Soccer: Chasing million-dollar maybe

The million-dollar carrot dangling in front of the eight teams in the second New Zealand Football Championship has signalled the expected flurry of activity on the transfer market.

With two New Zealand teams assured of places in next year's Oceania Club Championship, and with it a shot at winning a place in the Fifa Club Championship and the minimum US$1 million ($1.4 million) payout, competition will be intense.

The winner of the 21-match round-robin 2, which ends on March 26, will be handed one spot. The second will go to the winner of the grand final after the top-five play-offs.

If the same team win both, the team finishing second in the league will go through. New Zealand, as hosts of the May 10-21 Oceania tournament, is entitled to two places in 2006. With the Australians out of Oceania contention, the path to the world finals has opened up to New Zealand and the island nations.

Defending champions Auckland City kick-off the new season with a home game against Waikato FC tomorrow afternoon. Such is the strength of the Allan Jones-coached City side that Paul Urlovic, third on the golden boot goalscoring list last season, cannot claim a place in the starting XI.

The attack will be led by South Africans Grant Young, back for a second season, and Keryn Jordan, lured from cross-town rivals Waitakere United. Young and Jordan, with 15 goals each, were the top goalscorers last season with Urlovic just one goal back.

Other newcomers at Kiwitea St include Luiz Del Monte, who was one of the stars for YoungHeart Manawatu; Matt Cuneen (from Waitakere); Nick Hyde (ex Napier); Ricky Broderson (East Coast Bays) and Waikato's Sam Wilkinson, who gets to play against his former team-mates in the season opener.

Waikato, who surprised many with their strong first-up season and who will again be coached by Declan Edge and James Pamment, have also called in new players, including Stuart Hogg (ex Waitakere) and Jakub Sinkora (from Otago).

The best of the three matches on Sunday could be at Park Island where Hawkes Bay United, formerly Napier City, will meet Waitakere United. Both teams have new coaches, Perry Cotton (Hawkes Bay) and Steve Cain (Waitakere), and a host of new faces. Waitakere will be without their most high-profile signing with Australian Pablo Cardozo sidelined through injury. His brother Richard will debut as will another Australian, Shannon Cole.

Away from the northern teams, the most likely challenges should come from Canterbury United and Otago United. Canterbury have All White Brent Fisher to spearhead their attack and All White goalkeeper James Bannatyne as their last line of defence.

Otago have player-coach Terry Phelan to add much-needed experience to their line-up. They have a new-look strikeforce with Brad Scott and Mark Beldham adding some experience up front.

Team Wellington, the under-performers for the early rounds last season, have many of their stalwarts back, including Andy Hedge, Bryan and Graham Little, Geoff Brown and Sacha Nathu. Coach Mick Waitt has signed Peter Halstead from Manawatu to bolster his attack.

Colin Tuaa again faces a testing season with his YoungHeart Manawatu side. He is anxiously awaiting the return of Solomon Islands striker Commins Menapi, hopefully in time for Sunday's home game at their new ground, The Arena in Palmerston North, against Canterbury United.

Former international goalkeeper Michael Utting has joined the Manawatu side but will not play the opening game.