Waitakere name O-League Squad

Waitakere United has today confirmed with Oceania Football the 30 man squad for the O-League and from which 23 will be chosen for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December.

Waitakere United Head Coach Chris Milicich has kept faith with the bulk of the players that served him so well last season.

“There was no need for drastic overhaul of the squad. Once again we have a great blend of experience and youth with a number of our academy players a year older, a year stronger and year wiser as they learn the ropes at senior level.

“The chance for the likes of Tim Myers, Ian Hogg, Ash Solly and Jacob Mathews to rub shoulders with Danny Hay, Neil Emblen and others is a fantastic one for them and will help their development enormously.

“This club is committed to developing young players and has poured considerable time and resource into our academy, last year’s national youth league victory is in part testament to that.

“We played Hawkes Bay on the weekend with an U20 back four of Hogg, Myers, Scott and Solly and won 5-0, so these players are not included just for show, they can play.

“But we are also committed to winning and that means those young players get to learn from the best and most experienced players we can find that will fit into out team culture. The likes of Danny Hay, Neil Emblen, Neil Sykes, Jonathan Perry and Paul Seaman fit that bill perfectly and will once again provide great leadership in training and during matches.”

Benjamin Totori returns as expected from his spell in America with Portland Timbers while Fijian youngster Roy Krishna is ready to take part in all action this year after being signed too late last season to play in the O-League.

The highest profile name not to be included is Commins Menapi with Milicich agreeing to let the Solomon Islands international go after long discussions in the off season.

“Commins is getting towards the end of his career and wanted more game time. I have no issue with a player asking this but in the same breath it is something I cannot guarantee so reluctantly I let Commins look elsewhere. He has served us superbly over the past few seasons and goes with our best wishes.”

Also missing from the squad is Jason Hayne as he too looks for a regular starting position in the NZFC.

 Waitakere United O-League 30 man squad

No.

First Name

Surname

Position

Last Registered

Status

1

Richard

Gillespie

GK

Waitakere United

 

2

Jonathan

Perry

D

Waitakere United

 

3

Aaron

Scott

M

Melville United

 

4

Timothy

Myers

D

Waitakere United

Academy

5

Danny

Hay

D

Waitakere United

 

6

Hone

Fowler

D

Waitakere City FC

 

7

Daniel

Ellensohn

M

Waitakere City FC

 

8

Paul

Seaman

M

North Shore United

 

9

Benjamin

Totori

S

Portland Timbers USA

 

10

Allan

Pearce

M

Waitakere City FC

 

11

Neil

Sykes

M

Waitakere United

 

12

Roy

Krishna

S

Labassa Fiji

 

13

Daniel

Koprivcic

S

Papatoetoe

 

14

Jeff

Campbell

M

East Coast Bays

 

15

Chris

Bale

M

Waitakere United

 

16

Neil

Emblen

D

Waitakere City FC

 

17

Jake

Butler

M

Waitakere United

 

18

Ian

Hogg

D

Auckland City

Academy

19

Mikael

Munday

D

Waitakere City FC

 

20

Jason

Rowley

D

Waitakere City FC

 

21

Kayne

Vincent

S

Cerezo Osaka - Japan

 

22

Danny

Robinson

GK

Hamilton Wanders

 

23

Cory

Hitchen

M

Waitakere City FC

 

24

Ash

Solly

d

Waitakere City FC

Academy

25

Blair

Konik

S

Waitakere City FC

 

26

Jonathan

Key

m

Lynn Avon United

 

27

Jacob

Mathews

S

Auckland City

Academy

28

Sean

Dowling

GK

Eastern Suburbs

 

29

Adriano

Pimenta

M

CA Bragantino

 

30

Matthew

Wallace

M

Waitakere City FC

 

 

Team Management

 

 

 

 

 

Chris

Milicich

Head Coach

 

 

 

Grant

Robertson

Manager

 

 

 

Carl

Jorgensen

Academy Coach

 

 

 

Gene

Granger

GK Coach

 

 

 

Graham

Routledge

Kit Manager

 

 

 

Wendy

Brown

Physio