It might seem to be about the worst draw possible but Wairarapa United soccer coach Phil Keinzley is actually pleased to have Miramar Rangers as their first opponent in Chatham Cup elimination play this season.
Keinzley concedes that with Miramar Rangers currently leading the central league competition and having won the
Chatham Cup on three occasions they will start roaring hot favourites in the match which will be played at Miramar next month on a date still to be confirmed.
But that doesn't mean he is conceding defeat, simply that he realises the enormity of the task which will be facing a Wairarapa United side presently in second place in Capital Soccer's premier division competition, which is one tier below central league.
" You have to play the best around at some stage of competitions like this so you might as well strike them first up",he said.
"And there will be a lot more pressure on them because they will be expected to win, won't they?"
Keinzley said his squad could take heart from their Chatham Cup campaign last season when they reached the last 16 before bowing out in extra time to the then Cup holders Western Suburbs who went on to be runners-up in the 2007 competition. "We caught a few teams by surprise then and hopefully we can do the same this time round ",he said.
Whatever the result of the Miramar match though Keinzley said Wairarapa United's main focus for this season was on winning the premier division title, and with it promotion to central league in 2009.
"That was the goal we set ourselves at the start of the season and nothing will change in that respect," he said.
