This weekend sees the start of the men’s National League as the three regional competitions, the Northern, Central and Southern League, get underway. 

But while it is the second season in the North Island, on the other side of Cook Strait it’s a full new Southern League season for the first time after a transitional year in 2021. 

The league is now formed of 10 sides who will all compete for the two precious National League Championship spots. But who come the end of the season is going to be celebrating?

One of the perennial favourites for qualification are Christchurch powerhouse Cashmere Technical. Winners of the 2021 Chatham Cup, Cash Tech have consistently performed in the South, winning qualification last season before the Championship phase had to be cut because of Covid-19. 

Strong throughout the side, it is the combined attacking threat of Garbhan Coughlan and Yuya Taguchi, who both scored twice in the 4-2 Chatham Cup win over Miramar Rangers, that other teams should watch out for. Both have been consistently prolific in recent seasons and will look to fire Cash Tech to the National League Championship. 
 

Selwyn United were the surprise of the season last year. Qualifying for the Championship phase on the last day of the season, it was a huge achievement which shocked many in the region. The team struggled in the South Central Series, the competition run with teams outside of Auckland and the Waikato due to Covid-19, but did have arguably the best goalkeeper in the league, MVP winner Pieter-Taco Bierema, who returns to the side. Qualification in 2022 is going to be a big ask but they are one of only two clubs in the league who have been there and done it. 

The team narrowly beaten for 2nd were South City Royals, now renamed Dunedin City Royals. They will be desperately looking to push on from their third place finish and bring National League Championship football down south. 

The Dunedin side will be looking to striker Ryan Flemming to continue his goalscoring record last season, which saw him score 6 goals in the 7 Southern League matches. The side have also picked up two players from Otago University, in midfielder Oban Hawkins and striker En Watanabe, after the team were not able to compete in the league this year due to club licencing requirements. 

Christchurch United are a club who fell short in last year’s competition but have ambitions of reaching the national stage as soon as they can. To help with this goal they have brough in one of the signings of the season in 19-year-old Jonty Roubos. The winger was the MVP in the Central League last season, scoring 8 goals in 18 games or Wairarapa United. If United can get him firing, they’ll have one of the biggest weapons in the league.

Christchurch United’s rivals in the open game are Coastal Spirit who will also be looking to build on an inconsistent first year in the competition, seeing them win 3 and lose 4. Coastal will look to Kenshin Hayashi to pick up from last season with the attacker scoring 5 in 7 Southern League games. 

Last year’s bottom two, Nelson Suburbs and Green Island AFC will he hoping to use the knowledge gained in 2021 to improve this season. Nelson Suburbs have brough in Central League experience with the signings of Jack Carter from Waterside Karori and Louis Thomas from Western Suburbs. For Green Island, getting attacker Cameron Anderson firing is critical to build on his 4 goals in 6 Southern League games. 

But it isn’t just about the teams who were involved last season. 2022 sees the introduction of three new sides in Ferrymead Bays, Mosgiel AFC and Nomads United. Time will tell how they take to the league but with a few weeks to go to formalise their squad all could still change in the South…

Article added: Friday 25 March 2022