Soccer: Chance for Phoenix contract

Waitakere United attacker Roy Krishna is one step away from signing a professional contract with the Wellington Phoenix.

The talented 21-year-old will join the Phoenix when the team starts their pre-season build-up on May 4.

"Roy is joining us for a month from May 4," said Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert. "It is more than him coming down and trialling, it is the opportunity to gain a contract. He had a week with us last year. Now we are taking it a step further and looking at it as a chance to sign him. We are taking the potential he has shown as the starting point."

Waitakere chairman Rex Dawkins, who has worked closely with Labasa-born Krishna, welcomes the opportunity afforded his star player.

"Arguably he is the best player from Oceania to play in New Zealand," said Dawkins. "We certainly don't see his time with the Phoenix as a trial - it is more than that."

Team Wellington's Luis Corrales, the golden boot winner in the New Zealand Football Championship and, like Krishna, a finalist for the NZXFC player of the year (to be announced next week), is also to be given his chance with Phoenix.