Phoenix ready to fire
22/08/2007 12:00:00 a.m.
WELLINGTON College boy Tim Brown has captained the New Zealand All Whites, earned his stripes in the competitive American college league, and played professionally for the Newcastle Jets football team.
Now he faces a new challenge as vice captain of the Phoenix in Australia’s toughest football competition, the A-League.
The Phoenix take on reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory at the Westpac Stadium on Sunday. It’s a tough start for a young team that has just a sprinkling of experienced heads to guide them.
“That’s an important part of what Ricki [coach Ricki Herbert] has put together,” says Brown of the youthfulness of the squad.
“This is a group who is hungry to succeed.”
It’s a group that also appears to be gelling quickly. The Phoenix beat A-League giants Melbourne during a pre-season tournament (although that may mean little when the full-strength squads come together in full competition). At training last week, the team was smiling even when performing arduous fitness work.
“That’s probably because we were making fun of the trainer,” laughs Brown.
“There’s a great spirit. We are getting about our work in a positive way. Ricki does almost everything with a smile on his face.”
While he sees his vice captain’s role as to help inspire his teammates, the players are highly self motivated, Brown says. They know that after the failure of the Kingz and Knights it is unlikely a Kiwi team would be allowed back into the league should the Phoenix not make the grade.
“We know how important it is to get this right – for New Zealand football. It’s the last chance.”
Brown is currently coming back from injury and hopes to be selected for the match against Melbourne. If he is, there will be plenty of support for him in the stands.
Brown’s family live in Wellington, and coming home has meant bumping into people he knows on a daily basis. And it’s a testimony to the excitement building ahead of the opening match that nearly everyone wants to talk Phoenix football with him.
“Sometimes you want to say ‘I don’t talk about your job’,” he laughs.
He might be just the sort of inspiration the team needs to repeat their victory over the champion club. Under his leadership, the All Whites (also coached by Herbert) achieved an astonishing 2-2 draw against a star-studded Wales side in May.
“That was a bit of a career highlight for me. It was great to play against players like Ryan Giggs.”
Giggs is an inspiration to Brown, but if he could emulate a player, it would be Irish international and former Manchester United midfield hard case Roy Keane.
“More than just the player, it is the way he made people around him play better.”
Phoenix v Melbourne Victory, Wespac Stadium, 4pm, Aug 26.
Now he faces a new challenge as vice captain of the Phoenix in Australia’s toughest football competition, the A-League.
The Phoenix take on reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory at the Westpac Stadium on Sunday. It’s a tough start for a young team that has just a sprinkling of experienced heads to guide them.
“That’s an important part of what Ricki [coach Ricki Herbert] has put together,” says Brown of the youthfulness of the squad.
“This is a group who is hungry to succeed.”
It’s a group that also appears to be gelling quickly. The Phoenix beat A-League giants Melbourne during a pre-season tournament (although that may mean little when the full-strength squads come together in full competition). At training last week, the team was smiling even when performing arduous fitness work.
“That’s probably because we were making fun of the trainer,” laughs Brown.
“There’s a great spirit. We are getting about our work in a positive way. Ricki does almost everything with a smile on his face.”
While he sees his vice captain’s role as to help inspire his teammates, the players are highly self motivated, Brown says. They know that after the failure of the Kingz and Knights it is unlikely a Kiwi team would be allowed back into the league should the Phoenix not make the grade.
“We know how important it is to get this right – for New Zealand football. It’s the last chance.”
Brown is currently coming back from injury and hopes to be selected for the match against Melbourne. If he is, there will be plenty of support for him in the stands.
Brown’s family live in Wellington, and coming home has meant bumping into people he knows on a daily basis. And it’s a testimony to the excitement building ahead of the opening match that nearly everyone wants to talk Phoenix football with him.
“Sometimes you want to say ‘I don’t talk about your job’,” he laughs.
He might be just the sort of inspiration the team needs to repeat their victory over the champion club. Under his leadership, the All Whites (also coached by Herbert) achieved an astonishing 2-2 draw against a star-studded Wales side in May.
“That was a bit of a career highlight for me. It was great to play against players like Ryan Giggs.”
Giggs is an inspiration to Brown, but if he could emulate a player, it would be Irish international and former Manchester United midfield hard case Roy Keane.
“More than just the player, it is the way he made people around him play better.”
Phoenix v Melbourne Victory, Wespac Stadium, 4pm, Aug 26.
