The cosmopolitan nature of Tasmania’s State leagues will see import players continuing to perform pivotal roles this weekend.
Nearly a quarter of a century after Japan and South Korea hosted a FIFA World Cup, the nations have provided a handful of talented players in our senior Statewide competitions.
Japanese compatriots Kazuki Hashimoto and Shota Fujishiro have both been among the McDonald’s NPL Tasmania goals for Launceston City while South Koreans Minhee Kim, Haeun Kim and So Young Lee are making themselves at home in Kingborough’s Women’s Super League side.
City coach Daniel Syson said the new arrivals have helped galvanise his squad with several players even learning some Japanese.
“Kaz and Shota are superb. They’ve been brilliant, we’re really pleased with them,” he said.
“Shota had a knee injury pre-season but he’s probably had two or three games where he’s played 90 minutes and he’s just super sharp, has both feet and is aware of spaces.
“And I can’t talk highly enough about Kazuki. He’s one of the best imports I’ve come across in terms of his application, his ability and mentality. He’s been a real asset to the group.
“They’re definitely fitting in really well and it’s great to have them as part of the team.
"As a whole there’s a different feel to the team this year. They’re doing a lot more together. It seems like it’s more of a tight-knit group.”
It is a similar story at Lightwood Park where Lions coach Simon Edwards said his Korean trio plus English pair Hannah Walsh and Tilly Wills have provided a whole new dynamic, particularly after losing Cara Lashmar to a season-ending broken fibula.
“We’ve really had three different groups across the squad where we’ve got our English imports who come with their DNA, we’ve got our local DNA and then we’ve got the Korean DNA,” Edwards explained.
“It’s certainly been challenging as a coach, how to find the middle ground and glue all that together but the girls are starting to gel culturally. The Koreans are really fitting in and bringing their humour into the group. It’s been a great experience for some of our other players to learn through that process and what it means to have internationals in the group.”
Kingborough’s WSL opponents this weekend are ready for the international challenge having built their team around three imports from one of the host nations for next year’s World Cup.
American centre-back Olivia Bekeleski, attacking midfielder Emily Funseth and winger Sara Klott are leading Taroona’s quest for a first win of the campaign.
“They definitely bring a competitive edge for us,” Taroona coach Riley Pitchford said.
“When you bring imports in, there’s an expectation that they’ll compete at a higher standard and they definitely do.
“But they also fit into our culture really well and bring a new level of intensity to training which has been a key thing for us and we’ve been really impressed with the other players stepping up around them.”
In NPL Tasmania, Launceston City will host a Kingborough side seeking inspiration from yet another continent.
Pacy Chilean forward Emanuel Ponce is fast finding his feet with the Lions, starring in a 3-0 win against his former team Riverside with one goal and two assists for strike partner Noah Mies.
“Those two are certainly starting to work each other out and that bond will only get better,” Lions captain Eli Luttmer said.
“Poncey is fitting in really well. He’s a big character and he’s taken well to the group. I think it took a couple of games, and whether it was because it was up against his old side or not, but Riverside was probably the best game he’s played for us so far.”
A first-half onslaught saw City win the sides’ Lakoseljac Cup quarter-final 4-0 last weekend but the Lions’ three wins this season have all come against Northern opposition in Devonport, Riverside and Launceston United.
City go into the third-versus-fifth encounter having scored 20 goals already and their solitary loss coming courtesy of an own goal against Devonport.
NPL Tasmania Round 5
Saturday, April 26
2.15pm Riverside Olympic v Glenorchy, Windsor Park
2.30pm Launceston United v Devonport, Birch Avenue
4.45pm Launceston City v Kingborough, Prospect Park
Sunday, April 27
2.30pm Clarence Zebras v South Hobart, Wentworth Park
Women’s Super League, Round 5
Saturday, April 26
12.15pm Launceston United v Devonport, Birch Avenue
2.30pm Taroona v Kingborough, Kelvedon Park
4.30pm Riverside Olympic v Glenorchy, Windsor Park
Bye: South Hobart