New signings help give United pre-season lift

Livewire Hawke's Bay striker Andrew Abba has joined Wairarapa United for their 2010 Central League football campaign.
A Solomon Islands international, Abba, 20, was a constant thorn in the side of Wairarapa United when playing against them for Napier City Rovers last season and has been one of the success stories for Hawke's Bay in this year's national football championship.
Small and quick, he is the sort of player capable of creating goal-scoring opportunities out of nothing and he will add further spark to a Wairarapa United attack that already includes two of the most lethal strikers in the Central League competition, Seule Soromon and Campbell Banks.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley said it would nice to have Abba in his squad rather than worrying about the havoc he is likely to cause when among the opposition.
''He is so dangerous when given any space in which to move, and he isn't afraid to take a punt, you have to be wary of him all the time.''
Keinzley said there was the possibility Abba could also be tried on the outside of the midfield as he has the skills to fit that role as well. He is the third new face signed to play for Wairarapa United in 2010 with another Hawke's Bay national championship player in George Barbarouses and a former New Zealand A player Ian Sandbrook already having put their names on the dotted line.
Barbarouses is in Australia and won't be available to play for Wairarapa when they meet Wellington United in a friendly at Hullena Park, Masterton, this coming Saturday, starting at 1pm. Abba and Sandbrook will be there though, as will be national championship players Soromon, Banks, Adam Cowan and Richard Gillespie.
Keinzley sees this match as vital in Wairarapa's preparation for their Central League programme as it will be their final dress rehearsal for the season proper. Previous hit outs have included games against the Douglas Villa Capital third-division side, which Wairarapa won 2-1, and Wairarapa United seconds, a closely fought game that ended in a 3-all draw.
Wairarapa United's season-opening fixture is against Palmerston North Marist at Hullena Park on Easter Friday.