Manickum eager for more

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 25 June 2021

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Patience and perseverance are paying off for Dylan Manickum after the tricky forward bagged a hat-trick in last week's Chatham Cup win over Tauranga City AFC.

Manickum, 29, joined the Navy Blues three seasons ago and has scored 27 goals in 63 appearances for the club but has found first team opportunities sporadic this season.

Despite that, Manickum is third in the list of club top scorers with eight goals to his name this season, level with the injured Emiliano Tade and five behind Angus Kilkolly who has grabbed 13 in 13 games.

Manickum's treble against Tauranga City AFC showed he's lost none of his sharpness in front of goal as he reflected.

"The first one came from a great piece of play by Jordan Vale. Jordy delivered a good cross and there was a little rebound and I was able to put it away, I probably should've scored with the first connection, to be honest.

"The second took a little deflection and wrong footed the keeper," he said.

While his first two goals were typical finishes, the third was different class, Manickum hitting a 30 metre strike into the top right corner of Ben Pamment's net.

"The last one from distance - well, we were 6-2 up and there's nothing to lose by having a go.

"You have to think about power and technique but I had actually lost the ball a moment before and went to go and win it back.

"When I grabbed a hold of the ball, I heard the ref say there was two minutes to go, so I thought 'why not take the shot' and I'm pleased I did," he said.

While Manickum was enjoying his personal milestone within a good team performance he said it was vital the team reacted positively after going down 1-0 early on.

"We gifted Tauranga City the goals they scored but we showed a good response after going behind.

"Going in 4-1 up at halftime showed a good reaction and a good performance," he said.

With all the focus on City's third seven goal haul this season, Manickum took time to praise team-mate Angus Kilkolly for his scoring exploits and equalling Keryn Jordan's ten-in-a-row scoring sequence.

Kilkolly's run has been met with criticism in some quarters for being at a lower level than Jordan's and while that remains true, Manickum said critics were missing the point.

"Angus has done very well. He's a real work horse and he's been working hard for the team and scoring an unbelievable amount of goals.

"It's great for Gussy he's been working away at his game for years and he's a really good guy to have around the place.

"He's a great trainer and its good to see him scoring the goals.

"Angus' scoring run is a great achievement - I challenge you to find any player on the scene today who is scoring at the rate he is.

"We're behind Gussy 100 percent and to score in ten games in a row in the National League or Northern League is difficult to accomplish at any time.

"I said to Gussy, even if you go on and score in 15 games in a row there are other players who aren't doing that at this level because its difficult to acheive.

"It's a great achievement and he should enjoy that and keep it going," he said.

Manickum's backing of his team-mate can't hide his own ambition and nor should it.

The futsal player with the silky skills is still tucking away a decent number of chances himself and its clear where he wants it to lead for him.

"I've scored five goals in two games and I'm hoping I can get a start next week and hopefully get a regular run of games," he said.

Auckland City FC's next game is away to Manukau United in the Northern League and kicks off at 3.00pm NZDT on Saturday 26 June 2021.

Ends

Match Details
Northern League
Saturday 26 June 2021
Manukau United v Auckland City FC
Centre Park, Mangere
Kick-off: 3.00pm NZDT

AC: 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Reid DRAKE, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Aidan CAREY, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 19. Ilham HAMEEDI, 20. Addison STEWART, 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Cam BROWN (GK). 

COACH: José FIGUEIRA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON
S&C COACH: Adria CASALS
ANALYST: Jarrod WALLACE
ANALYST: Dan GORDON

HONOURS (as MANGERE UNITED)
Northern League Division Two 2002, 2010
Northern League Division Three 2001

HONOURS (as MANUKAU CITY)
Northern Premier League runner-up 1989
Northern League Division Two 1968, 1970, 2016
Northern League Division Three 1981

CURRENT FORM
v. Melville United (A) lost 3-5 (Maro BONSU-MARO, Moses DYER 2)
v. Auckland City FC (A) lost 1-3 (Sanni ISSA)
v. Auckland United (A) drew 2-2 (Sanni ISSA, Armin PASAGIC)
v. Bay Olympic (A) lost 3-4 (Moses DYER, Sanni ISSA 2)
v. Eastern Suburbs AFC (H) lost 0-3
v. Northern Rovers (H) won 2-0 (Sanni ISSA, Armin PASAGIC)
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) lost 1-2 (Maro BONSU-MARO)
v. West Coast Rangers (H) won 3-2 (Maro BONSU-MARO 2, Armin PASAGIC)
v. Western Springs (A) lost 1-2 (Maro BONSU-MARO)
v. North Shore United (H) drew 1-1 (Keegan LINDERBOOM)
v. Claudelands Rovers (A) won 5-4 (Armin PASAGIC 2, Andre ESTAY 2, Mohammed SHAH) - CHATHAM CUP 2nd ROUND
v. Birkenhead United (A) drew 2-2 (Armin PASAGIC, Andres ESTAY)
v. Melville United (H) lost 0-1
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) lost 0-5 - CHATHAM CUP 3rd ROUND

PLAYER TO WATCH
Take your pick! Armin Pasagic has emerged as Manukau United's mainstay striker with six goals while former Navy Blues frontman Maro Bonsu-Maro has chimed in with five. The loss of Sanni Issa to Birkenhead United was a big blow for Manukau United although also in reserve is another former City player Keegan Linderboom who is still finding his feet in Northern League after a spell overseas as a professional.

OTHER RESULT

TUESDAY 22 JUNE 2021
Eastern Suburbs AFC 0-0 North Shore United 

OTHER FIXTURES:

SATURDAY 26 JUNE 2021
Hamilton Wanderers v Birkenhead United
Bay Olympic v Auckland United
North Shore United v West Coast Rangers
Northern Rovers v Melville United
Eastern Suburbs AFC v Western Springs

ABOUT MANUKAU UNITED
Manukau United Football Club is a community-led partnership project providing an accessible pathway from grassroots to elite football in South Auckland. The club's community engagement programmes connects with thousands of school students annually and United work with a wide range of organisations, businesses and community groups to achieve positive community outcomes. Manukau United believes diversity is a strength and hopes to inspire other clubs, codes and sporting bodies to embrace a more inclusive and equitable sporting environment for everyone in Aotearoa.

LOTTO NRFL PREMIER DIVISION
The club was formed following a merger between Mangere United and Manukau City in 2018. They finished a creditable fourth place in their breakout season in the Lotto NRFL Premier Division and followed it up with a mid-table finish in 2019. Manukau United finished fifth in last year's Lotto NRFL Premier Division with the then Kevin Fallon-coached side picking up three wins, two draws and two defeats in a campaign ended abruptly by Covid-19 lockdowns in Auckland.

CHATHAM CUP
They have had two Chatham Cup runs with their first in 2018 ended by Cashmere Technical in the sixth round after United had defeated Hamilton Wanderers (3-1), Three Kings United (3-0) and Mount Albert Ponsonby (3-1) in previous rounds. In 2019, Manukau United thrashed Onerahi 13-0 in their Third Round tie, defeated Glenfield Rovers 4-2 before bowing out to Bay Olympic (0-3) in the Fifth Round.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
18.10.20 v Manukau United FC (A) won 2-0 (Jordan VALE, Abdulbaset KHALIFA)

BIGGEST LEAGUE WIN
Manukau United 8-1 East Coast Bays, 2019

BIGGEST LEAGUE DEFEAT
Manukau United 2-6 East Coast Bays, 2018

BIGGEST CHATHAM CUP WIN
Manukau United 13-0 Onerahi, 2019

BIGGEST CHATHAM CUP DEFEAT
Manukau United 0-3 Bay Olympic, 2019

 

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