Sova prepares to tackle challenges

The YoungHeart Manawatu coaching job was advertised but, as most suspected would happen, current coach Bob Sova has been reappointed.

Sova has signed on for his third term as coach on a one-year basis with right of renewal.

He took the team to third in the league in 2008-09, or, as he says, within 15 minutes of the grand final. YoungHeart Manawatu was fifth last season.

Three years ago, he was the assistant coach to Shane Rufer.

The franchise is also advertising for a youth academy manager-coach, who will work closely with Sova. The academy was started last year.

Without a New Zealand Football grant from the world club championships this year, YoungHeart Manawatu won't be as well resourced as in previous seasons.

Manawatu won't have that on their own; provincial teams such as Waikato, Otago and Hawke's Bay will probably be the same.

"I certainly think there will be some real challenges but we will not be the only ones to suffer," Sova said. "It will be harder.

"We want to be competitive for this season and we'll be trying in every game to do our best."

The gaps between the provincial sides and the two in Auckland, Auckland City and Waitakere United, which are probably better funded, could widen.

Once Sova receives a budget, he will know what he can pay for players and for accommodation. The franchise costs more than $330,000 a year to run.

He wants players to live in Palmerston North rather than commute from other centres. Players from out of the region have asked to come and play for the side.

"If they are serious, they would have to come and live here," he said.

Training starts in mid-September for a season start on November 7, so he has about six weeks to assemble a team. Players such as goalkeeper Ross Nicholson, in Auckland, New Zealand Football Championship golden boot Seule Soromon and defender Colin Falvey in the United States are keen to come back. Matt Smith and Graham Craven are overseas.

Sova's prime goal is to get the off-field organisation of the team sorted so everything is viable by 2012.

YoungHeart general manager Kevin Monk said he was on the verge of signing the new NZFC licence. One of the stipulations is that every squad must contain five academy (under-19) players and two must be on the team sheet for each game.

- © Fairfax NZ News