Quick, hard look at N.Z. soccer

Press, 1 May 1978, Page 6

Quick, hard look at N.Z. soccer

New Zealand soccer players must learn to do the simple things well and be single-minded and persistent, according to Charles Hughes, assistant director of coaching for the Football Association of England. Mr Hughes will leave New Zealand today after spending a week lecturing and giving coaching demonstrations.

It is his first visit to New Zeland but in his 15 years in the coaching post, he has travelled to 57 countries.

He sees a parallel between soccer as it is played, in-New Zealand to the British game.

“Everything is geared to winning. For example, defenders play more long balls than they should. Take West Germany or Brazil. They do much more

ground work and ground passes.” he said. He cited the different emphasis in coaching between Britain and European or Latin American teams.

“I watched the Brazilians training for their recent international against England at Wembley. They spent about 75 per cent, of their time doing one-touch passing, whereas Eng land wouldn't Eave spent five minutes playing one-touch.” New Zealand soccer was handicapped too by not being able to see a lot of big football, with the exception of the one-a-week television programme. Therefore players learnt much slower than they otherwise would.

"What I am doing is to try and speed up that learning process,” he said.