Confidence high ahead of match

Belief is growing within Southern United.

Five games into the national football premiership the side is beginning to click.

As it prepares to play the lowly Wellington Phoenix Reserves — still searching for their first point — confidence is high within the group.

That comes after last weekend’s 3-1 win over Tasman United, in which it played the majority of the game with 10 men.

"It kind of galvanises the group and gives everyone a real boost," coach Paul O’Reilly said.

"Sixty-five minutes with 10 men is a bloody long time.

"Especially in the conditions; the pitch was very slow and challenging in the physical perspective.

"But I thought we were well worth our 3-1 win — it’s given the group belief."

While results had been a "mixed bag", O’Reilly was happy with the performance of the side.

He felt some of the new signings had shown their value and praised Tony Whitehead, Abdulla Al-Kalisy and Ben Deeley after the weekend’s performances.

Attracting top players to the region — and keeping hold of the top locals — had been a challenge during his three years.

Having a small budget and being so far away from the rest of the country were the biggest obstacles.

O’Reilly’s solution was to try to create an environment that players felt they could develop their games in.

"I think we’re getting really close — it’s still a challenge for various reasons.

"We don’t have the biggest budgets and people are attracted to the big cities and the bright lights of Wellington and Auckland.

"But I think we’ve improved in that area."

Al-Kalisy had been a key signing in that regard, as had Deeley, who returns to the federation after spending his latter school years in Auckland.

Taieri College pupil Rory Findlay was another who had broken into the senior team.

He was now looking to remain in Dunedin for university, with the football opportunities an attraction.

That environment was also creating a positive vibe in the team.

O’Reilly said the group was one which had to work hard to get results.

However, he said it was important to do that in an enjoyable way.

The side will look to take that mindset into this weekend’s game at Newtown Park in Wellington.

While the Phoenix had struggled so far, O’Reilly said its squad could vary from week to week. That meant it could  be a very tough game and it made planning difficult.

The side would be without Omar Guardiola and Sam Pickering through injury, while Markus Fjorfort misses the game through suspension.

 

National  football  premiership
Southern Utd v Phoenix Res

Newtown Park, Wellington
Tomorrow, 3pm

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