Cowan lured north to help lift KCU
The top Kapiti Coast United men’s side have reinforced their bid to avoid relegation by luring veteran Adam Cowan to the club.
Cowan joined the Capital Premier League side last month, two weeks after leaving Central Premier League team Wairarapa United.
He holds the ASB Premiership caps record, having played more than 160 games, mostly for the now-defunct YoungHeart Manawatu, but also for Team Wellington.
Cowan has played all over the pitch during his career, but has generally been used in the centre of midfield by KCU player-coach Magno Vieira.
He said he was lured to the club by Vieira, who he played with last year at Wairarapa United.
‘‘He was sort of pleading me to come. It’s cool. The boys are a laugh and we’re trying to pick up points where we can.’’
KCU sit nine points behind eighth-placed Miramar Rangers with five games to go. The bottom two sides are relegated.
Since leaving Wairarapa United, Cowan had been concentrating on building his house outside Palmerston North.
He commutes to play in the weekends, but does not train with the team.
Vieira said he was happy to bring Cowan in on a play-only basis, but hoped he would train with the team if he stayed next season.
‘‘The players seem to really enjoy playing with him.
‘‘He’s very composed on the ball, his passing is very good and his energy levels are awesome.
‘‘Even though he doesn’t train with us, he’s one of the fittest guys on the team. He can run all day.’’
Vieira said his side has struggled with injuries all season, and had only ‘‘12 or 13’’ fit players when Cowan joined.
His side needs to win all five of their remaining games to stand a chance of staying up, he said.
That mission starts with a game against fifth-placed Tawa at Redwood Park tomorrow.
Elsewhere, KCU women’s striker Vanessa Holmes netted her 100th goal during the 5-3 win over Victoria University at Wakefield Park on Saturday, weeks after becoming the first women’s player at the club to play 100 first-team games.
Holmes’s four-goal haul sent her women’s premier side second, four points behind Wairarapa United with five games to play.