Tough first hockey game

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 34

Tough first hockey game

By KEVIN TUTTY New Zealand, the Olympic champion, and Pakistan, the world champion, will clash on the first day of the International Champion’s Trophy hockey tournament in Lahore on November 17. How the draw was made is not known, but it has certainly turned out to Pakistan’s advantage. The winner of the World Cup in Buenos Aires this year, it will suit Pakistan to meet New Zealand in the first game. With six new caps in the New Zealand side, it will be to Pakistan’s advantage to play New Zealand before it has a chance to meet other international teams. Pakistan has a debt to settle with New Zealand. At the Montreal Olympics, Pakistan beat New Zealand, 5-2, in pool play but then lost to Australia in the semi-finals, and with it the chance to play New Zealand for the gold medal. Brian Maunsell, the New Zealand coach, is not perturbed at striking Pakistan in the first game, however. The team will leave Auckland today for Lahore and will play four games in the eight days before the tournament. These matches include ones against Ail Pakistan Army, two against invitation sides and one against Punjab University. None will be! easy games and Mr Maunsell believes they will give the! players an idea of what to; expect when they meet the Pakistan national side on November 17,

Because of flight delays at three stops en route to La- : hore, the team will be travelling for 27 hours and will have to play its first game ■ the day after it arrives. Two of the build-up games are out of Lahore — at Rawalpindi and Peshawar — > but fortunately all three [ cities are well inland; Mr . Maunsell said that at this . time of the year the tem- ; peratures are relatively cool so the players should ac- ! climatise easily. The average temperature in Lahore was about 20deg, he said. ‘ The team has been fortun- ' ate in gaining the services ’[of Dr M. Marshall of , [ Whanagarei, who will travel [with the team. He has been I through the area previously > | with soccer teams. t; Originally a seven-team • I tournament, West Germany .land the Netherlands, have ; since withdrawn. New Zea- : I land’s other games are ■ [ against Great Britain on Noli vember 18. Spain on November 21 and Australia on No- - vember 23. Mr Maunsell was New i Zealand coach for the first , time last year when the side ■ lost a series, 4-0, to Austral lia, and he is determined for ■ an improved performance in ■ Lahore. He has a score to settle with the Australians > after last year’s sad show--1 ing1 Mr Maunsell acknowledges .Ithat much work is needed ! with the New Zealand (defence before the Pakistan ’ I game. It is in this area that J the New Zealand side is ! most shaky.