Boomers keeper confident of turnaround

The unorthodox goalkeeper Jimmy Bascand hails from a different sport altogether. He spent ten years playing water polo before he turned to the sometimes-dry football fields in Wellington via the indoor arena.

Taking the gloves was always going to be a formality for the former non-travelling New Zealand water polo reserve.

"I've got the reactions - a shot stopper I think they say. But still have the technique to master," he said.

"[My] catching is getting better and positioning too but work on kicking consistency and not getting rounded is needed.

"But really I love keeping. Nothing more satisfying than stopping a goal bound shot."

Last week the Boomers lost 1-0 at home to Naenae and Bascand is adamant the loss won't be repeated.

"We don't want to and shouldn't even be contemplating two losses in a row at any stage this season," he said.

The goalkeeper said the Boomers dominated the game and were unlucky to lose.

"I thought we played to our game plan well.

"[We needed] more shots on target. Even from distance keepers at our level still make mistakes and we have the strike power with Darryl, Tadhg and Pat."

On Brooklyn this weekend, he's unsure about what the pitch will do, but said as long as they take their chances the Boomers should bag the three points.

"I think the pitch will be the deciding factor.

"Our back four are strong enough to keep out any strikers so it'll be a case of whether our attackers can finish their opportunities."


Boomers play Brooklyn Northern United at Happy Valley, a notoriously bad Wellington pitch this Saturday at 2:30pm.