Waitakere United prepare to defend Youth League title
Thursday 12 February 2009, 11:51AM
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Waitakere United may be on track to defend its NZFC title and is right in the mix once again the Oceania Champions League and this weekend will begin the defence of their National Youth League title.
Waitakere United Director of Youth Development Neil Emblen and Youth League Coach Darren Bazeley have assembled a strong squad, one with experience from previous competitions but importantly, one that also has NZFC experience to call upon.
Emblen is excited about the season.
“When I first arrived at Waitakere this was an important part of my work and focus, bringing the young players through and developing them in the Youth League.
“This is a quality group of young players. They will be well led by the likes of Tim Myers, Jacob Mathews and Ash Solly, all of whom have played in the NZFC this year. Plus there is exciting young talent in the side, the likes of Zane Sole who was also brought into the wider NZFC squad in the January transfer window.”
But Emblen and Bazeley stress that winning the league is a goal, but not necessarily the ultimate objective with players of this age.
Bazeley explains.
“Our priority is first and foremost to develop players and give them a strong grounding in the skills they will need to succeed, on and off the park. My role is as much mentor as it is coach, teaching the players how to cope with the demands of high level football, traveling to away games and preparing to give your best performance each week.
“The aim is for these boys to finish the season having learned a great deal about the game and about themselves. Some silverware on the way is an added bonus and would be nice of course but our objective is to prepare young players for senior football and to identify key areas of their games that need attention.”
Waitakere begin their title defence with an away match against Hawkes Bay on Sunday and then a short trip to Auckland Manukau before playing their first home match at Fred Taylor Park on February 28 against Auckland City.
The top two teams in round robin will qualify for a two leg final, to be played in late March early April.
2009 Waitakere United National Youth League Squad
|
# |
First Name |
Surname |
Club |
|
1 |
Max |
Tommy |
Bay Olympic |
|
2 |
Julyan |
Collett |
WCFC |
|
3 |
Skye |
Parmenter |
Takapuna |
|
4 |
Timothy |
Myers |
Waitakere United |
|
5 |
Anthony |
Hobbs |
Glenfield Rovers |
|
6 |
Michael |
Boardman |
Albany United |
|
7 |
Pomare |
Te Anau |
Bay Olympic |
|
8 |
Peter |
Norris |
Lynn Avon United |
|
9 |
Thomas |
Edwards |
Glenfield Rovers |
|
10 |
Jade |
Mesias |
Central United |
|
11 |
Michael |
Built |
Hamilton Wanderers |
|
12 |
Jason |
Hicks |
Glenfield Rovers |
|
13 |
Brenton |
Lovelace |
Bay Olympic |
|
14 |
Sam |
Clark |
Birkenhead United |
|
15 |
Keegan |
Linderboom |
WCFC |
|
16 |
Andrew |
Forshaw |
Glenfield Rovers |
|
17 |
Ryan |
Elder |
Bay Olympic |
|
18 |
James |
Lawson |
Birkenhead United |
|
19 |
Dakota |
Lucas |
Waitakere United |
|
20 |
Gordon |
Murie |
Birkenhead United |
|
21 |
Kenji |
Nakamura |
Metro FC |
|
22 |
James |
Powell |
North Shore United |
|
23 |
Ashton |
Pett |
Bay Olympic |
|
24 |
Ash |
Solly |
Waitakere United |
|
25 |
Zane |
Sole |
Waitakere United |
|
26 |
Peter |
Shaw |
Albany United |
|
27 |
Jacob |
Matthews |
Waitakere United |
|
28 |
Stefan |
Marinovic |
Central United |
|
29 |
Anton |
Yee |
Bay Olympic |
|
30 |
Thomas |
Boss |
Bay Olympic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management |
|
|
|
|
Neil |
Emblen |
Director of Youth Development |
|
|
Darren |
Bazeley |
Youth Team Coach |
|
|
Malcolm |
McPherson |
Youth Team Asst Coach |
2009 National Youth League Draw
|
Round |
Date |
Kick Off |
Home |
Away |
Venue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
15-Feb |
13:00 |
Auckland City |
Auckland Manukau |
Kiwitea Street |
|
1 |
15-Feb |
12:00 |
Hawkes Bay United |
|