Imports no threat to locals, says Keinzley

Wairarapa United manager Phil Keinzley will be an interested spectator when Fiji takes on the All Whites in soccer internationals in Suva on August 10 and Lautoka on August 12.
Not only will Keinzley will be following the fortunes of the three Wairarapa United players in the Fijian squad Pita Rabo, Lai Gataurua and Petero Dauniseka but he will also be scouting talent with the aim of enhancing the club's playing resources in he 2008 season.
The huge impact made by the four Fijians in the current Wairarapa United squad the fourth of whom, Sakeo Valevou, was unavailable for the All Whites games and the co-operation received from Fijian officials in the recruitment process has prompted Keinzley to continue the close association Wairarapa United has forged with that country.
But he is at pains to emphasise that any new players brought in from there would have little, or no, effect on the chances of local players making the club's top side
"We are very definitely not bringing in outsiders at the expense of locals, there is plenty of room for both," he said.
"It's more a matter of building depth so that if we do get to central league we are ready for it."
In an ideal world Keinzley would return to Fiji having signed up a midfielder and a defender.
He is mindful that Wairarapa United have benefited immensely this season from the fact that key midfielders like Mirek Tvaroh and Guiseppe Cugliari have basically been injury free .
Consequently they have played a big part in a programme which has seen Wairarapa United advance through four rounds of the Chatham Cup before losing to holders Western Suburbs in extra time and still pushing for the runners-up spot in the Capital premier division competition.
"We only needed Mirek or Guiseppe to have a long break through injury and we would have been in trouble, we desperately need quality back-up for them," he said.
Keinzley believes too that a defender with height and a physical presence would strengthen Wairarapa United in that area.
"The way the game is played now it's important to have tall defenders who can compete in the air and they need to be pretty hard-nosed too," Keinzley said.
"Right now we do lack players with height and it would be nice to be able to correct that."
Keinzley's scouting duties will involve more than the two tests though. He has also been invited to attend a couple of Fiji's training runs while Pita Rabo has helped organise another match which will involve players on the "fringes" of the Fijian team.
"It will be a full on three or four days, hopefully we'll see any player who would like to spend next winter here," he said.
More immediately, however, Wairarapa United are in the throes of preparing for their last Capital premier division home game for the season, that against Island Bay at the Pugh Sports Bowl in Masterton this Saturday.
It will be a tough assignment for the local side as Island Bay are considered to be one of the stronger teams in the league, and have just signed a Chilean midfielder who is said to be a class player.
Keinzley recalled that the last time the two teams met the game finished in a draw with Wairarapa United lucky to share the points after playing "terribly" throughout most of the first half.
"They (Island Bay) don't mind muscling up and we allowed them to get into our heads," he said.
"Against a team like that you have to stay patient and composed, otherwise you'll come second."
For Mirek Tvaroh Saturday's game will be his last for Wairarapa United this season for he is heading home next week to the Czech Republic and goalkeeper Tony Jamieson will be off to attend a training camp for the Cooks Island team preparing to contest the upcoming South Pacific tournament.
The good news for Wairarapa United though is that Tvaroh and Jamieson will definitely be returning to the club for the 2008 season.