Verweij getting the goals from midfield

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 16

Verweij getting the goals from midfield

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DAVID LEGGAT

. National soccer recognition could not have come at a more appropriate time for Trans Tours United’s outstanding midfield player, Johann Verweij. Called into the New Zealand squad late last week for the International against Australia in Auckland tonight, Verweij fully deserves the honour and becomes United’s third representative in the squad. He has scored 13 goals in United’s 12 Rothmans League matches this season, just under half United’s total goal tally. As a bonus, he is cn expert penalty taker, giving United two of the country's best men from the spot — the other is lan Park. He is easily the country’s leading goal-scorer in the league, a remarkable achievement for a midfield player. Yet success has not come easily for Verweij. He has worked hard at his game and this, combined with a fairly generous helping of natural talent, has brought its rewards. The New Zealand-born Verweij spent three years in the Linwood High School first X! and he regards 1973 as one of his most tr.'morable years. He led Linwood to victory in the national secondary schools’ championships on Linwood’s grounds, beating Shirlev Boys’ High School, 2-0, in the final. Then he was a member of the Christchurch United national youth cup side which beat Papatoetoe, 6-5, in an extraordinary final, to win the cup in its inaugural year. In that final, United trailed, 1-4, but dramatically recovered to lead, 6-4, before Papatoetoe pulled back a late goal. That United team included Mark McNaughton, now with Newmans Nelson United, Neville Petrie, the Woolston W.M.C. goal-keeper, and Steve Sumner, Ver-> weij’s United — and now New Zealand — teammc'.x

In 1974, Verweij played for the United reserve team, so often the breeding ground for future national league players. The team won the competition that season, winning 17 of its 18 matches and drawing one. Verweij was one of four United plavers to be selected for the national under-21 side that year,

the others being Sumner, Laurie Biyth and Kees Doorn enbal.

Verweij’s selection was largely based on the fact that he had been averaging over two goals each game during that season. In December, 1974, he travelled to the Nethelands and spent six months with Sparta Rotterdam, a wellknown first division club. A chance meeting with the then New Brighton coach, Ken France, at Christchurch Airport on his return resulted in Verweij joining Brighton to get his first real taste of national league soccer. He had. in 1974, sat on the bench during United’s 2-0 win over Wellington Diamond United in the Chatham Cup final in Christchurch. Verweij played three full games for Brighton in 1975, scoring once, in his first match against his old

club. Brighton had a poor season, finishing second from bottom, but in 1976 it had a successful year. It ended in fourth place, winning 10 of its 18 matches, and Verweij contributed seven of the team’s 31 goals. In addition, it was beaten in the semi-final of the cup. However, disaster hit the club the following year, when it was one of three South Island clubs relegated. It began well, beating North Shore, the eventual title-winner, and Hamilton, which finished fourth, in its first three matches. But inconsistency marred the season, two examples being losses by margins of 7-3 and 5-1 against W.D.U. and Eastern Suburbs respectively. In analysing that season, Verweij, who scored nine times, believes a combinaation of factors affected the team. “We lost some silly points but I think we were a bit unlucky. In 1976 we were an enthusiastic side. Mike Glubb got 11 goals and both Graham Dacombe and I also got goals. We

just did not click in 1977, and the scoring dried up. “There were some bad decisions which went against us but there was not enough depth in the squad. At times it reached the stage where we could not afford anv injuries at all.” In November that year, Verweij made his second overseas trip, meeting up with the Nelson goalkeeper, Richard Wilson, in England. Wilson had left a month earlier and tried his luck at Brighton and Plymouth. The pair moved on to Rotterdam where they had much more luck than they expected. The famous Dutch club, Feyenoord, put them on trial for three weeks before signing the pair. Verweij is full of praise for the efforts of Wilson. “Feyenoord was very friendly to us. It was a tremendous experience.

Richard did well and I was surprised they did not sign him on pemanently. There was a shortage of goal-keepers but unfortunately the club was having trouble with small crowds and they decided to release some players.” Wilson and Verweij stayed with the club until the end of the northern winter, training twice a day. Once a week they practised with the first team and Verweij has since learnt that some of the players they trained with have gone on to make a name for themselves with the club’s top side. Verweij is enjoying this season with United and is quite happy playing a midfield role instead of being a front-runner. “I prefer coming through from the midfield. Strikers tend to get picked up quickly but now I have the chance to go forward a lot.” However, he is not without his critics, who say his defensive work is not strong enough and his work-rate is not as high as it could be. Verweij is aware that in

pre-season games his opponent often eluded him and, on one occasion, scored as a result of Verweij’s poor marking. “I am concentrating on not letting the man get away from me in the penalty area. Brian Hardman has helped me quite a bit but it is still something to work on.”

Yet Verweij could not be faulted for his offensive play. He is strong in the air, has fine ball control, an ability to beat an opponent and a fierce shot from around the edge of the penalty area. Now that Verweij has been selected for the national side, one of his ambition has been fulfilled. To take that wish a step further, he would now like to do well for New Zealand, and to improve as a player and help United to a league or cup win this year.

These aims should be well within the reach of this modest 23-year-old, who is shaping up as one of New Zealand’s brightest soccer prospects for many seasons.