Football Ferns centurion Katie Duncan has graced some of the global game’s biggest stages but her talents will be on show in suburban Auckland on Saturday afternoon as she leads Onehunga Sports into a Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup campaign.

The midfielder, one of only eight people to play over a hundred games for New Zealand, has entered a new phase in her career as player-coach of Sports and is looking to plot a path past Central United, whom her side is set to face tomorrow at Kiwitea Street.

As an AFF/NFF Conference outfit, Onehunga are not among the favourites to lift the trophy but could be dark horses to put together a decent run as there is no shortage of top-class experience in the squad.

Duncan is joined in the line-up by her wife and fellow former Fern Priscilla Duncan while another ex-international, Melissa Ray, is currently injured but will be on hand to offer her valuable advice and encouragement from the sideline.

“It would be great to go all the way but I’ll just tell the girls to take it game by game and, if we end up in the final, then great. But for the minute we’ll focus on tomorrow’s game against Central and then we’ll see what happens after that,” Duncan says.

A winner is tricky to pick in this second round encounter as Sports and Central are in the same division and boast similar records this season. They have each won four matches so far and are locked on points in a league Duncan describes as closely fought.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the level in the Conference, I thought it was actually going to be lower. And our league is really competitive, you never know what is going to happen each weekend – results can fluctuate and the top of the table can be beaten by the bottom,” she says.

“That’s great to see because, from personal experience of playing in the premier grade, you usually have two or three teams who are always going to be up there. Every competition should ideally strive to have a tough game every week and that’s what we’re getting.”

While the experience of the Duncans and Ray – who have nearly 150 international appearances between them – is key to the prospects of Onehunga, the side is not made up solely of wily veterans. There is also a promising sprinkling of young talent, at the forefront of which is Mt Albert Grammar School student Jayna Bennett, just 17.

“We get the young ones to run around a bit more than the oldies,” jokes Duncan.

Still only 30 herself, Duncan returned to New Zealand after a lengthy professional career overseas, which took in stints in Australia, Denmark, England, Germany and Switzerland. Now a school teacher, she is relishing the chance to pass on her knowledge to those looking to follow in her footsteps.

“Being a player/coach is obviously a bit different to being a proper coach but I’ve been loving it,” she says.

“I’ve been lucky to have lots of support – Cilla helps out with the coaching and Mel has been injured so she’s been helping as well. When Cilla and I are on the field at the same time, it’s great to have Mel there on the sideline. Little things like that have been a big help because sometimes it’s hard to make decisions and get orders out if you’re on the field.”

While the goal will certainly be to defeat Central and make it through to the next round of the Kate Sheppard Cup, Duncan’s coaching style is not based only on winning.

“My philosophy is that it’s a bonus to win because it’s an uncontrollable,” she says. “But improving in each game, both as individuals and as a team, is something you can control. The girls have been doing that so I’ve been quite pleased.”

There is a batch of other games taking place across the country in round two of the Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup this weekend, below are all the match details.

All of the results will be available over the weekend on www.nzfootball.co.nz

Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup Round Two

Northern Region

Saturday 2 June

Central United vs Onehunga Sports, 12pm, Kiwitea Street
Three Kings United vs Hibiscus Coast, 2pm, Keith Hay Park

Sunday 3 June

Forrest Hill Milford United vs Ellerslie, 12pm, Becroft Park
Norwest United vs Fencibles United, 1pm, Huapai Reserve

Monday 4 June

Hamilton Wanderers vs Western Springs, 11.30am, Porritt Park

Central/Capital Region

Monday 4 June

Upper Hutt City vs Kapiti Coast United, 11am, Maidstone Park
Seatoun vs Waterside Karori, 1pm, Seatoun Park
Victoria University vs Wellington United, 1pm, Boyd Wilson Field
Waiarapa United vs Palmerston North Marist, 2pm, Memorial Park (Masterton)

Mainland Region

Monday 4 June

Cashmere Technical vs Coastal Spirit, 10.30am, Garrick Memorial Park
Halswell United vs Universities, 7.30pm, Christchurch Football Centre

Southern Region

Monday 4 June

Roslyn Wakari vs Dunedin Technical, 1pm, Ellis Park
Otago University vs Queenstown Rovers, 1pm, Logan Park

Byes

Papakura City, Glenfield Rovers