Race to get team at full strength

YOU'RE BACK: Adam Cowan, back on deck.PHOTOS/FILE

Wairarapa United is shooting high for the 2014 football season but a less-than-ideal preparation may adversely affect their early-season form.

Coach Phil Keinzley has had to rebuild his team after the loss of 2013 squad members Alsseny Cissoko, Charles Mallman, Dale Higham, George Jermy, Brian Kalteck and the late Miroslav Tvaroh.

With others involved in national championship matches at senior and youth level, the first of the Central League matches on Saturday, April 5, could arrive before they have a full muster at any of their twice-weekly training sessions.

It's not that the CL draw has done Wairarapa United any favours either.

First they have an away game against defending champions Miramar Rangers and seven days later they travel to Palmerston North to play PN Marist, who won promotion from the Capital premier division last year and will have several YoungHeart Manawatu players national league players in their line-up.

"It's not the start we wanted but there's nothing we can do about it, we have to make the best of what we've got," Keinzley said. "Excuses don't mean anything, it's how many points you get which counts."

There will be at least three high-profile newcomers in the Wairarapa United squad in 2014. Already signed are Apisai Smith, Maximiliano Lopez and Omar Guardiola and providing there are no immigration hassles for Smith and Lopez, all three should be on deck for the Miramar Rangers game.

Smith, a Fijian international, is a striker who has a reputation as a prolific goal scorer, Lopez is an attacking midfielder while Guardiola, a Colombian, has been starring for unbeaten Nelson Marlborough Falcons in the national youth league. Like Smith, he is a striker with proven goal scoring capabilities.

Back from last year's Wairarapa United side, which finished fourth in the Central League and was controversially disqualified from the Chatham Cup national knockout competition for allegedly fielding an ineligible player, are goalkeeper Matt Borren, Waisake Sabutu, Carl Shailer, Adam Cowan, Nathan Cooksley, Josh Margetts, Seule Soromon and Aaron Spierling while three of the Heartland Wairarapa squad, Arnon Tapp and the Hemi brothers, Thomas and Hemi, are likely to join them.

Keinzley makes no secret that taking out the Chatham Cup-Central League double is the main aim for Wairarapa United in the coming season and he is confident that once they have a full squad in regular training they will have a "really good shot" at pulling it off. "Obviously it's a huge ask but it's do-able ... absolutely," he said.

Meanwhile the search is on for a player-coach for the Wairarapa United seconds team, who will be playing in the Capital second division series this year after winning the third division title under Miroslav Tvaroh in 2013. Many of the region's most promising talent, including some members of the Heartland Wairarapa team will be part of this side, but despite the best efforts of club officials nobody has yet been found to fill the all-important coaching role.

"It's getting to the desperate stage, we'd love to hear from anyone who could do the job," Keinzley said.

Wairarapa United will also be represented this year by a women's team which will play in the Capital third division competition. Keinzley is coaching this side and while an appeal for more players did pay dividends there is still a couple of places to fill. The side trains at Howard Booth Park in Carterton on Wednesdays and Fridays, starting at at 6pm.