Lack of coaches may wreck plans

A large number of Wairarapa's most promising soccer players may be deprived the chance of playing in the Wellington-based Capital Soccer's inter-club competitions next season.
Plans are in place for five teams-grades 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14- to compete under the banner of Wairarapa United but a shortage of coaches could scuttle such a heavy involvement.
Wairarapa United spokesman Phil Keinzley said coaches had been found for the grade 11 and 13 teams but that efforts to obtain coaches for the other three sides-including an advertisement being placed about two weeks go-had attracted a nil response.
"Quite honestly we've got everything there except the coaches but we can't make much progress without them, can we?"
And he warned that if a second advertisment being published this coming weekend had the same lack of success then those teams would not exist in 2008.
It's a situation which is similar to last year when a paucity of coaches saw only the 11 th and 12 th grade teams operating and Keinzley is frustrated that while Wairarapa has any amount of ex-players, or even current players, capable of doing the job hardly any were prepared to put their names forward.
"It's a sorry state of affairs for local soccer, here is a chance for our talented kids to develop their skills at a higher level and it's probably not going to happen for a lot of them because the adult population doesn't seem to care," he said.
"Yet they are usually the ones who say how important it is that we encourage our youngsters to strive for the top.
"Well, the opportunity is there for them to help out in that respect."
Keinzley said any prospective coach could rest assured they would have the complete backing of Wairarapa United with both the administrative and financial resources already being in place.
"Quite honestly we've got everything there except the coaches but we can't make much progress without them, can we?", he said.