October 12, 2024 • 8 mins
The upcoming A-League season is set to get underway - with Auckland fans having their own team to support this time round.
In eight days, Auckland FC will make their public debut on the field - and the team's determined to prove themselves in their new role.
Auckland FC coach Steve Corica joined Piney to discuss ahead of kick-off.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
One week to go until the New A League Men's
season is underway. One week until the competition's newest club,
Auckland FC, make their debut.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
In fact, it's only six days Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
They take on Brisbane Raw at go Media Mount Smart Stadium,
five o'clock kickoff. Head coach of Auckland FC is Steve Coricker,
who joins US now. Steve six days out from the
start of the season, would you say you're where you
wanted to be.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I think when you start a new club it takes
a lot of time. Obviously players, to bring in staff,
just everything. It takes a lot of time.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
We've finally got all our players in so a little
bit later than we expected, especially with the foreign players.
We had a few come in about three weeks ago
and one just arrived this week, so.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
You know, I'd like them to have a little bit
more time with the boys.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
But all in all, I think it's been a very
good preseason for us and the boys.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Have you really taken on board what we're trying to
do and really improved as the season.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
As the preseason went along, so we're happy where we
are at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What have been the biggest challenges over the last few
months as you've basically built a squad from scratch.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, it's been it's been a real challenge, but
a really exciting one. This was part of the reason
why I wanted to come here, to be involved in
something new and fresh for me obviously being at one
club for nineteen years, and to do it with obviously
tear them at Flynn and obviously Nick Becker. You know,
we started the three of us started very similar as
(01:46):
times and you know we've put together twenty six players,
fourteen staff, fifteen fourteen or fifteen staff and obviously now
in Knicks team as well in the office staff there's
been twenty twenty staff members so all in what eight
nine months really, so I think we've done.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Really well to get to where we are.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
Now is the time that for the football side of
things is where we where we start and you know,
we want to obviously get off to a good start
against Brisbane and get three points and there's a lot
of talk that it might be sold out the stadium, which.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Is obviously fantastic for our first game and it.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Just shows the support that you know we will have
here if we do really well.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
By my account, Steve eighteen of your twenty six Kiwi's
how intentional was that?
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Yeah, well that was a bit of a brief from
the owner as well. He wanted as many Kiwi players
as possible. You know, he wants to give them opportunities,
you know, and I think with the wider group that
that he does own other football clubs, he wants to
give them opportunities obviously to do well here in Auckland
and then if they are really good, well then they
can move to another club that you know that he owns.
(02:58):
That's you know, that's he wants to. He loves New Zealand.
He's spoken about it before. He has obviously restaurants and
bars here and why and you know he really likes
it here. So he wants to give opportunities for young
Kiwi players to come through.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
You've watched a bit of our national league, quite a
bit of national league to bring some players on board,
be a full time or scholarship players. When you're watching
New Zealand's national league for players you might recruit, what
are you specifically looking for to give you comfort that
they can make the step up to A league.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
I think, you know, we sort of look at the
positions that we were looking for at the time, and
you know, in the position is obviously a certain criteria
that we are looking for. You know, as a winger,
we want them to be able to dribble, we want
them to be able to score goals, we want to
create opportunities to be able to cross the ball. So
there's all different things for different positions. I was quite
(03:54):
surprised actually because obviously coming here, I didn't know too
much about the well the Northern League which we got
most of our players from, and then obviously they've gone
into the National League.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Now. I was surprised with.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
The standard and some really good talented young players I
think you're going to see come through that and into
our into our squad, and I think, you know, we've
we've got quite a number of players that haven't played
in the A League before and they've come from obviously
the Northern League, and I'm excited to see what they're
going to do.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Give it the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Well that's your New Zealanders, and of course you've got
a sprinkling of Australians as well. But what about the imports, Steve,
you must have literally hundreds of players pitched to you.
How do you narrow that list down and then make
your recruitment decisions about your imports?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Yeah, you know they come from everywhere.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Agents, you know, send a lot of players. We we
just got to filter through. Obviously, we have a criteria
that we look for that as well. You know that course,
he's ahead of recruitment as well. We have platforms that
we work through as well that we get players sent through.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
And you know, it's just a process and that's that's
why it's probably taken a little bit longer than expected.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
But you know, when you're dealing with twenty six players,
you know you expect that. But the foreigners normally come
later than everyone else. But for me, they've probably come.
You know, it's taken us a little bit more time
to get them once. Let's let's say that with visas
and all that kind of stuff as well. You know
we need visas from Australia and New Zealand, not just
from one country, so.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
It takes time.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
But we're pleased with the foreigners that we have, and
you know, the ones that have been playing, you can
see them obviously they weren't fit when they got here.
They've been here three weeks and you know they're starting
to step it up now, which is which is great.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Ready for the ready for the start of the season.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
What if you looked to try to achieve in your
preseason matches.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Well, we wanted to obviously play against A League teams,
which you know we had to go to Australia for that,
which was fantastic for us.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
To have of the opportunity to go to Sydney. We've
played against I think it was.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Three teams in Sydney that was our first taste of
a league and then obviously we went to Melbourne we
played against WEELB the city were the anoited. So we've
seen now you know, five teams of the A League
where we had to improve and where we were and
at that stage where we didn't have any of the foreigners,
so we competed really well. I think, you know, the
(06:28):
boys should be happy where we are at the moment.
You know, we played Malaysia, the Asia national team yesterday
and really had a fantastic performance. So you know we're building,
we're getting better as which we as we expect from
a new team. We expect to get better each game
and improve as the season goes along.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Have you decided on your captain?
Speaker 5 (06:52):
I have, yes, it'll be probably named next week we
started the season. We'll we'll announce that as a club
as we you know, obviously get closer to the season.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Look forward to that and a lot of talk about
keewe Darby. Steve, I'm sure you've picked up on this,
but have you also got a bit of an eye
on round two when Sydney FC, the club you spend
all that time at as a player and a coach,
when they come to Aortland there's like a mini Darby
for you.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Yeah, it will be but and obviously the Wellingter game
is going to be something special as well. But to
be honest with you, I think my focus is on
one game, the Brisbane game only, and you know we've
got a bit of work to do this week on Brisbane.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
You know they're a good young.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Team and they have a lot of pace as well,
so you know we will work only on Brisbane and
then obviously myself I have in the back of my
head obviously Sydney and Wellington and what we need to
get ready for them.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
But right now it's mainly the Brisbane game.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, well I'm hearing the same things you are about
Nick Saturday, Steve a sellout and coming at Mount Smart
sounds some of your wonderful occasion. Thanks for taking the
time this afternoon, all the beasts you put your final
touches of preparation on your team.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Thanks very much, Jason cheers, No, thank.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
You, Steve.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Steve Coriker their head coach of Auckland FC. So yeah,
they're obviously well on track. Be interesting to see who
their captain is. I get the feeling it could be
Hiroki Sakai. They're highly experienced Japanese defender. I don't know
anything more than I'm just having a guess. There are
a couple of other candidates, but I wonder whether he
might get the armband. I guess we'll find out in
(08:25):
due course.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
One week to go until the New A League Men's
season is underway. One week until the competition's newest club,
Auckland FC, make their debut.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
In fact, it's only six days Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
They take on Brisbane Raw at go Media Mount Smart Stadium,
five o'clock kickoff. Head coach of Auckland FC is Steve Coricker,
who joins US now. Steve six days out from the
start of the season, would you say you're where you
wanted to be.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I think when you start a new club it takes
a lot of time. Obviously players, to bring in staff,
just everything. It takes a lot of time.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
We've finally got all our players in so a little
bit later than we expected, especially with the foreign players.
We had a few come in about three weeks ago
and one just arrived this week, so.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
You know, I'd like them to have a little bit
more time with the boys.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
But all in all, I think it's been a very
good preseason for us and the boys.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Have you really taken on board what we're trying to
do and really improved as the season.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
As the preseason went along, so we're happy where we
are at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What have been the biggest challenges over the last few
months as you've basically built a squad from scratch.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, it's been it's been a real challenge, but
a really exciting one. This was part of the reason
why I wanted to come here, to be involved in
something new and fresh for me obviously being at one
club for nineteen years, and to do it with obviously
tear them at Flynn and obviously Nick Becker. You know,
we started the three of us started very similar as
(01:46):
times and you know we've put together twenty six players,
fourteen staff, fifteen fourteen or fifteen staff and obviously now
in Knicks team as well in the office staff there's
been twenty twenty staff members so all in what eight
nine months really, so I think we've done.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Really well to get to where we are.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
Now is the time that for the football side of
things is where we where we start and you know,
we want to obviously get off to a good start
against Brisbane and get three points and there's a lot
of talk that it might be sold out the stadium, which.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Is obviously fantastic for our first game and it.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Just shows the support that you know we will have
here if we do really well.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
By my account, Steve eighteen of your twenty six Kiwi's
how intentional was that?
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Yeah, well that was a bit of a brief from
the owner as well. He wanted as many Kiwi players
as possible. You know, he wants to give them opportunities,
you know, and I think with the wider group that
that he does own other football clubs, he wants to
give them opportunities obviously to do well here in Auckland
and then if they are really good, well then they
can move to another club that you know that he owns.
(02:58):
That's you know, that's he wants to. He loves New Zealand.
He's spoken about it before. He has obviously restaurants and
bars here and why and you know he really likes
it here. So he wants to give opportunities for young
Kiwi players to come through.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
You've watched a bit of our national league, quite a
bit of national league to bring some players on board,
be a full time or scholarship players. When you're watching
New Zealand's national league for players you might recruit, what
are you specifically looking for to give you comfort that
they can make the step up to A league.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
I think, you know, we sort of look at the
positions that we were looking for at the time, and
you know, in the position is obviously a certain criteria
that we are looking for. You know, as a winger,
we want them to be able to dribble, we want
them to be able to score goals, we want to
create opportunities to be able to cross the ball. So
there's all different things for different positions. I was quite
(03:54):
surprised actually because obviously coming here, I didn't know too
much about the well the Northern League which we got
most of our players from, and then obviously they've gone
into the National League.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Now. I was surprised with.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
The standard and some really good talented young players I
think you're going to see come through that and into
our into our squad, and I think, you know, we've
we've got quite a number of players that haven't played
in the A League before and they've come from obviously
the Northern League, and I'm excited to see what they're
going to do.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Give it the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Well that's your New Zealanders, and of course you've got
a sprinkling of Australians as well. But what about the imports, Steve,
you must have literally hundreds of players pitched to you.
How do you narrow that list down and then make
your recruitment decisions about your imports?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Yeah, you know they come from everywhere.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Agents, you know, send a lot of players. We we
just got to filter through. Obviously, we have a criteria
that we look for that as well. You know that course,
he's ahead of recruitment as well. We have platforms that
we work through as well that we get players sent through.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
And you know, it's just a process and that's that's
why it's probably taken a little bit longer than expected.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
But you know, when you're dealing with twenty six players,
you know you expect that. But the foreigners normally come
later than everyone else. But for me, they've probably come.
You know, it's taken us a little bit more time
to get them once. Let's let's say that with visas
and all that kind of stuff as well. You know
we need visas from Australia and New Zealand, not just
from one country, so.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
It takes time.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
But we're pleased with the foreigners that we have, and
you know, the ones that have been playing, you can
see them obviously they weren't fit when they got here.
They've been here three weeks and you know they're starting
to step it up now, which is which is great.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Ready for the ready for the start of the season.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
What if you looked to try to achieve in your
preseason matches.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Well, we wanted to obviously play against A League teams,
which you know we had to go to Australia for that,
which was fantastic for us.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
To have of the opportunity to go to Sydney. We've
played against I think it was.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Three teams in Sydney that was our first taste of
a league and then obviously we went to Melbourne we
played against WEELB the city were the anoited. So we've
seen now you know, five teams of the A League
where we had to improve and where we were and
at that stage where we didn't have any of the foreigners,
so we competed really well. I think, you know, the
(06:28):
boys should be happy where we are at the moment.
You know, we played Malaysia, the Asia national team yesterday
and really had a fantastic performance. So you know we're building,
we're getting better as which we as we expect from
a new team. We expect to get better each game
and improve as the season goes along.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Have you decided on your captain?
Speaker 5 (06:52):
I have, yes, it'll be probably named next week we
started the season. We'll we'll announce that as a club
as we you know, obviously get closer to the season.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Look forward to that and a lot of talk about
keewe Darby. Steve, I'm sure you've picked up on this,
but have you also got a bit of an eye
on round two when Sydney FC, the club you spend
all that time at as a player and a coach,
when they come to Aortland there's like a mini Darby
for you.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Yeah, it will be but and obviously the Wellingter game
is going to be something special as well. But to
be honest with you, I think my focus is on
one game, the Brisbane game only, and you know we've
got a bit of work to do this week on Brisbane.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
You know they're a good young.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Team and they have a lot of pace as well,
so you know we will work only on Brisbane and
then obviously myself I have in the back of my
head obviously Sydney and Wellington and what we need to
get ready for them.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
But right now it's mainly the Brisbane game.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, well I'm hearing the same things you are about
Nick Saturday, Steve a sellout and coming at Mount Smart
sounds some of your wonderful occasion. Thanks for taking the
time this afternoon, all the beasts you put your final
touches of preparation on your team.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Thanks very much, Jason cheers, No, thank.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
You, Steve.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Steve Coriker their head coach of Auckland FC. So yeah,
they're obviously well on track. Be interesting to see who
their captain is. I get the feeling it could be
Hiroki Sakai. They're highly experienced Japanese defender. I don't know
anything more than I'm just having a guess. There are
a couple of other candidates, but I wonder whether he
might get the armband. I guess we'll find out in
(08:25):
due course.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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