ISLAND LIFE

South Hobart soccer coach Ken Morton was understandably optimistic about his team’s chances at the start of this year’s National Premier Leagues season. The team entered the competition as defending champions and long-time frontrunners.

But after five games and with just one win, the pressure is on to “turn things around”.

“It’s a surprise that we are [currently] sixth on the ladder,” says Morton, who is shown here at Wellesley Park in South Hobart at the NPL season preview last month.

“We haven’t been able to win the games. We didn’t play very well in the opening match against the Zebras. Since then we have played some absolutely super football but have not been finishing the moves off.”

Launceston City is on the top of the ladder with 11 points followed by Devonport with 10 points and Hobart Zebras with nine points. South Hobart has five points.

Morton, who was a former professional English soccer player, has been a vocal proponent of Tasmania’s A-League bid and believes his team has the talent and motivation required to climb the ladder.

“We just have to turn opportunities into goals,” he says. “The spirit among the players is terrific. They understand that winning matches is what it’s all about, and they believe they can turn it around. There’s got to be a collective team spirit and I think we’ve got that at South Hobart.”

The team trains three times a week and has recovery sessions at Savoy Day Spa in Hobart.

“We need to keep their spirits up and keep playing the football we’re playing,” Morton says.

South Hobart versus Hobart Zebras at South Hobart Darcy St ground, Hobart, today at noon