United confident of big things

Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley is confident his 16-man squad will make a strong showing in the 2006 Capital Soccer premier division competition, first round matches which will kick off on April 1
Keinzley finalised the composition of the squad yesterday, and believes they will measure up to any premier division side on the scores of flair and speed.
"I'm certainly not going to say we will win the competition, but I will say that people who come along to watch us play should be well entertained," he said. "There would be more natural flair in this team than any other we have had, and probably more speed right across the park as well."
Keinzley is aware, however, that brilliance on attack won't necessarily be the recipe for success for an Anderson Meats Wairarapa United side which won promotion to the premier division by winning the Capital Soccer first division title last season.
The couple of pre-season games they have had so far have exposed deficiencies on defence and he knows Wairarapa United won't be a threat on the competition table unless those weaknesses are eradicated.
"It's probably a case of getting more discipline into our defensive play than any lack of actual skill there," he said. "When players have flair they tend to be risk - takers as well and it's the risk factor we need to work on in our defensive structure It generally pays to be a lot more disciplined in that area."
A number of new faces will be part of the Wairarapa United line-up this season, with perhaps the most interesting amongst them being an Englishman by the name of Guiseppe Caugurri, a 31-year-old who apparently has never been officially registered with a club, but who has played street soccer in many of the countries he has visited throughout the world.
Keinzley said Caugurri, who is presently living in Wairarapa, turned up for a Wairarapa United training session after their first pre-season match against Miramar Rangers, and impressed enough with his hard-nosed defensive play to be given a run against Brooklyn Northern United last Saturday. And so well did he play there that he has now become a front runner for a regular fullback berth in the premier division squad.
"It just so happened we were on the lookout for an aggressive defender and Guiseppe seems to have all the skills required," Keinzley said. "He's not afraid to go in hard, and he's got good ball skills too. Obviously he is still learning in terms of team structure, but that shouldn't be a problem either."
Cook Islands goalkeeper Tony Jamieson, Fijian international Petero Dauniseka, Solomon Islands international Stanley Waita and Manawatu recruit James Oxtoby will also be experiencing their first season in the Wairarapa United colours, and Keinzley is sure this quartet too will be pressing hard for places in the starting XI once the season proper gets under way.
"The quality of these players is very high and they are all keen to do well," he said.
Captaining Wairarapa United, as he did last season, will be local stalwart Murray Burling, a player who has not only shown fine leadership capabilities but whose reliability on the field of play makes him an integral part of the side.
"Murray is one of those guys you can rely on to come out and give 100 per cent every time he plays, so he's an ideal role model for his team-mates," Keinzley said.
The full Wairarapa-Bush squad for 2006 is: Tony Jamieson, Charles Kendall, Andy Robertson, Petero Dauniseka, Guiseppe Caugurri, Robbie Bull, Evan Shailer, Carl Shailer, Murray Burling, James Ortoby, Lai Gataurua, Pia Rabo, Sakeo Valevou, Troy Burling, Aaron Spierling ,Stanley Waita.
Meanwhile, Keinzley believes the first five rounds of premier division play could provide a good gauge on Wairarapa United's chances of challenging for the title.
They have drawn three of the top-ranked sides, Island Bay, Waterside-Karori and Petone, over that period and just how well they do against them could be crucial in the final analysis.
"If we come out of those three games on the right side of the ledger it will be a huge plus, and anything could happen then," Keinzley said. "But if we lose all three it will be an uphill battle??we want to avoid that."
The draw for Wairarapa United is: April 1, v North Wellington at home.April 8, v Island Bay away.April 15: v Upper Hutt City at home.April 17: v Petone away. April 22; v Waterside-Karari away.. April 29: v Tawa at home. May 6: v Brooklyn Northern United away. May 13: v Wellington Marist at home. May 26: v Western Suburbs away. June 3: v North Wellington away. June 10: v Island Bay United at home. June 17: v Upper Hutt City away. June 24: v Petone at home. July 1: v Waterside-Karori at home. July 8: v Tawa away. July 15: v Brooklyn Northern United at home. July 22: v Wellington Marist away. July 29: v Western Suburbs at home.