WORLD CUP TEAM SELECTION Special National Soccer Matches

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32028, 1 July 1969, Page 17

WORLD CUP TEAM SELECTION Special National Soccer Matches

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. The final New Zealand World Gup soccer team will be announced after a special national tournament in Auckland on Saturday and Sunday, the chairman of the New Zealand Football Association (Mr J. Cowie) said yesterday.

Mr Cowie said that four teams — the Northern (Rothmans) league, Central league, Southern league and a Possibles Xl—would compete for the i Rothmans Cup. This was a change from previously announced plans.

Because some Southern league players will be away at the national tournament, several changes have been made affecting Christchurch teams this Saturday. A recent meeting of the national association's council had decided that the Central and Southern leagues would meet at Wellington on July 19, the winner of that match to meet the Rothmans league at Auckland on August 2. It was also earlier announced that the final World Cup squad would not be named until August 15. Plans Revised “Rothmans of Auckland, have offered to sponsor the tournament which will enable the New Zealand selectors to see all eligible players for the World Cup aide," Mr Cowie said. “The NJI.FA. has decided to revise its plans in the light of these developments,” he added. ' The Northern league will meet the Central league in the main match on Saturday, and the Southern league will play the Possibles XU in the early match. The final of the tournament will be played on Sunday. “The final World Cup team, to be named at the end of the tournament, will travel to New Caledonia on July 23 fot three matches there,” Mr Cowie said.

“On their return to New Zealand the players will attend local and national train-

ing sessions and assemble in Auckland early in September for a fortnight before departing for Israel." Local Changes As each has three or more players in the Southern team Technical and Christchurch City have been given dispensation from playing their league matches, against Queen’s Park and Shamrock, respectively on Saturday. _ The Southern league match between Western and RoslynWakari has been changed to 2.45 pun. at English Park, and the early game at the park will be a Howley Shield fixture between the City second XI and Cashmere-Wanderers. The teams for the national tournament are:— Central: L. J. Cutler (Palmerston North), F. G. Harris (Palmerston North), M. R. Jones (Wellington), I. Sim (Gisborne), A. F. Jeffery (Wellington). J. McLaren (Gisborne), G. P. Bilby (Wellington), S. A. Bruce (Wellington), T. Francis (Gisborne), J. B. Breslin (Palmerston North), M. Bland (Gisborne), G. Brand (Wellington), B. Haggerty (Gisborne), P. L. Whiting (Wellington). Seuthern: D. Phillips (Canterbury), G. Davis (Canterbury), G. Griffiths (Canterbury), K. France (Canterbury), . P. Dick (Southland), A. Schraa (Otago), A. W. Gowans (Canterbury), B. Wilkinson (Otago), R. Neilson (Otago), M. Ellis (Canterbury), P. Duncan (Otago), F. Madrussen (Canterbury), W. Weir (Canterbury), W. McKenna (Canterbury). Northern: D. Mack, D. Gerrard. T. McNab. N. Ashhurst, W. Hunter, P. Rainer, P. Rennell, R. Mears, M. T. Guildea. W. E. Thomas. J. Legg, A. Stroud, R. Armstrong, J. D. Wrathall. Possibles: D. Houghton (Wellington). C. W. Latimour (Auckland), W. Kennedy (Otago), I.

Hastle (Auckland),- K. Barton > (Wellington), G. Lamont (Auckland), W. de Graaf (Auckland). S. Boyland (Wellington), 1.1 Ormond (Auckland), K. Scho- | field (Auckland). B. Kershaw (Auckland), G. Root (Auckland), R. Gisby (Auckland), K. Curtain (Auckland).