Wairarapa United boosted by stars

Wairarapa United's prospects of success in Capital Soccer's premier division in 2006 have been boosted by the arrival of two international players, and the signing of a major sponsor based in Masterton, Anderson's Meats
Stanley Waita from the Solomon Islands and Petero Dauniseka from Fji attended their first training session with Wairarapa United last Thursday night, just a few hours after flying into New Zealand.
Waita and Dauniseka were both signed by Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley after he had watched them play at the Fijian national club tournament in Lautoka last last year.
Both made a huge impression on Keinzley with Waita's ability to not only score goals, but to create goal scoring opportunities for others moving Keinzley to describe him as "one of the best players in the Pacific region."
Waita was, in fact, part of the Solomon Islands side which caused a huge upset when they beat New Zealand in last year's World Cup qualifying series and he has also played for his country at under-17, under-20 and under-23 level.
Dauniseka played for Suva at the Lautoka event and with Keinzley assisting in the coaching of that side he was able to gain a close insight into the skills of the lanky fullback.
And he liked what he saw, being taken by Dauniseka's speed and aggression and the power of his free kicks.
"He hits the ball harder than anybody I have seen," Keinzley said. "It goes like an absolute rocket?..twice at Lautoka he struck the head of players standing in the wall and actually knocked them out!"
Keinzley was delighted with the enthusiasm shown by the 21 players who attended Thursday night's training and with 10 others unable to participate for various reasons he is already excited at the competition there will be for places in the club's premier side.
"Right now it would be impossible to even guess who the top 11 would be??.nobody could feel too confident about their place," he said.
Also delighting Keinzley is the substantial five-figure sponsorship given Wairarapa United by Andersons Meats, an amount which is easily the biggest individual sponsorship ever obtained by the soccer code in Wairarapa and which will see the team officially called Anderson Meats Wairarapa United.
"The cost factor of running clubs like ours is always a problem and to get a sponsorship like this is such a boost for us," Keinzley said.