SOCCER'S BIG CHANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 10

SOCCER'S BIG CHANCE.

UNIQUE INTERNATIONAL

CONTEST.

N.Z., CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA.

WHY NOT A NATIONAL TOURNEY?

The New Zealand Football Association has a. unique opportunity of making history. It has the chance of arranging a four-cornered tournament between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere International Soccer teams, which will shortly be assembled in Australasia. The Czecho-Slovaks, the world's champion Soccer team at the last Olympic Games, have in two games in Australia recorded two convincing victories, at the outset of their first tour south of the line. In the next two weeks the Canadians will arrive in Auckland to tour the Dominion to play a series of 23 games. The New Zealand Association has had to refuse a tour from the Slovaks and of the Australians, being already committed to the Canadian tour. But why not investigate the possibility of a two or three weeks visit from the Balkan champions and the Australians and arrange a four-cornered international tourney in New Zealand with our own reps, and the Canadians forming the quartet ?

It may be thought that the prospect is beyond the financial resources of the N.Z.F.A., but if that is so, probably Australia would co-operate on terms, but, as the presence of the Australians and the Czechs in the Dominion might not exceed three weeks or a month, the cost may not be so great as at first it appears.

The Canadians play their last match in the South Island on July 6 at Timaru, but a rearrangement of the fixtures could probably be made to have the two Tests in the South Island played on a date later. The two teams could be brought from Australia to Dunedin, say when the Canadians and New Zealanders were there and the first series of two matches played off either in the Otaco or the Canterbury centre, or one in each. With four teams competing, three series of two games would be necessary. Wellington and Auckland on population basis should have a complete series of two games and probably the first round could be divided between Christchurch and Dunedin, New Zealand playing the Slovaks in the first game at Dunedin and Canada playing Australia in the second game at Christchurch. Wellington could stage the next two ganjee and the

deciding two would complete the tourney, as well as the last Test between New Zealand and Canada played at Auckland. It seems to the writer that the echeme has possibilities which are well worth careful study and which may be considered worthy by the A.F.A. of being sponsored and pressed forward to the New Zealand parent body. It is certain that the code could never receive more emphatic propaganda than by the arrangement on the arena of New Zealand of such a unique and attractive international tournament.