EVANS SAYS N.Z. SOCCER POTENTIAL TREMENDOUS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30218, 24 August 1963, Page 9

EVANS SAYS N.Z. SOCCER POTENTIAL TREMENDOUS

"VOW I’ve broken practically everything breakable, I suppose I shall have to start on the second turn round,” the former English League professional, Gwynn Evans, said this week, wryly referring to the nose injury he suffered recently in an accidental clash of heads with the Western player, P. Frost, and which may keep him out of soccer for ait least < another five weeks.

In the 15 years he has been playing in serious competition, the 27-year-old Evans has broken both legs, both arms, dislocated both shoulders, broken his jaw, dislocated his nose half-a-dozen times, and had 38 stitches inserted in cuts above and below his eyes, and to his cheeks.

Last Easter, while playing for Crystal Palace in England, he turned out in four matches in eight days with what he thought were bruised toes. An X-ray examination later revealed two toes were broken—and he had been playing with them that way for a month. But his current injury has been one of the most painful. “The specialist told me afterwards he thinks all professionals are

a little mad—that the bone was pushed seven-eighths of an inch out of alignment. He has told me it will take six weeks to heal properly, or another knock may affect my breathing. Although I shall miss the rest of the local competition, I hope to be available for the South Island team, if I am selected.”

However, Evans is not letting his injury prevent him from coaching the Christchurch City Club. He was on the line last Saturday when City played Nomads in the O’Brien’s tournament, and his influence was again felt. City, with abundant chances, scored twice in the first half, but Evans collected the players together during the interval, sorted out some of the problems in the few minutes available, and City went back on the field to score six more. He has also given time to the club’s youngsters, and is impressed by what he has seen. “I want everyone to know New Zealand has tremendous soccer potential. I spent Saturday mornings at Hagley Park watching the youngsters and each time I have come away full of enthusiasm. There you can see something not seen in England—youngsters playing with a ball almost as big as themselves, immaculately turned out in boots, shorts, shirts, stockings, and as keen as mustard. “With proper coaching they can be developed into real footballers. The potential, the space, the keenness are all here. There is no reason why in a few years New Zealand cannot 'be challenging the best in the world. There is all here that any other country has got, and more.”