Nothing achieved yet - Tribulietx

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 26 January 2018

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC's return to form is down to experience and resilience - but coach Ramon Tribulietx says nothing is accomplished yet.

The Navy Blues climbed back to the top of the ISPS Handa Premiership with back-to-back 2-0 away wins over minor title chasers Canterbury United and Eastern Suburbs AFC at a time where defeat would've seen them fall five points behind first place.

Goals for Emiliano Tade and Micah Lea'alafa ensured a valuable victory and instead has Tribulietx's side searching for a hat-trick of away wins when they take on bottom-placed Hamilton Wanderers at Tauranga's Links Avenue on Sunday.

While Hamilton Wanderers have yet to pick up a win in 12 matches, Tribulietx describes the match as far from straightforward.

"This game is a difficult one for a lot of reasons particularly after two very tough games at Canterbury and Easts. This is tough for players mentally and physically and you have a long bus trip to face to get to Links Avenue.

"Hamilton Wanderers have made some big improvements to how they play and they've made some good signings in Tommy Semmy and Jerahl Hughes. Tommy and Jerahl are two very quick and explosive players who can make an impact on a match.

"Semmy is the archetypal Pacific Islands forward in terms of his qualities as a player - he's very strong and quick, he's technically competent and capable of very good moments with spontaneity that can catch teams by surprise - he's a player we need to be aware of.

"They also have Armin Pasagic playing up front so Hamilton Wanderers area decent team that I believe can pick up more points in the second half of the campaign than what they have to date," he said.

Hamilton Wanderers have not won in 22 matches stretching back to December 18, 2016, when they beat Hawke's Bay United 6-4 at Waikato Stadium. Since then Mark Cossey has been replaced by former All Whites coach Ricki Herbert but even that has not been enough to cause a change in fortunes.

Last season Auckland City FC faced Hamilton Wanderers twice in the space of five days with the Navy Blues romping home with a 5-0 away win at Porritt Stadium then 4-1 at Kiwitea Street.

Tribulietx hopes his Navy Blues can replicate last season's run to the minor title by picking up more points in Tauranga.

"Our squad switches on when the going gets tough and there's a resilience there. The players have been through these tough situations many many times both in New Zealand and in international competition so pressure is nothing new to them.

"They are very competitive under trying circumstances, particularly in a defensive sense and its a quality we have worked very hard on to reach. That said its important we keep going and put the last two results into perspective - they are only a pair of games and there are more to come," he said.

Injuries continue to hamper the progress of four players with Dan Morgan's return to action taking longer than expected while Danyon Drake remains on the long term injury list following the FIFA Club World Cup last year and has been released from his contract. 

Owen Parker-Price is at least 2-3 weeks away from a possible return to action and it is a situation continually being monitored by Navy Blues backroom staff. Kris Bright is also unavailable with a groin complaint.

New signing Sam Burfoot could see action in the next few weeks with Tribulietx impressed by his fitness levels after signing in the transfer window.

"Sam has come back into the squad with a decent fitness level to be fair to him. He's looked after himself very well and there is a bit mopre maturity in his football from what I've seen to date.

"We'll hopefully see him on the pitch soon if things continue to go well and he keeps showing the same quality in his football that he has so far."

Another new face to throw into the mix is former All Whites midfielder Cole Peverley. Peverley returns to Auckland City FC colours 11 years after he first signed for the club in what kickstarts his second spell with the Kiwitea Street outfit. 

Peverley, 29, was a key figure in guiding Team Wellington to their first ever ISPS Handa Premiership title win in 2016 and featured at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. 

He won his only All Whites cap in a FIFA World Cup qualifier with Fiji in 2009 and was drafted into the All Whites as injury cover for Tim Brown prior to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa eight years ago. 

His extensive football CV includes spells with Charleston Battery, Hansa Rostock, Canterbury United, Hawke's Bay United and Team Wellington.

Harshae Raniga, who has trained with the club since September last year, has won himself a contract following the departure of Daewook Kim to round off a busy period of transfer activity for the club.

The match kicks off at 4.35pm on Sunday 28 January 2018 and is live on Sky Sport.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Premiership
Sunday 28 January 2018
Hamilton Wanderers v Auckland City FC
Links Avenue, Tauranga
Kick-off: 4.35pm NZST
#HWvAC

AC (from): Zubikarai (GK), Iwata, Rogers, Bilen, Berlanga (c), Riera, Hudson-Wihongi, Howieson, White, Burfoot, Tade, McCowatt, Tavano, Lea'alafa, R. Drake, H. Edge, Wilkins, Graham , Dordevic, Tracey (GK), Peverley, Raniga. 

Injured: Parker-Price, Bright, Morgan, D Drake (GK) - released.

Coach: Ramon Tribulietx

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