Waitakere United today unveiled one part of their plan to attack a very congested and difficult season of football with the announcement of their O-League squad
for 2007/08.
As well as looking to defend their O-League title, Waitakere will also take part in the FIFA World Club Cup in Japan in December and look to pick up their first
NZFC title after two grand final appearances have ended in disappointment.
O-League regulations allow for a squad of up to 30 players to be named and submitted to the Oceania Football Confederation by October 1st. That process
has been finalized with the squad made public today.
Football Manager is inaugural Waitakere coach Chris Milicich, returning to take the reins after a two year absence. Milicich is delighted with the quality of the
players he has assembled.
“I am very happy with the squad and the balance we have ahead of a very long season. It was important to strengthen in a number of key areas, all the more so for a
second tilt at the O-League in what will be a busy campaign.
“We have plenty of strike power and will threaten teams in a number of areas while at the back we have significant experience in the likes of Danny Hay, Neil
Emblen, Darren Bazeley and former All White Jonathan Perry.”
But Milicich says the team has a strong presence of young emerging talent too, with pace and inventiveness in the attacking third.
“Experience is one thing but you must also have the energy and enthusiasm that youth can bring. The introduction of Jason Hayne will allow us more options out wide
while the likes of Jason Rowley, Jake Butler and Shane Pascoe will not only keep the more experienced players honest, they will be pushing equally as hard for first team places.”
A key signing is the acquisition of last season’s golden boot winner Benjamin Totori from Manawatu. Totori joins his Solomon Islands national team mate Commins
Menapi and with Daniel Koprivcic, Allan Pearce and young Blair Konik from the Academy squad, Waitakere is blessed with depth in striking options.
The 23 man squad to travel to Japan for the FIFA World Club Cup in December will be named from the 30 players listed in the O-League squad while the NZFC squad of
25 players will be announced on Tuesday October 23rd.
While it is likely there will be few changes, Milicich does have the luxury of signing players for the NZFC specifically and hasn’t ruled out doing just that to
provide more depth in a long season.
Waitakere commence their O-League defence with a home tie against AS Manu Ura at Fred Taylor Park on Wednesday October 31st, kick off at
4pm.
Waitakere United 2007/08 O-League Squad
Richard Gillespie, Jonathon Perry, Shane Pascoe, Matt Cunneen, Danny Hay, Darren Bazeley, Neil Emblen, Jason Hayne, Commins Menapi, Benjamin Totori, Allan Pearce,
Neil Sykes, Daniel Koprivcic, Hoani Edwards, Christopher Bale, Jake Butler, Ronil Kumar, Mikael Munday, Jason Rowley, Graham Pearce, Simon Eaddy, Blair Konik, Tim Meyers, Leo Shin, Byron Paulus,
Tom Webb, Aaran Rowley, Denver MacDonald, Peter Norris, Sean Dowling.
Manager: Chris Milicich
Player/coach: Neil Emblen
Academy coach: Carl Jorgensen
GK coach: Grant Robertson
Manager: Craig Alexander
For more information contact:
Chris Milicich
Waitakere United Football Manager
021 222 6959