Soccer: Young Kingz repaid by Rufer

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Youngsters Jeff Campbell and Noah Hickey seem certain to be rewarded for their bold efforts in last Friday's exciting 3-2 win over Northern Spirit with a start for the Football Kingz against the Adelaide Force at North Harbour Stadium tonight.

"They are doing great," said Kingz player-coach Wynton Rufer as he prepares to start the 10-match end-of-season Australian National Soccer League run.

"They will be in the squad for sure. We haven't settled on a starting line-up yet but they can play this game.

"They will, however, miss Sunday's game in Perth as they have to join the Olympic squad for the match in Japan."

With Aaron Silva also showing something close to his best, Rufer is undecided on just how big a part he and new signing John Lammers will play in tonight's match.

"It is going to be tough. Adelaide have one of the best teams in the NSL and we can expect a hard game. They have some of the best players in the league," Rufer said.

"Damien Mori has played in the Bundesliga and is one of the top scorers in the league. Alex Tobin is still good enough to play for the Socceroos but is not wanted by coach Frank Farina, and Aurelio Vidmar has been named in the all-time Australian side."

Tobin and Vidmar were missing from the Force line-up when the Kingz played one of their two earlier away matches against the Adelaide side.

"They are definitely good enough to be in the top six," said Rufer. "If we are to win, we have to shake off that bogy of not being able to win two games in a row.

"I am sure we can do that but it is going to need an all-out effort by all our players."

Only once this season have they managed consecutive victories.

While not dwelling too much on last week's win, Rufer admitted some satisfaction in what was probably his team's best effort of the season.

"I'm happy with any win but it was great to do it with the scorcher Jonathan Perry scored."

Rufer said he expected Aaran Lines to be back training next week.

The Kingz will probably again be without midfielder Chris Jackson, who has been excused for family reasons, while goalkeeper Jason Batty is back from injury and seems likely to play in either tonight's game or in Perth.

The Kingz have trained lightly in the past couple of days but Rufer is hopeful of another good performance tonight and hopes the win over Northern Spirit will encourage a good turnout for a game which, should they win, would take them to within a point of the top six.