For the majority of the Waitakere United squad, tonight’s FIFA Club World Cup match will be the biggest game they have every played in their life.
The Waitakere United squad who will face Iranian champions Sepahan tonight in the qualification match for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan are ‘buzzing’ in anticipation for the match according to
striker Allan Pearce.
The Waitakere United squad has been in Tokyo for the last week preparing for the game and OFC caught up with some of the players and management ahead of the big match.
Chris Milicich – Head Coach
What tactical approach will you be taking into the game tomorrow?
We’re going to play a 3-5-2 formation and we’re going to try and attempt to play in a way that Sepahan would not be used to playing against. They’re used to paying against sides who just want to
keep moving the ball, keeping the ball, shifting it and not ask questions. Our objective is to try and turn them around and ask questions of them and see if they can cope. If we sit back and just
try and defend we could find ourselves going quite quickly behind.
Are there any individuals in the Sepahan side that you need to play special attention to?
Yes there are. There number 4 who is there captain, don’t ask me to pronounce his name, but he’s played in the Bundesliga and he’s known as a tremendously gifted playmaker and they tend to generate
a lot of play through him so we will be man marking that man, we will be chasing him to the toilet if we have to.
What will you be doing on game day to try and ease the nerves for some of the younger members of the team?
We’ve kept the environment quite relaxed so when we’re not training there’s a lot of humour throughout the camp and we’re insuring that the players aren’t focusing a thousand percent on the fact
that for most of them this will be the biggest game they’ve played in their lives.
So we’re trying to keep it fairly relaxed and at the same time make it intense when we have to be. I’ll be keeping an eye on them on game day to make sure they remain calm and know what’s going on
but there are a lot of experienced players here who will prove very valuable.
Where does participating in the Club World Cup rank with you as far as career achievements?
If we do well in the game tomorrow it becomes a bigger achievement. I wasn’t the coach that won them here but for me I’m taking it very seriously. The fact is that they’ve got an opportunity here
to really do something good for New Zealand football and Oceania Football. If we can get a really good result then I think Oceania can say that we’re getting there as a confederation and on behalf
of all New Zealand teams we can say that we deserve to be at these things.
Danny Hay – Captain
How has the preparation been in the build up for the game tonight?
It’s been excellent actually. The facilities we’ve been using have been second to none, the little things like the quality of the balls have made a big impression and it’s just made the boys feel
like professional footballers for the week, so in that respect it’s been really good. Everybody seems to know what’s expected of them tomorrow so hopefully we can give as good a performance as
possible.
What’s the mood in the camp?
It’s actually been pretty relaxed and we’ve kept it that way on purpose. The boys are enjoying themselves and obviously when we go out to training we know what to expect and they’re doing the right
things. I’m sure with game day it’s going to be quite different and everyone will be getting a little bit nervous but for me personally I just can’t wait to get the game underway.
Where does this match and this experience rate with you in terms of your career?
This is one of the bigger and better things I’ve done at this stage looking towards the end of my career. I’ve been lucky enough to play for the All Whites a number of times and experience some
good things with them, as well as playing club football in England, but for a New Zealand side this is far and away the biggest thing. It is big in the sense that there’s a lot of responsibility
riding on our shoulders and I’m quite aware of that, not only for the club but for New Zealand and Oceania in general, so we do understand there’s massive responsibility so in that respect it is a
massive massive game.
Allan Pearce – midfielder/striker
How has your personal build up been for the game?
It’s been great, really enjoyable. The facilities have been top class and all the boys are buzzing because of how well we’ve been treated, it’s been top class and now it’s just up to us to perform
well.
How good is the opportunity here for exposure if you play well tomorrow?
The games going to be reaching millions of people around the world, so it’s a really great opportunity. There’s also going to be thousands of scouts there, it’s really just amazing to think about
the possibilities if you perform well. There is a real great possibility for us younger players, or even the older players to do well tonight and find themselves at a much bigger club than
Waitakere and really improve their career.
How would you compare this experience so far to the Under 17 World Cup that you were involved in?
The Under 17 tournament was at home and there was a lot more expectation on us and you knew all your surroundings and there was a bit more of a buzz around. Here in Japan there are just so many
people and some of them don’t even know that the World Club Champs are on. The buzz isn’t quite the same throughout Japan as it was in New Zealand for the U17’s but it is here in this town
and throughout the players.
Do you have any celebration plans for if you score tomorrow?
I do actually. Eric Cantona did a brilliant celebration when he scored back in his day when he chipped the keeper and just stood there and soaked it all in and that’s what I’d like to do, just
absorb the crowd and not do anything stupid.
Waitakere Vs Sepahan will be screened live at 11.45pm on Sky Sport 1.