Soccer: Dugdale pleased to have more options

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A roll call and injury parade at training this morning will determine which 15 players Football Kingz coach Ken Dugdale takes to Australia.

After the frustrations of week one, when he had players on the injured list and others unavailable for a variety of reasons, Dugdale should have something closer to a full squad to select from for tomorrow's game against Sydney United at the Sports Centre.

The coach, upset at the unavailability of Norwegian striker Aleksander Midtsian for last Sunday's opener because of a transfer wrangle, has him and Espen Schjerven, who has just arrived in Auckland, ready to play this week.

After starting from the bench against Newcastle United - and scoring the Kingz' only goal - Harry Ngata is likely to play a bigger role this week.

Chilean defender Mauro Donoso, utility player Chad Coombes and Mark Burton are still sidelined, but the rest of the 23-strong squad should be considered.

Sydney United, who opened their season with a 1-0 win at Wollongong, will welcome captain and defender Mark Rudan back from injury.

Rookie United coach Grant Lee has also promoted dynamic midfielder Anthony Doumanis after his impressive showing in the youth league.

United had the worst attacking record in the NSL last season - just 23 goals in 24 games.

* Soccer Australia will be replaced by a new company, Australian Soccer Association. The new entity will receive A$15 million from the Government to implement the recommendations of the Crawford Report.

The report followed news that Soccer Australia was broke and unable to manage the game.

* Defending champions Soccer2 (Auckland/Manukau) should kick off the national women's league in style with a solid win against neighbours Force 3 at Ken Maunder Park today.

The Auckland side have a good blend of youth and experience, and appear to have an edge over the Waikato/Bay of Plenty team, who can be expected to give 100 per cent against a side who have long dominated the league.

Billy Harris will take the United Soccer 1 (North Harbour, Waitakere, Far North) team to Christchurch tomorrow for what should be a tough encounter in which the Challenge Cup is at stake.

Ali Grant is back to coach Mainland, who were runners-up to Soccer2 last season. They can call on internationals Zarnia Cogle, Jane Simpson and Mel Edwards.

The northerners have Rachel Howard and Liz O'Meara to add the international edge to their team.

Experienced international Wendi Henderson, as player-coach of Capital Soccer, can also call on a blend of youth and experience, including eight players who represented New Zealand at the World University Games. They should be too strong for Southern in tomorrow's game at Tahuna Park.

Central Soccer have the first-round bye.