Pukekohe AFC begin their NRF Community Division 1 season when they tackle Eastern Suburbs at Bledisloe Park in Pukekohe on Saturday.
The COVID-wasted 2020 season took a toll on the club and there has been quite a bit of turnover heading into this season.
Carl Bennett has taken over the reigns as manager and has assembled a new-look side.
“This is my first year in charge of the side – I wasn’t there last season,” Bennett told Counties Sports Hub.
“We lost a lot of players last season and have had to build a new team this year. It is a mix of young and old.”
Bennett has trialled a few things during a handful of pre-season fixtures in recent weeks but knows that the season begins in earnest on Saturday.
“This will be our biggest test yet obviously,” he said.
“We worked out our strongest formation [during the pre-season], what formation we want to play and we have been able to bring through some of our youth – we have five young players that we are giving a taste of senior football.”
The club has been boosted by the arrival of a talented South Islander that has moved to Auckland and signed to play this season.
“Liam Hare has come to us from the Coastal Spirit down in Christchurch. His a very good played – a central midfielder – and is going to be a very big part of our side,” Bennett explained.
“We have two young 17-year-olds that are coming through the club – Jackson Mills and Adi Sharma – and we are excited about what they will bring.”
And while Bennett doesn’t know a great deal about what the Eastern Suburbs side looks like he knows they will be a big test first up.
“To be honest I expect they’ll be a very strong side given they are one of the strongest clubs in the country.”
The match begins at 3pm.
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