Soccer: Utting's heart definitely in the right place

If you pass through Auckland airport on Saturday mornings, you will more than likely see Michael Utting at the check-in counter.

The former All Whites goalkeeper has been racking up the air points this season, commuting between Auckland and Palmerston North to play for Manawatu in the NZFC. He travels down on a Saturday morning, trains with the team that afternoon, plays on the Sunday, then makes a beeline back to the airport to return to Auckland.

If you thought Utting had retired from football, well, he had. But a few calls from Manawatu assistant coach and his former Kingz coach Shane Rufer persuaded Utting to slip on the goalkeeper's gloves once again.

Although he has missed a handful of games since January after a loss of form and enthusiasm, he came back into the side for last week's 3-2 win over Otago and will line up again in the major semifinal against Canterbury in Palmerston North on Sunday.

"There was a patch in January when his form wasn't as good as he or us expected and we made the change [and brought Hayden Englefield in]," coach Colin Tuua explained. "But we're at a crucial time in the season and he's a player who has been there and done that so his experience is going to be invaluable."

The winner of today's match will take on league winners Auckland City next weekend for a guaranteed spot in the final. The loser will play the winner of today's elimination semifinal between Wellington and Otago for another shot at making the final.

After all that Utting has experienced and endured in and out of the game, the 35-year-old speaks with a new-found enthusiasm.

"It's nice to be part of something special and it feels like Manawatu could go places," he explained.

"They look at me as a part of achieving those goals. When I stop playing it may be nice to say I played for Manawatu and they achieved something good."

What that achievement could be is picking up the second of the New Zealand qualifying spots for the Oceania Club Championships - in winning the league, Auckland have already guaranteed their place.

"If we were last in the league, I wouldn't be playing now but the fact is I am enjoying it. It's a nice ride to be on at the moment."

-HERALD ON SUNDAY