Two T.T.U. players in N.Z. soccer side for Korea

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 30

Two T.T.U. players in N.Z. soccer side for Korea

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Two Trans Tours United players, both under 25, are Christchurch’s representatives in the controversial New’ Zealand soccer squad to play in the President’s tournament in South Korea next month.

The United captain, Steve Sumner, and the promising young centre half, Glen Adam, are in the squad, which includes seven players from Auckland.

Interestingly, an ultimatum issued from a meeting late last month by the Auckland Football Association has been trodden on. The A.F.A. said that no players were to be taken from some clubs while other clubs were overlooked. It also said that only the very best national side should make the trip.

Blockhouse Bay and Courier Rangers have no representatives while Eastern Suburbs has its under-19 goal-keeper, Clint Gosling, as its sole representative. For Sumner, arguably, the country’s best midfielder, selection was inevitable. In some respects Adam was also a likely selection. He gave several fine displays last season and this year, until his injury in May, he had been United’s most consistent player, along with Bobby Almond. Adam, 19, first heard of his selection over the radio last evening.

“I didn’t know until I heard it on the radio but I thought I had a good chance, especially when I heard about a young side being selected.” he said. Adam said his knee, which he strained in the game against Nelson on Saturday was now fully recovered and gave no problems. Five of the 16-man squad are also included in the final group of players to select the national under-19 team to take part in the World

Youth Cup matches in Aucklan ’ later in the year.

One of them is Mark Armstrong, who scored the goal which put Manurewa into the Adidas Chatham Cup final against Nelson on September 3. In the semifinals, Manurewa beat Mount Wellington, 2-1. Two Nelson players who will be appearing in that

final, Peter Simonsen and Ken Cresswell, have also gained selection. Simonsen, who has improved markedly this season, was a member of the T.T.U. national youth cup side two years ago while Cresswell impressed last season as a player of considerable ability.

North Shore has the biggest representation, three, including two players who appeared against England B in June, Adrian Elrick and Duncan Cole.

Barry Pickering has impressed as one of the coun-

• try’s top goalkeepers, no mean feat in a country which is blessed with several well-performed ’keepers. His two displays against T.T.U. i to date this season have been outstanding. Robbie Tenbroeke, a solidly built 18-year-old, is Stop Out’s other representative while Nigel Debenham is the only player south of Christchurch to be included. Nine of the 16-man squad for the England B series have not been included. In some cases they stated their unavailability for the trip. Those players, some of whom may have played their last international, are: Prevan Jeratn, Ron Armstrong, Earle Thomas and Alf Stamp (Eastern Suburbs), Sandy Davie (Mount Wellington), Glen Dods (Blockhouse Bay), Dave Taylor (Courier Rangers), lan Park (T.T.U.) and lan Ormond (North Shore). The team will be coached by Mr Barrie Truman, who appears to have decided to put the national team ahead of his Queensland offer, while the manager will be Mr Terry Conley. The squad is: Goalkeepers: B. Pickering (Stop Out), C. Gosling (Eastern Suburbs); Defenders: N. Haines (North Shore), M. Simenoff (W.D.U.), G. Adam (T.T.U.), A. Sibley (Mount Wellington); Mid-fielders: B. Turner (Mount Wellington), D. Cole (North Shore), P. Simonsen (Nelson), N. Debenham (Dunedin City), S. Sumner (TTU); Strikers: R. Tenbroeke (Stop Out), K. Nelson (Hamilton), M. Armstrong (Manurewa), K. Cresswell (Nelson). Utility: A. Elrick (North Shore).