2012 Pre-season kickabouts have begun

The 2012 Manakau FC training regime has begun.

But we are doing it slowly, starting with a gentle kickabout at the Manakau School  at 4pm on Sunday afternoons for 60-90 minutes.

Based on the general state of those that attended the first one last Sunday I can categorically state the Christmas was obviously good to the players with lots of cold ham cuts and Christmas pudding. Yes Kimbal, Jamie, and Chris - I'm talking about YOU !!

Now it's time to work those extra pounds off by chasing the football around.

So dig out those old boots - and be at the next kickabout :
 Manakau School - 4pm - Sunday 22nd January 2012.

2011 Sannazzaro Shield - Veterans win 3-2

Manakau Football Club 2011 Sannazzaro Shield Participants

Age and Experience proved to be more than a match for Youth in the Sannazzaro Shield match played to bring down the curtain on the 2011 Football season for Manakau FC as the Veterans outlasted the "kids" to win 3-2.

The players arrived at the Manakau Domain in a rather haphazard fashion, and as usual  it was mainly the "youngsters" who were late to the game, as evidenced by the pre-match photograph where experience was obviously to the fore.

A quick arrangement of the sides determined that the cutoff age for the two sides was about 31-32 years, and even then the "youngsters" were down to the bare minimum of 11 players and an empty bench.

That suited the Vets just fine and after a settling down period of play, James Wylie grabbed the only goal of the first half to give the Veterans a 1-0 halftime lead - while Vets goalkeeper Chris Georgetti saved a penalty from Atain Halley - after a dodgy refereeing decision.

In the second half the goals from Brian, and Jamie Lamplough gave the Vets a 3-0 lead before another Vets goal was ruled out - for a rather minor reason ... it was the referee who had provided the cross!

Towards the end the youngsters got a goal back via Mark Tiumalu-Faleseuga, and right at the final whistle the referee tried to balance the books awarding another dodgy, dodgy penalty which Atain this time converted.

A quick word with the referee ensured that the final whistle occured fairly shortly afterwards and the Veterans claimed the inaugural Sannazzaro Shield by a 4-2 ... ahem ... 3-2 scoreline.

Man of the Match : Vets goalkeeper Chris Georgetti

2011 Awards - Player of the Year - Paul Kulhavy

Paul Kulhavy dusted off the old football boots and got back onto the park, and #46 played a key role in the Manakau Hui Mai's midfield in 2011 - winning Player of the Year.

He wasn’t the fastest midfielder, but PK's skills lay in an ability to read the game, close off lanes, mark his man, and anticipate opposition plays, in order to make sure that Manakau dominated the centre of the pitch.

Although rarely seen in attack, PK did manage to get forward for corners and scored a couple of goals with his head when the opponents weren't looking the right way.

2011 Awards - Player of the Year - Ben Henry

Ben Henry had an outstanding football season in 2011 for Manakau FC's Hotel side and he was rewarded with the  Player of the Year shield at the recent awards night.

Ben was a fixture in the Hotel side throughout the season, and displayed an ability to strike from distance, typified by a stunning goal he scored from the edge of the penalty area against Levin at Donnelly Park in June.

A well deserved award for a top player!

2011 Awards - Players Player of the Year - Mark Tiumalu-Faleseuga

Manakau Hui-Mai had an extremely strong defensive line-up this season - and holding it all together at centre-back was Mark Tiumalu-Faleseuga who was a rock.

Solid in the air, strong in the tackle, and very quick when he needed to be, Mark simply made sure that the opposing centre-forwards had little chance of ever seeing the football during the game.

So it was no surprise that his team-mates voted Mark the Hui Mai 2011 Players Player of the Year.

2011 Awards - Players Player of the Year - Simon Ryding

Manakau Hotel's stylish centre-back Simon Ryding was the popular choice for Players' Player of the year for the division three side.

Simon started the season well with three man-of-the-match performances during May, and his efforts all over the pitch were acknowledged in the team votes for this award. 

Simon was also a regular at the post-match functions, and if even HALF of his stories about what happened on the pitch were true then Manakau may have found the new Franz Beckenbauer.

Well played Sir!

2011 Awards - Find of the Year - Chris Temperton

Chris "Crash" Temperton was outstanding in defence during 2011 and was an obvious choice for the "Find of The Year" is his debut season of football.


Crash only started playing football this year - and immediately made himself an indispensable member of the Hui Mai defensive back four with his tenacious defending and uncanny ability to pick the right time to make the tackle.

Chris also showed an ability to get forward and create goalscoring chances for his team mates, and was responsible for four assists this season.

Given the huge progress made in 2011, it would not be a surprise to see Crash take his football to the next level in 2012, and start getting his name on the scoresheet as well.