Vargas warms Tynie hearts
22 SPORT
Tait is in it for the long haul
EICA funding
Balerno boy sets
sights on Europe
after bright start
By OLIVIA THOMASEDINBURGH LEISURE’S flagship
climbing arena at Ratho has benefitted
from a major funding investment from
sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
The Edinburgh International Climbing
Arena (EICA) has received £100,000
towards bouldering redevelopment
which will improve opportunities to
progress at all levels of the sport.
The redevelopment will ensure that
Ratho becomes the only climbing centre
in the UK with Olympic standard facilities
for all three climbing disciplines (lead
climbing, speed climbing and
bouldering). This investment has been
made possible thanks to National Lottery
players, who raise £30 million each week
for good causes across the UK.
Emma Ogilvie-Hall, Head of Operations
at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re
delighted and very grateful to receive the
sportscotland funding that means we
can replace our outdated bouldering
facilities at the Edinburgh International
Climbing Arena (EICA).
“With indoor bouldering now the
most widely practised form of climbing it
will ensure that the EICA can continue as
a world class venue for all three climbing
disciplines – lead, speed, and bouldering- while continuing to provide climbers of
all ages and abilities with access to
opportunities to participate”
By NIGEL DUNCANMACAULAY TAIT made a 20-minute
appearance for Hearts against Celtic in the 2-0
victory at Tynecastle, mixing it with the
defending cinch Premiership champions who
include some of the biggest names in Scottish
football in their squad.
However, this ambitious young player has set
his sights higher and would love to take what
he calls, “the next step”, playing against some of
the biggest names in Europe.
The 18-year-old, who has been described as
“a long-time standout for the club’s B team”,
recently signed a long-term contract which will
keep him at Tynecastle until 2028.
And he broke through into the first team
with a debut in Hearts’ 2-0 victory at Celtic
Park just before Christmas, taking over from
Jorge Grant with five minutes remaining of
normal time and helping secure the club’s first
win at Celtic Park since 2007. That was ironic
as he was once spotted by a Celtic scout playing
in a seven-a-side game at Lochend Football
Academy.
The former Balerno High School pupil has
since made a number of substitute appearances
for the first team since that red letter day at
Parkhead and the talented teenager told Hearts
official match magazine that he has had to be
patient.
Tait complements the club’s head coach,
Steven Naismith, who has given young players
the chance to show what they can do in
training and in bounce games.By NIGEL DUNCANKENNETH VARGAS may shiver in
Edinburgh, but there is no doubting
the warmth of welcome the Central
American-born striker has received
at Hearts.
The Tynecastle club look set to
trigger an option to sign the forward
from Club Sport Herediano as
coaches believe the 21-year-old can
develop his game further to become
a real asset. Vargas is from rugged,
rainforested Costa Rica with
Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, so
it is no surprise that he is cold, but
the highly-talented player
is currently on a season-long loan
and he has made over 30appearances for the Men in Maroon,
with recent displays providing fans
with an insight into his talent.
Steven Naismith, Hearts’ head
coach, has been impressed with the
young talent and said: “I am a big
fan. When we identified him and we
thought he was somebody to bring
in what you see is good but you do
not really know the full
outcome until you work with them
day in and day out.
“Every aspect is amazing. His
English, his willingness to learn, his
willingness to understand not just
the language but tactically, not just
in a training facility, not just as we
are on a match-day, in preparation.
“He has taken it on board and hisfootball knowledge is beyond his
years. He is intelligent and his
out-and-out attributes are brilliant.
So, from us getting him in, that was
positive, and he has put the hard
work in.”
Naismith said Vargas was played
a lot at the start of his career with
the Tynecastle club without getting
the personal reward of goals and
assists but the coach added: “For us,
I knew he was valuable and then
latterly he has managed to find the
net and is receiving more plaudits.
“He is a brilliant talent and he is
somebody who has a drive and a
determination because he wants to
be a regular in the Costa Rican team
and go as high as he can.”He said: “It is up to us to show him that we
can deal with that pressure. For me, personally,
he has helped me a lot, shown faith in me,
given me a lot of confidence and has certainly
helped me improve as a player along the way.”
Tait listens when Naismith speaks to him
and the young talent is learning from a man
who has played at a high level on England and
Scotland. He admitted: “I’m not the tallest, I
know I’m not going to bully many players, so
he (Naismith) has always told me that I need to
be quicker on my feet and in my brain and that
takes the physical aspect out of it.”
Of course, Naismith was involved with the B
Team and knows all about Tait’s ability and the
rising star admitted that playing for the B team
and being placed in “uncomfortablesituations” helped him make the step-up to the
senior side
Naturally, he wants to start rather than being
a substitute but logging minutes is his aim
between now and the end of the current season
and Tait plans to continue to develop his game
with guidance from the leading players at
Gorgie.
The prospect says he has worked hard to get
where he is after progressing through the
age-groups at Riccarton.
However, his horizons are further afield
and his appetite for European fooball was
whetted by travelling with the Hearts party to
Fiorentina.
Tait now wants to play in a European game,
but added: “I’ve still got a long way to go.”Macaulay TaitChris Watt PhotographyBouldering at EICAKenneth VargasPhoto HOMFCPhoto HOMFC