Soccer: Kingz courting Chileans

By Chris Rattue

Auckland's Football Kingz are on the verge of signing two Chilean players, which would bring the confirmed number of players in the squad so far to 13.

Defender David Castillo, aged 21, and striker Aaron Vives, 24, will train with the squad for the next two weeks during which time coach Wynton Rufer will make the final decision on them.

Kingz chairman Chris Turner said the pair were attached to the top side in Chile, Colo Colo, and the club believed a season in Australia's Ericsson Cup would help their development. A New Zealand contact had put the Kingz in touch with the players.

"We've done plenty of homework on them and it looks very promising," Turner said.

No 1 All Whites goalkeeper Michael Utting - who has been playing in South Africa - is also training with the Kingz, and Turner said there was a chance he would sign if he could not get a British work permit quickly.