Danny Hay (right) will lead United against Iranian club Sepahan in Japan next month. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times
Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich will take a blend of youth and experience and a decent dollop of pace to Japan for next month's daunting Fifa World Club Cup preliminary against top Iranian club Sepahan.
In naming his 23-strong squad for the match at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium on
December 7, Milicich has made it clear he will be looking to his experienced players to lead the way.
"We are fortunate to have the likes of [captain] Danny Hay, Neil Emblen, Darren Bazeley, Neil Sykes and Jonathan Perry and others who have experienced international football for club or country," said Milicich. "They are our leaders and will be charged with keeping the focus strong on and off the field.
"This is not a holiday, this is the football experience of a lifetime for some of the players. It is now up to the management team and senior players to ensure they don't get stars in their eyes."
Milicich would not be drawn on the players he considered unlucky to miss the trip but said it had been a difficult task in coming up with the travelling party.
"Our academy players have been tremendous and have great futures but Japan will be no place for the faint-hearted. This was not about giving places away, they had to be earned by the best 23 players we have available,"said Milicich. "Young [goalkeeper] Arran Rowley and Tom Webb will represent their academy team-mates with distinction. For the others, their time will come."
Club chairman Rex Dawkins is under no illusions at just how hard the task will be. "We must look to again justify the inclusion of an Oceania team on the world stage.
"We are not hiding from that but we are also well aware of the mountain we have to climb."
