
The home team actually went  1-0 up early in the piece and it
wasn't until midway through the first half that Wairarapa United
drew level through a Campbell Banks goal after a strong run by
Seule Soromon. And it was Banks who scored the only goal of the
second half, enough to give Wairarapa United the maximum
points.
 Saturday's fixture with Western Suburbs at Hullena Park will
``very definitely'' signal the end of Phil Keinzley's tenure as Central
League coach, a move prompted by an increasing difficulty in suc
cessfully mixing work and football commitments.
Intentions are, however, to stay active in an administrative sense
although he admits the successful solving of the immigration hassles
could have a big say into how intensive that involvement is.