D6 WEEKENDSPORT Saturday, March2, 2013 THE PRESS, Christchurch FOOTBALL Accolades timely for Dragons First Toronto test Tony Smith SQUADS Clapham, Darren White and Russell Kamo. for coach Nelsen Canterbury United got a confi- ‘‘They have a very strong ■ Canterbury United: Adam dence boost ahead of tomorrow’s collective, can defend well high or Fred Woodcock if Toronto start the season as they Highfield, Danny Knight (gks), national football league semifinals deep and they have momentums in finished the last, but for now he Dan Terris, Louie Bush, Tom with their coach and top scorer their games where they can hold Ryan Nelsen wouldn’t mind appears relaxed and content. Schwarz, Julyan Collett, Nick winning major awards. possession really well, they are a another five or six weeks of pre- His major challenge has been Wortelboer, Darren White, Aaron All White Aaron Clapham won very competitive team,’’ Tribulietx season himself but he’s declared coming to terms with salary caps. Clapham, Josh Smith, Andy the February player of the month told the premiership’s website. his Toronto FC players ready for ‘‘That’s probably the one thing I Barton, Chris Murphy, Ken award and Keith Braithwaite Canterbury tried to play a their Major League Soccer season was most inexperienced in, look- Yamamoto, Russell Kamo, Ash picked up his second coach of the pressing game high up the pitch opener in Vancouver tomorrow ing at Toronto’s salary cap and Wellbourn, Nathan Knox. month accolade of the season. against Auckland in their last (NZT). how it’s been handled,’’ he said. ■ Auckland City: Tamati Williams Four Canterbury Dragons — encounter and scored the opening The former All Whites captain ‘‘I have found it interesting and (gk), Simon Arms, Takuya Iwata, Clapham, goalkeeper Adam High- goal. But Clapham said the makes his coaching debut in the challenging in a good way, trying James Pritchett, Ivan Vicelich ©, field, left back Nick Worteloer and Dragons ‘‘died after 30 minutes and Canadian derby, about a month to navigate through that. Once you Chris Bale, Manel Exposito, striker Russell Kamo — were again after 20 minutes of the after joining Toronto following his get an idea of what you can do then Gustavo Souto, Daniel Koprvicic, selected in the team of the month. second half’’. retirement from both English you can start thinking of solutions Alex Feneridis, Adam Dickinson, Canterbury’s individual awards ‘‘But since then we’ve come into Premier League and international that are going to benefit the club in Albert Riera, Pedro Santa Cecilia reflected a golden month for the some good form and our fitness is football with New Zealand. the short and long term.’’ Garcia, Emilano Tade, David Dragons with three victories and a really good. It makes the pressing a He said the past few weeks had Toronto head into the season Browne, Andrew Milne, Dean draw in their last four ASB little bit easier.’’ been challenging as he got to grips after six consecutive years without Lausev. premiership games. Clapham’s sole focus is helping with the demands of professional playoffs football since the club’s ■ Kick-off: 2pm. They ended the round-robin last Canterbury reach the premiership coaching, such as learning the inception in 2007. They were weekend with a 3-2 win over final, but he confirmed he is still club’s infrastructure, recruitment, bottom in the 19-team league last Waitakere United in Auckland, look to build up from the back. We keen to get an A-League contract scouting and assessing the players season, with a five-win, eight- snapping the defending cham- have to have a completely different with the Wellington Phoenix. he already had on his books, not to draw, 21-loss record. But Nelsen is pion’s 16-match unbeaten streak. game plan against them.’’ The door seemed closed to the mention preparing the squad for taking time to recruit the squad he Braithwaite acknowledged con- Auckland beat Canterbury 5-2 All White while Ricki Herbert was the season. wants, suggesting there will be fidence was high for tomorrow’s in the opening game of the season in charge at the Phoenix, but his ‘‘For me, I wish pre-season some player movement during the semifinal first leg against Oceania and followed up with a 3-1 win at resignation this week could give could go on for another five or six next few months. He has already champions Auckland City at English Park in January where Clapham an opportunity. weeks, but the guys are ready, leaned on his connections in English Park. But he stressed the Canterbury struggled for fitness, He said playing professional they’re organised and they’re England, this week signing former key was ‘‘making sure we carry communication and decision- football remained his personal goal really looking forward to it,’’ the Queens Park Rangers team-mate on’’ from the performance against making. But both Braithwaite and and thought he was a player who 35-year-old said. Hogan Ephraim, a midfielder- Waitakere. Clapham believe the Dragons have could suit ‘‘the direction [the Phoe- ‘‘It’s an easy job on the striker, on loan till June. Clapham, who scored seven improved since then. nix] are trying to go and the way sideline.’’ Nelsen is the club’s eighth head goals in the last four rounds, Clapham has a lot of respect for they want to play’’. He was having a lot of fun and coach and his lack of coaching almost makes headlines on the odd Auckland’s ball players, but he But all he could do was play as described his early days of experience or qualifications has occasion he’s not in the team of the said Canterbury ‘‘probably match well as he possibly could in the coaching as a ‘‘different kind of been a hot talking point in Toronto month. up a little bit better against them premiership. stress’’ to playing. but his supporters believe his The 26-year-old midfielder is a [than Waitakere].’’ Braithwaite said Canterbury ‘‘It’s one of the best jobs in the inspirational leadership qualities regular selection. Braithwaite said Auckland had will finalise their starting lineup world. As a player, I didn’t have and ability to get the best out of He said Auckland presented ‘‘a many top players from captain after a training session today, but fun when I was playing. It’s a job, people outweigh those factors. completely different challenge’’ to Ivan Vicelich at the back through he admitted he had a few selection there’s stress, pressure, people The Reds had mixed results in Waitakere and the Dragons had to to Danko Koprivcic up front. headaches. watching and expecting. pre-season recently, including los- make sure they adjusted to their His Auckland counterpart, Most coaches are reluctant to ‘‘There were people who could ses to Major League Soccer sides style. Ramon Tribulietx, is also wary of change a winning team but centre- never get close to doing your job Columbus Crew (1-0), Philadelphia ‘‘Waitakere have a lot of pace up the Dragons’ firepower. back Tom Schwarz is back after critiquing you every day. That’s Union (3-0) and Kansas City (1-0) as front and guys who can win a game ‘‘Canterbury have some players serving a one-game ban. Captain life. As a coach, it’s a different type well as a 3-3 draw with Kansas City in an instant. Auckland will play that can make things happen by Dan Terris returned from injury to Focused: All White Aaron Clapham won the February player of the month award. of stress.’’ and a 3-0 win over third-tier side with a lot more patience and will themselves with the likes of Aaron deputise for Schwarz last week. He may have a different outlook Orlando City. Auckland City’s Spanish coach ‘definitely interested’ in Phoenix job Sam Worthington Tribulietx, who previously football. But at the moment I have ‘‘Obviously the Central Coast be a challenge, but I think I’m with City in May. With a month of has said he is not ready. Ernie played and coached in Spain’s a job to do and a very important Mariners are a very good side and ready for something like that, you this season remaining, the Phoe- Merrick, who coached Melbourne Auckland City’s Spanish mentor, third division, is committed to one in the semifinals of the ASB we managed to get a result so that know. Obviously the way we play nix have time to sift through Victory to two titles, is keen to Ramon Tribulietx, has declared possession-based football, which Premiership [with the first leg was a great experience.’’ at Auckland City right now, and plenty of CVs before settling on return to the A-League and his interest in becoming the next fits snugly with the Phoenix’s against Canterbury United tomor- Tribulietx played as a ‘‘deep- for the last three seasons, it’s their new man. unsuccessfully applied for the coach of the Wellington Phoenix. proposed philosophy. row]’’. lying No 10’’ in the Spanish third possession-based football. We try Former Phoenix assistant coach Sydney FC job won by Frank The 40-year-old from Barcelona ‘When asked if he had ambi- The A-League would be a big division before earning his coach- to look after the ball and delay the Luciano Trani has already fired off Farina mid-season. has made a good impression since tions to replace Ricki Herbert, step up for Tribulietx, although he ing stripes with UE Sant Andreu, forward pass and hold possession his resume, while All Whites assis- But the arrival of Carlos Her- arriving in New Zealand five years Tribulietx said he was ‘‘definitely coached City to a 3-1 win against UE Figueres and UE Castelldefels.