Kiwi champion to coach junior Red Devils

BY KRISTIAN SILVA
20 May, 2010 11:53 PM

NEW ZEALAND soccer great Vaughan Coveny will be introduced as the director of coaching at the Ballarat Red Devils Football Academy this afternoon.

Coveny, 38, is currently the head coach of Victorian Premier League powerhouse South Melbourne FC.

Coveny's appointment is seen as a key to the academy's aim of nurturing Ballarat's young soccer talent in the next five years.

Red Devils president Yogan Moodley said Coveny would be a great asset to the club.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for the young people in Ballarat to develop their skills, because Vaughan is someone who has amazing experience," he said.

Coveny will travel to Ballarat each Friday evening to conduct coaching sessions with junior Red Devils players at Morshead Park.

Mr Moodley said young players would be "learning the art of soccer", and the new coach would emphasise technical skills.

"We're hoping this will give our junior players the edge," he said.

Coveny was capped 64 times for New Zealand and is the all-time leading goalscorer for the All-Whites, with 30 goals.

The former striker has played against some of the world's leading stars, including Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry at FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments.

Coveny enjoyed a successful club career in Australia, representing South Melbourne in the old NSL before moving to Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

Last year, he returned to South Melbourne for his final season as a player before taking on the coaching role.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/general/kiwi-champion-to-coach-junior-red-devils/1836327.aspx