NZFC GOES GLOBAL, LOCALLY

October 26, 2007

AUCKLAND - The fourth edition of the New Zealand Football Championship is set to live up to it's marketing mantra of being the local name of the global game.

Over 40 foreign-born players – including some who have subsequently played for New Zealand at various levels – are included in the eight squads preparing themselves for the national league's November 3-4 kickoff.

Players hailing from each of the football world’s six confederations will lace up their boots in the game’s domestic showpiece and the new influx of players promises to make this NZFC season the most cosmopolitan ever.

The traditional flows of talent into the Southern Trust supported league still exist with a strong British and Irish contingent among the 28 European players signed up for season four. However, the introduction of players from Argentina, Uruguay, Korea, and Costa Rica reflects the graduial growth of the domestic game.

Auckland City start as favourites to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive national league title and new coach Colin Tuaa has topped a busy off-season in the transfer market with the capture of Republic of Korea international “cannon shooter” Ki-Hyung Lee.

Brazilian Luiz Del Monte returns to the midfield to complement an a potent attack that features South Africans Grant Young and Keryn Jordan - the NZFC’s first 50 goal man - along with Three Kings United’s Argentine goal machine Eliezer Anello.

Jeff Campbell joins All Whites team-mates Ben Sigmund and James Pritchett while U-17 international Lance Heslop is included in the squad before he takes up a youth contract at Aston Villa’s academy.

Neil Sykes captained Auckland to the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup but will return to Japan this December with City's cross-town rival and current Oceania champions Waitakere – who like Auckland have named an extended squad to tackle the demands of NZFC and Oceania Champions League which begins this week.

Last season’s runaway golden boot Benjamin Totoori rekindles his striking partnership with Solomon Islands – and ex-Manawatu – team-mate Commins Menapi while Darren Bazeley and Neil Emblen join recently retired All Whites captain Danny Hay as ex-New Zealand Knights players in the Waitakere squad.

YoungHeart Manawatu’s 2006-07 season finished at the playoff stage again last year – and Shane Rufer has cast his net wide to ensure that his team once again challenge for the title.

Flamboyant former All White stopper Michael Utting will be able backed up by ex Sheffield Wednesday custodian James Pamment in goal.

Giant Fijian striker Osea Vakatalesau will be a handful for any defence and is joined at the franchise by his international captain Peni Finau.

However, most eyes watching the green shirts of Manawatu will be drawn to Rufer’s three Uruguayan signings to see what brand of South American flair they can add to this season’s title tilt.

The biggest challenge to the big three looks likely to come from Team Wellington and Hawke’s Bay United with the later shaping up as this season’s dark horse.

A brand new striking partnership of All Whites Jeremy Brockie and Jarrod Smith – with New Zealand ‘A’ forward Sam Messam nipping at their heels – head a growing list of senior and age group internationals in Hawke’s Bay colours while former Wales U-20 defender Chris Davies will strengthen a defence that already boasts former All White Jonathan Taylor and New Zealand U-20 fullback Ian Hogg.

Team Wellington can also field a number of players who have worn New Zealand colours, most noticeably in a midfield boasting the likes of Michael Wilson, Andy Barron and Raf de Gregorio.

Peter Howe returns from the American collegiate system to a Wellington defence overseen by All Whites keeper James Bannatyne.

Competition for places up front will be fierce with Peter Halstead and perennial golden boot contender Graham Little facing challenges from New Zealand ‘A’ marksman Daniel Ellensohn and new Costa Rican signing Luis Corrales.

Waikato FC, Canterbury United and Otago United all face major personnel change and it will be the team that gels quickest that will keep their playoff dreams alive.

With little known of many of the players outside their respective provinces, the teams may catch a few of their more fancied opponents by surprise while quickly making a name for themselves.

New American signings Kevin Taylor and Chad Severs will add to Otago’s cause at either end of the park, while Waikato’s Welsh striker Dale Williams will be one to watch in Hamilton.

Canterbury’s campaign will again be headed by former Otago talisman Blair Scouller and goal-scoring midfielder Stuart Kelly.

The NZFC kicks off on Saturday, November 3 when Waitakere take on Team Wellington and Otago host Waikato. The following day Canterbury entertain Hawke’s Bay, while defending champions Auckland are away to YoungHeart Manawatu.

2007-08 NZFC SQUAD LISTS

AUCKLAND CITY

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	Ross Nicholson	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
2	Joel Mathews	Defender	New Zealand
3	Craig Wylie	Defender	New Zealand
4
5	Ben Sigmund	Defender	New Zealand
6	Ki-Hyung Lee	Midfielder	South Korea
7	James Pritchett	Defender	New Zealand
8	ChadCoombes	Midfielder	New Zealand
9	Paul Urlovic	Striker	New Zealand
10	Grant Young	Striker	South Africa
11	Luiz Del Monte	Midfielder	Brazil
12	Tamati Williams	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
13	Alex Feneridis	Midfielder	New Zealand
14	Keryn Jordan	Striker	South Africa
15	Jeff Campbell	Midfielder	New Zealand
16	George Suri	Defender	Solomon Islands
17	BryanLittle	Midfielder	Scotland
18	Henry Fa’arodo	Midfielder	Solomon Islands
19	Salesh Kumar	Defender	Fiji
20	Greg Uhlmann	Defender	New Zealand
21	Riki Van Steeden	Defender	New Zealand
22	Sam Mathews	Midfielder	New Zealand
23	Eliezer Anello	Striker	Argentina
24	Sam Campbell	Defender	New Zealand
25	Adam McGeorge	Midfielder	New Zealand
26	Rupesh Puna	Defender	New Zealand
27	John Niyonsaba	Striker	New Zealand
28	Liam Mulrooney	Midfielder	England
29	Lance Heslop	Midfielder	New Zealand
30	Mark Fulcher	Goalkeeper	Scotland
Coach	Colin Tuaa

WAITAKERE UNITED

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	Richard Gillespie	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
2	Jonathan Perry	Defender	New Zealand
3	Shane Pascoe	Defender	New Zealand
4	Matt Cunneen	Defender	New Zealand
5	Danny Hay	Defender	New Zealand
6	Darren Bazeley	Defender	England
7	Jason Hayne	Midfielder	New Zealand
8	Commins Menapi	Striker	Solomon Islands
9	Benjamin Totoori	Striker	Solomon Islands
10	Allen Pearce	Midfielder	New Zealand
11	Neil Sykes	Midfielder	England
12
13	Daniel Koprivcic	Striker	Croatia
14	Hoani Edwards	Midfielder	New Zealand
15	Christopher Bale	Midfielder	Wales
16	Neil Emblen	Defender	England
17	Jake Butler	Midfielder	New Zealand
18	Ronil Kumar	Midfielder	Fiji
19	Mikael Munday	Defender	New Zealand
20	Jason Rowley	Defender	New Zealand
21	Graham Pearce	Defender	New Zealand
22	Simon Eaddy	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
23	Blair Konik	Striker	New Zealand
24	Tim Myers	Defender	New Zealand
25	Leo Shin	Midfielder	New Zealand
26	Byron Paulis	Midfielder	South Africa
27	Tom Webb	Defender	New Zealand
Coach	Chris Milicich

WAIKATO FC

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	Danny Robinson	Goalkeeper	England
2	David Samson	Defender	New Zealand
3	Hone Fowler	Defender	New Zealand
4	Jakub Sinkora	Midfielder	CzechRepublic
5
6	Sam Wilkinson	Midfielder	New Zealand
7	Joe Simpkins	Defender	New Zealand
8	Nathan Holten	Midfielder	New Zealand
9	Tom Edwards	Midfielder	Romania
10	Luke Findley	Midfielder	England
11	Paul Stewart	Defender	New Zealand
12	Robert Gill	Striker	England
13	Chris Wood	Striker	New Zealand
14	Shaun van Rooyen	Midfielder	New Zealand
15	Steven Holloway	Striker	New Zealand
16	Scott Campbell
17	Stewart Watene	Defender	New Zealand
18	StanleyWaita	Midfielder	Solomon Islands
19
20	Tim Kautai	Striker	New Zealand
21
22
23	Dale Williams	Striker	Wales
Coach	Roger Wilkinson

HAWKE’S BAY UNITED

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	Mitchell O’Brien	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
2	Chris Davies	Defender	Wales
3	Cole Peverley	Midfielder	New Zealand
4	Greig Henslee	Midfielder	Scotland
5	CampbellParkin	Defender	New Zealand
6	Ian Hogg	Defender	New Zealand
7	Stuart Wilson	Striker	New Zealand
8	Chris McIvor	Midfielder	New Zealand
9	Sam Messam	Striker	New Zealand
10	Jeremy Brockie	Striker	New Zealand
11	Graham Fyfe	Midfielder	Scotland
12	Dean Johnston	Midfielder	New Zealand
13	Leon Birnie	Midfielder	New Zealand
14	Chris Greatholder	Midfielder	England
15	Stuart Hogg	Midfielder	New Zealand
16	Jimmy Cudd	Midfielder	New Zealand
17	David Gearey	Midfielder	New Zealand
18	Regan Cameron	Defender	New Zealand
19	Jonathon Taylor	Defender	New Zealand
20	Sam Jenkins	Midfielder	New Zealand
21	Nick Dockery	Defender	New Zealand
22	Robbie Hunter	Defender	New Zealand
23	Scott Dunn	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
24
25	Jarrod Smith	Striker	New Zealand
26	Joshua Stevenson	Defender	New Zealand
Coach	Jonathan Gould

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	Andrew Bailey	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
2	James Pamment	Goalkeeper	England
3	Pablo Yackson	Defender	Uruguay
4	Peni Finau	Defender	Fiji
5	Trent Watson	Defender	New Zealand
6	Matt Adams	Defender	New Zealand
7	Gouzalo Nieres	Striker	Uruguay
8	Nathan Cooksley	Defender	New Zealand
9	Osea Vakatalesau	Striker	Fiji
10	Gustavo Saralegui	Striker	Uruguay
11	Ian Sandbrook	Midfielder	New Zealand
12	Nick Roydhouse	Midfielder	New Zealand
13	Yuki Tomamatsu	Midfielder	Japan
14	Daniel Aliaga	Striker	New Zealand
15	Prince Quansah	Midfielder	New Zealand
16	Ian Robinson	Midfielder	New Zealand
17	Adam Cowan	Defender	New Zealand
18	Nathan Morath	Striker	New Zealand
19	Michael Utting	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
20	Dominic Rowe	Striker	New Zealand
21	Tim Richardson	Midfielder	New Zealand
22
23	Scott Robson	Defender	New Zealand
24	Blair McLean	Midfielder	New Zealand
Coach	Shane Rufer

TEAM WELLINGTON

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	James Bannatyne	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
2	Sam Peters	Defender	New Zealand
3	Steven Gulley	Defender	New Zealand
4	Jamie Farrington	Defender	New Zealand
5	Peter Howe	Defender	New Zealand
6	Adam Birch	Defender	New Zealand
7	Sam Blackburn	Striker	New Zealand
8	Michael Wilson	Midfielder	New Zealand
9	Daniel Ellensohn	Striker	New Zealand
10	Luis Corrales	Striker	Costa Rica
11	George Barbarouses	Midfielder	New Zealand
12	Andy Barron	Midfielder	New Zealand
14	Darren Cheriton	Midfielder	New Zealand
15	Graham Little	Striker	Scotland
16	Raf de Gregorio	Midfielder	New Zealand
17	Wiremu Patrick	Midfield	New Zealand
18	Peter Halstead	Striker	New Zealand
22	Michael Eager	Midfielder	New Zealand
24	Phil Imray	Goalkeeper	England
Coach	Stu Jacobs

CANTERBURY UNITED

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	Adam Highfield	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
2	Glenn Squire	Defender	New Zealand
3	Andy Pitman	Defender	England
4	Bill Robertson	Defender	England
5	Michael Bothwell	Defender	New Zealand
6	Chris Morris	Midfielder	New Zealand
7	Michael Fifii	Midfielder	Solomon Islands
8	Blair Scoullar	Striker	New Zealand
9	David Walker	Striker	England
10	Stuart Kelly	Midfielder	Scotland
11	Tom Lancaster	Midfielder	New Zealand
12	Jeremy Wild	Defender	New Zealand
13	Rhys Parker	Defender	New Zealand
14	Darren Overton	Midfielder	New Zealand
15	Gavin Allott	Striker	England
16	Yusaku Okubo	Midfielder	Japan
17	Ryan Faichnie	Midfielder	New Zealand
18	Blair Duncan	Midfielder	New Zealand
19	Matt Boyd	Defender	New Zealand
20
21
22	Jordan Ashton	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
23	Gareth Turnbull	Striker	New Zealand
24	Danny Halligan	Defender	New Zealand
Coach	Danny Halligan

OTAGO UNITED

Number	Name	Position	Nationality
1	Liam Little	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
2	Nick Dale	Defender	New Zealand
3	Terry Phelan	Defender	Republicof Ireland
4	Tristen Prattley	Defender	New Zealand
5	Kevin Taylor	Defender	USA
6	Terry Alvino	Midfielder	USA
7	Robbie Deeley	Midfielder	England
8	Michael Flaws	Midfielder	New Zealand
9	John Lang	Striker	New Zealand
10	ChadSevers	Striker	USA
11	Andy Coburn	Midfielder	New Zealand
12	Aaron Burgess	Striker	New Zealand
13	Callum Flaws	Goalkeeper	New Zealand
14	Tom Connor	Midfielder	New Zealand
15	John Chisholm	Defender	New Zealand
16	Jesse Malloy	Midfielder	New Zealand
17	Croyden Wheeler	Midfielder	New Zealand
18	Mike Smith	Defender	New Zealand
19	Richard Smith	Striker	New Zealand
20	NickCape	Defender	New Zealand
21	Ben Keat	Midfielder	New Zealand
22	Morgan Day	Midfielder	New Zealand
Coach	Terry Phelan

The full NZFC draw is available on this website but please consult a relaunched www.nzfc.co.nz once the season commences for the latest info.

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