World Cup hockey assurance for N.Z.

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33463, 19 February 1974, Page 24

World Cup hockey assurance for N.Z.

New Zealand and Australia need huve no fears of one or the other not qualifying for the second World Cup hockey tournament in Bombay early next year.

The president of the International Hockey Federation (Mr R. Frank) said this in Christchurch at the week-end.

For the first World Cup in Amsterdam last year, teams qualified on a regional basis, with New Zealand and Australia included undei Oceania. But only one team could qualify. Luckily for New Zealand, Australia decided it did not want to play, and the way was left open for New Zealand to compete. It was considered at the time that both New Zealand and Australia were sufficiently strong to play in the tournament, and now a door has been left open for both teams to qualify in the future. ‘OPEN’ PLACES Mr Frank said that one entry would be accepted from Oceania, but three places among the 12 teams to compete in the World Cup would be kept open by the federation to fill at its discretion. “If New Zealand should be the Oceania representative, then Australia will automatically be a choice for one of the three remaining places, and vice-versa,” he said. There had been fears that Bombay would not be able to stage the World Cup next year because of changes among officials on the Bombay Hockey Association. But notification had been received saying that India would definitely stage the event next January. Mr Frank added that several countries had applied to run the 1977 World Cup, including Malaysia and Hong

Kong, and Australia had applied to hold it early in 1978. Because of the interest of so many countries in holding the event, Mr Frank said he would like to see it staged every two years. “However, some of my colleagues on the federation do not share my opinions,” he said. “They feel that in addition to the Olympics, many countries would be unable to foot the expense of three major tournaments in four years.” A decision would be made this year on whether the

event would be held every two or four years. In September the federation would celebrate its jubilee, and it hoped to organise an international fixture to mark the occasion, Mr Frank said. A match between Pakistan and West Germany had been suggested. West Germany was the Olympic champion in Munich and Pakistan, the silver medallist, was barred after an incident at the medals presentation. “This could be a match of good will” said Mr Frank.