Central United have flown star striker Emiliano Tade halfway around the world to give their front line some added bite in tomorrow's Chatham Cup final against defending champions Cashmere Technical.
The 26-year old Argentine was enjoying a six-week family holiday in Europe when Central progressed to the final, and the club quickly requested that their most dangerous attacking weapon cut his trip short.
Tade, who won the golden boot in last season's national league, will provide a cutting edge to Central's attack which has been lacking in his absence.
Central, who sit in mid-table in the 10-team Northern Premier League, have scored only 23 goals in 16 league games this season, the majority of which have been without Tade. But when the Auckland City striker plays, they are a different beast. He scored eight times in Central's four Cup games preceding his holiday and will likely be the best striker Cashmere have faced this season.
"Since he left us we have been dominating games and creating chances but not putting the ball away and Tade gives us that killer instinct in the final third," said Central coach Jose Figueira.
"He's got a terrific turn of pace but also great perception in the final third, especially dribbling and attacking players one on one. It's hard to read him and tell if he's going to shoot or set someone else up and that is all really underpinned by his awareness."
Central will also be reliant on the experience of veteran centre back Ivan Vicelich, who has four Chatham Cup winners medals and has never lost in a final. Vicelich will anchor the back four with support from Auckland City team mates Takuya Iwata and Dae Wook Kim.
"We can't hide the fact that guys like Ivan Vicelich and Taku will be really important for us on the day," said Figueira. "They've played in countless big games, they've come off the back of a fantastic season at Auckland City on their clean sweep and are big game players."
It will be a big day for Central's third choice goalkeeper Blaz Blugarin who gets the call-up with regular custodian Oliver Sail in Doha with the Junior All Whites and Jacob Spoonley away on holiday.
Cashmere have lost only one game since hoisting the Cup last year and their formidable backline packed with Canterbury United national league players have conceded only 10 goals in 21 games in the Mainland Premier League.
They swept aside Onehunga Sports 4-0 in a one-sided semifinal and boast a host of experienced players like former Auckland City midfielder Stu Kelly and All White Aaron Clapham.
Clapham, with talented striker Ash Wellbourne, were a class-above when they dismantled Onehunga, and their exciting partnership combined with a bevy of players with national league experience makes Cashmere slight favourites to win.
Tade, Iwata, and Vicelich apart, the Central team bears little resemblance to the squad which beat Lower Hutt City 6-1 in the 2012 final, with the bulk of this year's players having come through the club's U19 ranks.
In the Women's Knockout Cup final Forrest Hill Milford United AFC take on Glenfield Rovers in a curtain raiser at 11am.
- By Steven Holloway of the New Zealand Herald
