Bunce pushing for change

DONNA WALSH/Waikato Times

CH-CH-CHANGES: Che Bunce wants football teams at Waikato Stadium.

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Che Bunce has been reappointed as Waikato FC coach for the 2010/2011 New Zealand Football Championship season, but he wants changes made.

Despite finishing last in the season which ended with a 4-2 defeat to Waitakere United on Sunday, and leading a team which won just three of their 14 games, the board have stayed true to their word of unconditional support and appointed the former All White for another season.

Bunce has previously told the Waikato Times the board needed to put plans in place as early as possible if they were to be competitive in coming seasons, and by naming their coach seven months before the next season starts, they have.

It is understood the board unanimously voted to stick with Bunce.

Board chairman Charlie Panakera yesterday said Bunce's appointment was due largely to a strategy to back locals and was a vote of support for Bunce who focused largely on using local players for the NZFC campaign.

"In the past we've spent too long looking for coaches, international coaches, coaches with names, but we were very happy with what Che did this year and the plan he developed this year and we want him to further develop it next year."

Meanwhile, Bunce said the Hamilton City Council must support the team if they were to attract top players and improve the quality of the side.

Bunce said the council should help pay for the use of Waikato Stadium – the best surface in the Waikato – for their seven home games.

Bunce said the Chiefs and Waikato rugby teams' training pitch was better than what Waikato FC played on at Ngaruawahia and they needed to play on a better surface if they were to play better football.

"They've just put down a superb new training pitch, it's better than what we play on."

Bunce said there was no gripe with Ngaruawahia Football Club or the work the club members did on Waikato FC's current home, Centennial Park, but his team needed better pitches to train and play on if they were to be competitive and improve.

"I'm trying to coach structure and shape and the ball's bobbling about and the guys can't even control it," he said.

The Government has given New Zealand Football $300,000 to help with the influx of players the sport's recent rise will attract, but Bunce said if plans weren't put in place, including pathways to top teams and first-class facilities weren't available, Waikato would miss out on making the most of that influx.

"[Waikato-Bay of Plenty Football] have a plan in place for a home of football, but that may take some time. We need something done now."

- © Fairfax NZ News