Soccer: Kingz fans at a loss over guessing game

By Terry Maddaford

Football Kingz fans got what they wanted on Saturday - victory in the last home game of the National Soccer League season.

But the 2-1 win over Brisbane Strikers at North Harbour Stadium raised more questions than it answered.

While the loss ended the visitors' playoff hopes, the fans who turned out in one of the biggest crowds of the season were left wondering.

Why, they asked, did Batram Suri play at fullback?

Why was Aaron Silva dragged off just 11 minutes into the second spell and denied the chance of a hat-trick after giving the Kingz their 2-0 lead?

Why were so many disgruntled players left on the sideline?

Why was import John Lammers given another chance; why did Wynton Rufer play just the last 18 minutes; and why was Fred de Jong not given time out?

Hopefully there will be answers in the next few days as players are either retained or sent packing. Silva and fellow Chilean David Moya, as examples, will know in a week's time whether they have a much-wanted second season in Auckland or will have to take one of the offers from clubs across the Tasman.

To lose Silva, who with 10 goals is the team's leading scorer, would be a disaster.

Chairman Chris Turner, yet to announce his long-term future with the club, and new directors and coaches Wynton and Shane Rufer face the most challenging 10 days in the club's short history. If they do not get it right off the field, all the good the players have achieved on it counts for nothing.