Soccer: New league set to go

By Terry Maddaford

Central favourites to win North Island league

Central United will start as the shortest of short-priced favourites for the inaugural North Island soccer league.

Central, the 1998 Chatham Cup winners, have gathered a powerful squad under co-coaches Ricki Herbert and Paul Posa and will obviously be the team to beat.

The new-look competition, which kicks off with a full round of six games on Sunday, fills a huge void in the soccer calendar. Time will tell, however, whether the talent is spread too thinly after organisers were forced to accommodate 12 rather than 10 teams

Herbert remains reticent about Central's chances, but admits that in keeping last season's squad together and boosting them with the inclusion of All Whites Noah Hickey and Tinoi Christie, they have a solid foundation.

Experienced former internationals Michael Ridenton, who will captain the side, Fred de Jong, Jason New and Mark Elrick will again play key roles alongside talented younger players like Ivan Vicelich, Paul Urlovic, Greg Uhlman, Christie, Hickey and Michael Loftus.

Central are at home to Manawatu United on Sunday and should pick up three points against the Terry Nutter-coached side.

In the other game in Auckland, old rivals North Shore and Mt Wellington meet at Allen Hill Stadium in Devonport.

Shane Rufer-coached North Shore have Lee Jones back after a couple of seasons overseas, Jimmy Cudd back from Australian club Bundaberg and Dean Dods, who has returned after his unsuccessful bid to break into Irish football.

Mt Wellington, beaten 2-1 by Central in a pre-season game, have like most sides, a mixture of young players and the more experienced, including Andy Brown.

Jeff Campbell, son of coach Clive Campbell, has had recent international play at under-20 and under-23 level and will be expected to shoulder a heavy workload.

Waitakere City might struggle. They have retained, or attracted back, Ryan Dawkins, who will be captain, Neil Woodhams, Liam Mulrooney and Terry Torrens and have added, among others, Nobby Stiles, Hamish Carmody, Shane Gillies and Nigel Kelly.

City are away to Melville on Sunday and should be worth at least a point against the Mark Youngjohns-coached side, who include Mark Cossey, Andy Irvine and Graham Jones of the older brigade and youngsters Shaun Goldsbury, Darryl Gibbs, Ian Bridges and Mark Teesdale.

Metro have attracted a few new names but still face a tough first assignment in Napier.

Sean Hird appears to have a well-balanced side, including former All Whites goalkeeper Grant Schofield, current international Jonathon Perry and other new signings including Kara Waetford, Heath McCormack, Stu Roberts and Jason Collett.

Napier, now coached by former All Whites Andy Rennie and Perry Cotton, who are also listed as players, have a wealth of experience but might struggle at the business end of some games, especially in the early part of the season.

League manager Rex Dawkins said he was pleased to see a meaningful competition in place but was determined there should be a real entertainment factor in the six games each weekend.

"We have worked closely with referees and clubs to ensure that is the case," he said. "If we are to attract spectators back to football games we must take all necessary steps to clamp down on the more unsavoury incidents, including foul and abusive language.

"We will take action on any complaints."

After each game, two players, selected by the respective opposition, will be awarded points in the Air New Zealand player of the year award.

The winner will receive a trip for two to any South Pacific destination.

In other first-round games, both in Wellington, Miramar are at home to Lower Hutt and Western Suburbs have the home advantage against Olympic.