Young keeper relishes the Bay lifestyle
Suggest to Hawke's Bay United football team's goal keeper Scott Morris he is living the dream and you get the thumbs up.
"I've been living and training with Jonathan Gould for the past six weeks. I feel so sharp and so much better and stronger," Morris said referring to Thirsty Whale Hawke's Bay United's director of football and goal keeping coach Gould who is a former Premier League player and former Wellington Phoenix goal keeping coach.
"I'm out at Waimarama living 10 metres away from Jonathan and close to the beach which is great for my recovery sessions," 19-year-old Morris explained.
Taking that lifestyle into account it isn't a surprise Nelson-raised Morris has been one of the Bay's best players during the first three rounds of the ISPS Handa Premiership to date. The fact he has been pretty serious about the beautiful game since his early teens is also contributing.
"Yes I decided to board at Rathkeale College in Masterton so I could attend the Paul Ifill Academy," Morris explained in the countdown to Sunday's fourth round clash against Canterbury United at Napier's Bluewater Stadium.
Because of injuries he made his Central League debut for Wairarapa United as a 15-year-old. In 2017 he was the reserve keeper and in 2018 he became the starting keeper, the role he has had for the past three seasons.
Although he didn't make the initial New Zealand Under-20 squad for next year's World Cup in Malaysia he hopes more polished displays in the New Zealand Football Championship could see him get the nod.
"My long-term goal is to make the All Whites squad and secure a professional contract. Hopefully spending all this time with Jonathan Gould will take me to the next level," Morris said.
He listed composure with the ball at his feet and distribution as his main work ons.
"I've been hammering them and will continue to do so. The distribution will improve as I become more familiar with my teammates," Morris explained.
He agreed Canterbury United, like the hosts, will be desperate to record their first win of the season.
"I'm expecting their set piece to be strong. Because they are big and physical they will be aiming to use plenty of through balls and I'm expecting plenty of work in the air," Morris said.
He also agreed the hosts defenders will have to work hard on visiting defender Tom Schwarz who is always a Dragons target at set piece time.
"Tom already has one or two goals from headers. He is their Bill Robertson," Morris added referring to the Bay's co-coach and centre back.
Robertson agreed Morris has played well during the first three weeks and has benefitted from his work with Gould. While Karan Mandair returns to the hosts roster after missing last weekend's trip to Auckland fellow midfielder Hugo Delhommelle remains on the injured list.
The Hawke's Bay United team for Sunday's 1.30pm match:
Scott Morris, Jim Hoyle (co-captain), Jackson Woods, Kaeden Atkins, Cory Vickers, Jesse Randall, Karan Mandair, Gavin Hoy, Kailan Gould, Sam Pickering, Ahmad Othman, JC Mack, Fergus Neil (co-captain), Bill Robertson, Oscar Mason, Jorge Akers, Jarrod McKechnie.
