Better performance sought from N.Z. volleyball squad

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 32

Better performance sought from N.Z. volleyball squad

Ctirad Benacek, the Czech-born New Zealand volleyball director of coaching, will be looking for additional improvement from his national squad when it meets Daito Bunka University, of Japan, at the Pioneer Stadium this evening. The Japanese players lave won both previous tests, but they were put under considerable pressure when New Zealand won the first set of the second international at Wellington.

New Zealand then raced away to a commanding lead in the second set, but could not maintain the momentum and Daito Bunka recovered for a 3-1 victory.

“My players realised what they were capable of before little breaches in concentration allowed the Japanese to take control,” Mr Benacek said. “The task now is for them to retain their mental condition until the finish. We need what the All Blacks had in the past — the determination to be able to win even if a match seems lost.”

The New Zealanders have more incentive than

a will to reverse the results of the previous tests. They are also vying for places in the team to travel to Bahrain for the Asian championships in December. Mr Benacek began the season with a squad of 76 contenders, and has been able to gauge the skills of the candidates not only in the tests but also in Daito Bunka’s matches against regional selections. The university side from Japan will be opposed by a Southern New Zealand team at Pioneer Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Bahrain is only the first port of call for the New' Zealand representatives. After the Asian contest they will travel on to Europe, Mr Benacek having arranged fixtures in Greece, Austria, and West Germany, and possibly other games in Italy and France.

“It will be a tough trip,” Mr Benacek said. “The boys are not promised any luxuries such as hotel accommodation. All they can expect is bread, cheese, and a cup of tea.

“The overseas tour is the reason for encouraging

so many players. They are learning discipline, teamwork and the necessity to fight to the last second; the Japanese are very tradesmanlike, carrying out actions and skills as if by second nature.”

Mr Benacek, whose terms of employment include the development of volleyball in New Zealand, can be satisfied that the Japanese have been surprised by the over-ail rise in standards since their last visit four years ago.

Daito Bunka rates it< squad more highly than that which toured in 1975, but it has been confronted by stronger opposition. Mr Benacek is particularly happy that the present New Zealand teain has a more even balance than its predecessors, the result of greater emphasis on cultivating all-round skills. The Japanese have a busy schedule while in Christchurch. They practised yesterdaj' at the University of Canterbury, meet New Zealand today at 6 p.m., and will give demonstrations to younger players before playing the southern selection tomorrow afternoon.