United stand as coach signs off from side at risk

How appropriate it is that Wairarapa United should complete what has been a highly successful central league football season with a home match against Western Suburbs at Hullena Park, Masterton, tomorrow.
To already be guaranteed of third place in the 10-team competition after losing their first three games when playing stocks were depleted represents a huge achievement for arguably Wairarapa's best-performed club side over all codes and they will thoroughly deserve the warm send-off their army of fans are sure to give them ... win, lose or draw.
Making the occasion even more significant, of course, is that the very future of Wairarapa United hangs in the balance. The immigration hassles surrounding five of their regular squad members - Pita Rabo, Waisake Sabatu, Sakeo Valevou, Seule Soromon and Miroslav Tvaroh - are clearly threatening the survival of the organisation, definitely in the central league competition and possibly at all levels. If there is no happy ending -and that should be known soon - Wairarapa United could be finished.
Perhaps tomorrow's match will signal the last appearance in Wairarapa United colours of those players, all of whom have contributed hugely to their impressive advancement in recent times.
And if that's not enough incentive for a top-notch performance against a powerful Western Suburbs combination, how about the fact that long-time Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley will be having his last game in charge of the club's premier side.
Keinzley is a legend in Wairarapa footballing circles, the sport's greatest benefactor in the local region on and off the field.
Bare stats -provided by equally legendary Wairarapa United statistician Rob Duncan - show in the past 20 years Keinzley has coached 20 Wairarapa rep teams in 182 games, six Wairarapa United women's teams in 168 games and nine Wairarapa United men's teams in 225 games and that's not all of it. Wairarapa College, Kuranui College, Greytown and Martinborough junior sides and Carterton senior and junior sides have benefited from his mentoring talents.
Keinzley would be the first to agree that while he has won many friends over that long period, he has also made more than a few enemies as he has never been shy to say what he actually thinks. He doesn't suffer fools easily and is something of a journalist's dream as a consequence. If he thinks criticism is warranted, he makes it, pure and simple.
It is typical of Keinzley too, thathe is leading the fight to have the immigration status of the five players mentioned previously changed so they can continue to reside, and play their football, in the Wairarapa area.
And to that end, he has organised a petition which will be available for signature by local people across all codes in the hope their support for the players' retention will be a positive assistance to the cause. That petition will be circulated around Hullena Park before, during and after tomorrow's encounter which kicks off at 2.30pm.
No one is more aware than Keinzley, however, that a team of the calibre of Western Suburbs won't be the least affected by all the hype surrounding a game which will end for them what has been a season of mixed fortunes. Victory here would, however, still see them up in fourth position, not good enough by their usual high standards but not too shabby either.
Also motivating Western Suburbs will be the fact that when they suffered a 2-0 loss to Wairarapa United the last time they met it was the first time they had lost to them at premier level.
There had been the odd draw along the way but, invariably, it was Wests who took the spoils. No doubt the desire to produce a result which again highlights their superiority will be an extra driving force for the visitors.
However well Wests play though, it is unlikely that Wairarapa United will deviate from their usual game plan, which is basically built around the theory that attack is the best form of defence.
The possibility of the versatile Andrew Abba being out with an ankle injury is a concern because of his uncanny ability to create something out of nothing but, even in his absence, the starting X1 is stacked with players who provide a good mix of flair, speed and mental toughness.
At the time of going to print, it was likely that Richard Gillespie would be in goal, Carl Shailer, Pita Rabo, Adam Cowan and Pablo Moya in defence, Waisake Sabatu, Miroslav Tvaroh, Ian Sandbrook and George Barbarouses in midfield and Seule Soromon and Campbell Banks up front.