Phoenix hoping for quarantinefree trip

WELLINGTON: The Phoenix men's team is still to confirm its departure date for Australia for the new ALeague season.

The Nix are about a fortnight away from heading to Australia, where they will base themselves for the start of the campaign.

However, with New South Wales set to open its borders, they will delay their flights to early November if it means a lesser or no quarantine.

Coach Ufuk Talay told Australia’s 7 News they would use Football NSW's facilities as a training base and were exploring shared accommodation in Chatswood in the city's north.

He said they hoped no quarantine would be required.

Talay will take a number of academy players with him.

Loansigning Matthew Bozinovski, Reno Piscopo and new midfielder Nicolas Pennington have been unable to travel to New Zealand due to the border rules.

‘‘I've got two players in Melbourne and one in Italy. It'd be nice to get the whole squad together so we can work as a team,’’ Talay told 7 News.

The Phoenix were based in Wollongong last season, but it is understood the side found it less than ideal.

Talay is still to confirm a captain following the retirement of Steven Taylor last month.

‘‘Still thinking about that, it will also depend on how we go in preseason and who wants to step up and the opportunity is there for a player to step up.’’

‘‘We need a leader by example. Tails [Steven Taylor] was good in the changing room, he spoke with a lot of players, so for me it’s someone who is going to step up and who you can rely on week in and week out to be able to perform as well.

‘‘We'll make that decision in the next couple of weeks.’’

He is hoping to have two visa (foreign) players signed in the January transfer window — a central defender and a No 10.

The Phoenix have preseason games every weekend until they leave, with their first ALeague game against Macarthur FC in Campbeltown on November 21. — Radio New Zealand