Soccer: Myers hones talent at top domestic level

Waitakere United's Tim Myers says he is now more confident and happy to have time on the ball. Photo / Steven McNicholl

As a 14-year-old in 2005, Tim Myers led the New Zealand team at the Manchester United Premier Cup tournament in Hong Kong.

But, in a sad reflection upon New Zealand soccer's ability to nurture talent, Myers and Costa Barbarouses are the only members of that team who figure on team sheets at New Zealand Football Championship or A-League level these days.

Others, including Jake Mathews, are still playing in local football but only Myers, at Waitakere United, and Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix) are really making their mark.

"I can't really understand why more players have not kept playing," said Myers, 19, yesterday.

"I really enjoyed my time in Hong Kong. The matches were short as were the breaks between games. There was no time to get nervous it was just a case of getting out and playing.

"It certainly whetted my appetite and made me determined to carry on."

All the way to the New Zealand team at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Korea and the Oceania Under-20 qualifiers in Tahiti. Now his sights are set on the national under-23 team who will soon begin their 2012 Olympics bid.

Myers, named this week in Waitakere United's National Youth League squad, is in his second NZFC season after having played about 80 per cent of the 2008-09 season following Danny Hay's injury-enforced retirement.

Switching across town worked for Myers, who had played club football at Eastern Suburbs and at school in the Auckland Grammar first X1.

Born in Auckland and playing since he was an enthusiastic five-year-old at Suburbs, Myers followed coach Chris Milicich when he joined Waitakere three years ago.

"I had to juggle my football between the school and club," said Myers. "But I had coaches who understood, and it worked well."

Myers still remembers his victories over rivals Mt Albert Grammar in his fifth and sixth form years. He failed to complete the hat-trick of wins the following year when he was captain.

Relishing the chance to play alongside Hay and the now United player/coach Neil Emblen, Myers says he has learned plenty.

"It has been huge for me. Even at training there is so much I learned even if I was not always making the team. Now I am getting more opportunities. I have matured by playing in the NZFC alongside so many experienced players.

"I used to think of myself as a rough and tumble player charging in to make headers or tackles," said Myers. "Now I am more confident and happy to have time on the ball."

It is not always plain sailing, as his game against Canterbury United five days ago reminded him.

A couple of errors cost Waitakere but Myers, admitting "it wasn't the best," has put that behind him, preferring to look ahead tomorrow's home game against YoungHeart Manawatu.

Emblen too is ready to move on and expects to be playing alongside Myers at Fred Taylor Park in his much-awaited return from injury.

"Definitely, he will make mistakes but generally I have been pleased with the way he is playing," sad Emblen. "It is easy to forget his age. He is up against some decent players to hold his place and fully deserves to remain there.

"He is quick and gives us extra wheels at the back."

In the second of two games in Auckland this weekend, Auckland City play Team Wellington at Kiwitea St on Sunday while further south Waikato FC meet Canterbury at Centennial Park.