Tough task facing N.Z. hockey coach

Press, 25 October 1980, Page 64

Tough task facing N.Z. hockey coach

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KEVIN TUTTY

Brian Maunsell, the coach of the New Zealand hockey team, has a lot of work to squeeze into a three-day coaching school at Lincoln College this week-end. Of prime importance is the re-building of a defence torn apart by the retirement of three players at the end of last season — Greg Dayman, Tony Ineson, and Selwyn Maister. All three were chosen for the Moscow Olympics, but decided to end their long international careers after the disappointment of being unable to defend the gold medals they won at Montreal in 1976. Mr Maunsell is well aware of his predicament. He said yesterday that one of the main aims of the week-end would be to find two new full-backs, and two new halves. ■ 1 \'

The loss of Ineson and Dayman has left Mr Maunsell without a recognised penalty-corner hitter, and Barry Maister’s retirement has meant a new penaltycomer combination has to be found. Maister made the hand-stops for New Zealand’s penalty-corners, a drill he had developed into an additional and extremely important skill. Mr Maunsell still has a talented troup of forwards, but the unavailability of Jeff Archibald for the Kuala Lumpur tournament next Easter has created more problems. From having three talented inside-rights — Archibald, John Christensen, and Alan Mclntyre — available a year ago, he now finds himself without any. ■

To fill .these places, Mr Maunsell is uncertain whether he will use one of the established players, or one of the younger .members in the sqtiad.. He hopes this week-end will sort out his quandary. One thing Mr Maunsell will emphasise is the importance of the Inter-Conti-nental Cup tournament in Kuala Lumjiur. New Zealand has to-finish in the top four to qualify for the next World Cup in Bombay in December-Janaury of 198182. ‘

“My aim, and I will state it loudand clear several times over the week-end, is to be in the final at Kuala Lumpur and win it,” he said. “Anything less than that is less than being on target to be well placed in the World Cup.”