National soccer league draw released

Waikato FC will christen their new home ground at Fred Jones Park in Hamilton by hosting the opening match of the 2010-2011 national soccer league against defending champions Auckland City on October 16.

The draw for the 14-round competition was released today, with Waitakere United hosting Team Wellington at Fred Taylor Park in west Auckland a day later in the only other match on opening weekend.

As has been the case for the last two seasons, the eight-team league will be contested over two full rounds with the top four progressing to a two-legged semifinals series, and the winners of those to a one-off grand final on April 16 or 17 next year.

There is increased focus on the development of youth players, with all matchday squads of 16 required to include two academy players and the minimum number of academy players in wider first team squads has increased by one to five.

The youth league, which alternates between an under-19 and under-20 league in line with the two-year Fifa under-20 World Cup cycle, allow teams to field two overage players from their first team squad for any match.

New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading said the national body was still working with A-League club Wellington Phoenix to create a challenge series, involving a Phoenix reserve team playing regular matches against the eight national league sides.

- NZPA