Four United players named in Wellington squad

Four Wairarapa United players have been named in the Team Wellington extended training squad for their 2008 national summer league soccer campaign.
Seule Soromon, Pita Rabo, Miriek Tvaroh and Carl Shailer are all in with a chance of playing for the capital-based franchise after consistently impressive performances for the Wairarapa United side which currently leads the Capital Soccer premier division competition.
It is the first time since the franchise system was introduced for the national league that any Wairarapa United players have been recognised in such a way but premier division coach Phil Keinzley is not surprised at the latest turn in events. Keinzley said Soromon who has played internationally for Vanuatu and Rabo, who has done likewise for Fiji, were gifted attackers whose skills would serve them well at any level while Tvaroh had constantly won plaudits for his assertiveness in midfield.
Shailer, on the other hand, was a "bolter" in that he did not have the reputation of the other three but the defender "thoroughly deserved" his selection because of his commitment and determination. And making it even more notable was that he was a home grown product who had come through the Wairarapa age group system.
"He (Shailer) is a real example of what locals can achieve if they are prepared to do the hard yards," Keinzley said. "He's had so many injuries he could have given the sport away but he's as tough as old boots and it's good to see him reaping the rewards."
Meanwhile, the Wairarapa United under-19 soccer side made a successful start to their Ivan England Trophy programme when they scored a resounding 5-1 win over Waterside-Karori at Howard Booth Park, Carterton on Sunday. This was Wairarapa United's debut appearance in the A section of this competition after winning the B title last year and coach Keinzley couldn't have been happier with their effort, especially since they included a number of players now to his level of soccer.
"It was the first time some of them had actually played together and we are still in the process of sorting out combinations & it was a better start than we could hoped for," he said, adding his team were without two key players for Sunday's game, Anton Ross, who was holidaying in the South island, and the injured Thomas Hemi.
And they had to overcome another setback when Leighton Calkin was sent off early in the second spell although by that stage they had raced out to a 4-0 lead. Midfielder Daniel Ingham had a standout game for Wairarapa United as did Aaron Spierling and Anaru Te Rangi while goal scorers were Kota Maeno, Keiran McGruddy, Andrew Traill, Jin Karyan and Nick Keinzley.