Soccer emerges as loser

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 44

Soccer emerges as loser

By

BARNEY ZWARTZ

The wrangle over New Zealand’s World Cup soccer coach, won by the Auckland Football Association last week-end, was a sordid affair, and none of the three main parties involved emerged with much credit.

Auckland successfully deposed the national coach, Barrie Truman, from his role as World Cup team coach and put the northern coach, Wally Hughes, in his place. In doing so, however, the A.F.A., the New Zealand Football Association, and Truman, all at some stage, put their foot in it. Were the issue not so vitally important to New Zealand soccer the whole episode would be ludicrous.

But it was vital, and several important principles were at stake. All were washed under by the tidal wave known as expedience, leaving a great manynn the sport thinking it would have been preferable to have simply withdrawn from the competition. The event itself was simple enough, and well publicised before, during, and after. It hinged around poor business management by the N.Z.F.A. — for whatever reason — in incurring enormous deficits in the last few years that it knew it could not sustain.

This set the stage for scene two — Charlie Dempsey, the A.F.A. chairman, in the unlikely role of fairy godmother. His association offered to bear the entire costs of staging and preparing the World Cup games in March and to give the parent body 50 per cent of any profit. It was literally an offer that couldn’t be refused if New Zealand was to keep its entry, and it wasn’t refused. Neither was the accompanying condition, that Tru-

man should get the sack in favour of Hughes. This is largely what has caused the dissension, and what might yet lead to wider repercussions than any party thought likely. Unfortunately, it will more probably fade away. The dissenters feel the N.Z.F.A. has abrogated its rights — even mortgaged its soul — for the sake of some transitory relief of its heavy financial burden; In many ways it has sacrificed Truman to take the heat of public opinion off its inept fignancial dealing. Naturally the officials deny they have sold out. They say Truman is still director of coaching, still convener of the selection panel, and will probably revert to taking the national team after the World Cup. The first is true, although now without the cream; the second is almost certainly impermanent (it comes up in February); and the third remains to be seen.

Voting on this issue apparently found 13 in favour of ousting Truman and nine against. The effect is a huge vote of no confidence in Truman, and it transfers virtually complete control of the World Cup series from the N.Z.F.A. to the A.F.A. Even the A.F.A.’s generous five-week pre-toumament training camp has its disadvantages. How many players from outside Auckland will be able to attend? Obviously only those who do attend will be selected, unless they are outstanding exceptions. Estimates on the extent of Auckland’s commitment vary from the official $30,000 odd up to $lOO,OOO. The A.F.A. will have to get sponsorship to avoid a heavy loss. One of the most disturbing aspects was the N.Z.F.A. council meeting at which a

lot of mud was apparently splattered around. The most astounding and irresponsible assertions came from the N.Z.F.A.’s president and former chairman. Jack ■Cowie. Backing Hughes, Cowie was reported as saying, among other things, that Truman was considered one of the boys and that he was not experienced enough. The first contention is absurd; the second is absolutely ridiculous. Truman has his weaknesses; especially that he listens too much to the players and gives them too much rope, but he tries to maintain the proper distance. Quite simply, he is the best coach in the country. With Trans Tours United’s Terry Conley as manager any faults in relationships would have been quickly ended, and this was planned. Truman might not be the most experienced national team coach in the world, but Hughes would certainly be one of the least experienced.

No-one suggests Hughes is not a good coach. But his qualifications are few: a New Zealand full coaching badge, a most average season with Dtjnedin City — then in the Broadlands Southern League second division — and three games with Auckland, all of which were lost. Another disturbing aspect of the whole affair is the part taken by the players themselves. Some senior Auckland players have agitated strongly in the past for Hughes to get various posts, and they do not particularly like Truman. Rumour has it that some even said they would never play under Truman again after the Korean tour. It may be an old-fashioned view, but players should keep out of intrigue — there is plenty

[already from journalists and officials — and if the rumour is true the game is better off without such players. Truman himself is certainly not blameless. He has put up with limitations and conditions no other coach would suffer — certainly not Hughes, who believes he will have full control — and when he started lobbying he was much too weak. Some of his problems might have been brought about by his own indecisiveness, because there is little room for the “nice guy.” Perhaps he is not devious enough.

He is available to advise Hughes on anything’he wants to know, including the strengths of our players and Australians. Both are confident New Zealand can do well, and Hughes’s approach is certainly more likely to please the crowd. It is to both men’s credit that there ap’pears to be no ill feeling, and that they are still prepared to work well together after all the intrigue.