Ifill to juggle dual roles at Tasman
Player first, assistant second.
Former Wellington Phoenix star Paul Ifill has rejected offers from two other teams to re-sign with Tasman United for the 2017/18 ISPS Handa Premiership. But the 37-year-old will not just play for Tasman next season, he will also act as assistant to coach Davor Tavich.
The foundation captain said he was happy to juggle the dual roles as his playing career continues to wind down but stressed that his on-field commitments will remain his No 1 priority.
‘‘Davor made it clear to me that I was a player first. I didn’t want to go anywhere where I was an assistant first if I’m honest,’’ Ifill said.
‘‘I need to get myself fit obviously and if I’m fit and performing then he said he’d play me and that’s cool, but obviously it’s no shock that I am getting older and at some point I’ll have to hang my boots up. I don’t think I’m there yet but I would imagine over the next couple of years you get more and more injuries and you will be playing less so at that point I’ll be coaching and sitting on the bench with Davor. Touch wood that doesn’t happen [this season] though and it’s more playing than anything else.’’
Ifill was genuinely excited to be working alongside Tavich, a coach who he said rekindled his love for football. The Nelson College director of football was the mastermind behind a huge form reversal last season, Tasman earning 10 points from a possible 15 once he replaced Richard Anderson.
Ifill flourished under his guid- ance too, scoring seven goals in five games to finish as the team’s top goal-scorer.
‘‘To be honest there were times where I thought ‘what the hell am I doing?’ I felt we didn’t play to any of our strengths in that first bit of the season and I had one goal,’’ he said. ‘‘I came down here and I was supposed to be the main goal threat and I was playing centreback or if I was playing up front it wasn’t like I had bundles of chances.
‘‘At the end of the season I thanked Davor for basically reinvigorating my love for football. I know it sounds a bit corny but honestly he did. It wasn’t just down to Richard, the environment was just wrong and I thought ‘why am I still doing this?’ I thought maybe it was time to call it a day and just play in the Central League.
‘‘But the way we finished, boy, it was exciting. To see what we can do with a clean slate next season and knowing what Davor wants and how he works was basically the selling point for me.’’
After finishing in eighth place with a record of four wins, five draws and nine defeats, Ifill said he felt that Tasman did not do themselves justice in their inaugural season. Although he admitted that ‘‘it’s not going to be easy’’, particularly as they need to replace starters Coey Turipa, Ermal Hajdari and Tinashe Marowa, Ifill was hopeful that season two would be more successful than the first.
‘‘I felt we had the makings of a team, as we showed in the final five games of the season, and it’d be nice to see what we can do when we start the season afresh and see where that can take us ... I’ve spoken to Davor and I know who he’s looking at getting in so if we do get them I think we’re going to be a better team than last year, even at the end of the season where we did do well.’’
Ifill is currently playing for Wairarapa United in the Central League. He has scored 15 goals.