Choice Of World Cup Keepers Is Wide Open

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 15

Choice Of World Cup Keepers Is Wide Open

<Rw Our Soccer Reporter) The transfer this week of the New Zealand goal-keeper, N. Siebert (Auckland), to Australia, has opened the way for Canterbury to have both keepers in the World Cup soccer squad for the elimination matches in Israel in (October.

The rival pair, D. Phillips [ (New Brighton) and 0. NJ Nuttridge (Christchurch City) at present vying for the provincial position in the match against Nelson next Saturday week, will extend their personal battle to the New Zealand side. The matches in the next three weeks will be vital to both, and to the other outstanding claimants to be New Zealand’s goal-keepers in Tel Aviv—P. L. Whiting and D. Houghton (both of WellingI ton) and D Mack (Auckland):

Of these four. Nuttridge, Phillips and Whiting have played for New Zealand, Houghton for the central league, while Mack has been contesting with Siebert for

the position as the Auckland 'keep this season. Siebert became New Zealand’s regular goal-keeper in 1967 when he took over from the former Scottish League professional. A. Stroud, and went on the Asian tour at the end of that season.

Nuttridge was his deputy on that tour but played only once—and then for only part of a game—and was discarded without a reasonable trial.

Last season. Phillips became New Zealand's No. 2 'keeper and played once, in the match against New Caledonia at Auckland. But Phillips. like Nuttridge, was treated harshly, being replaced before the end of the match by Siebert in circumstances that hardly deserved such a dismissal.

The return of Whiting after two years playing as a professional in England brought in a new challenger, but Whiting’s form has not been consistent for his club, Miramar Rangers, in the central league and is far from certain of being first choice in the league team. Houghton filled this posi-

tion superbly last year, when the central league beat Cardiff City and the northern league, and it is probable that at this stage he, Phillips and Nuttridge have a slight edge over Whiting and Mack. The testing time for all five candidates will come later

this month, with the arrival of the English F.A. team. It will be surprising if al! five do not get their chance in five of the seven matches the tourists will play—against Auckland, the central league, Canterbury and New Zealand Xis (twice).

The transfer of Siebert should ensure Mack winning his place in the Auckland team, Whiting or Houghton is likely to represent the central league, anti Phillips or Nuttridge will be Canterbury’s goal-keeper. If the selectors carry out their policy of giving every World Cup candidate the chance of showing his talents in a major match, this would leave the two matches of the New Zealand Xis against the English F A. side to be filled by the 'keepers not required by the central league and Canterbury.

On this basis, the selectors will be able to choose the 'keeper for the New Zealand XI in the final match of the Englishmen’s tour after having seen all the main candidates in action at least once.

Before Siebert’s departure, to join the Sydney club, St George’s, the choice of goalkeeper was wide open: the fact that one candidate has dropped out has not made it less so. Probably it complicates matters, because Siebert. as the player holding the position, was favoured to be one of the 'keepers to go to Israel, and the choice seemed to be the player to accompany him. Now both places are being contested.