Squad on a roll
The soccer season is almost under way and for the newly formed Tokoroa Association Football Club Youth Team it promises plenty.
The Tokoroa youth team formed by former first team players Darren Manthy and Bryan Chesterman aims for a higher level of competitive soccer for its players.
Following the end of the 2011 soccer season, co- coach Bryan Chesterman formed a representative youth team for a one- off game against a strong Tokoroa reserve side. Chesterman said the aim was to ‘‘ showcase local talent who had impressed through their football season’’. The team turned heads with a 2-nil winning performance and as a result, with the support of Tokoroa AFC, the team officially entered under the Tokoroa AFC banner in the senior men’s league.
Comprising students from Putaruru College and Forest View and Tokoroa high schools, the youth team have been training solidly and shown impressive form, defeating the Pukekohe under 17s 3-1 in their first pre-season game. Following this performance the youth team displayed great determination and effort when they beat the Tokoroa Reserve team 1-nil two weeks ago.
Ultimately the aim of the youth team is to ‘‘prepare these young men for the calibre of soccer which awaits them in club football’’, said Manthy.
He said the youth team would enable future Tokoroa soccer development.
The soccer season, starting in April, will give the team a chance to exercise their talent. With promising early form, the coaches are confident the boys will be more than competitive in the senior men’s league.
With outstanding parent support and management the team have already displayed superb form. Their third pre-season match against Rotorua U19s was a top effort. After dominating the first half 2-1 the final score was 4-2 to Rotorua.