REID’S RETURN

Press, 5 August 1981, Page 16

REID’S RETURN

> Interest in the New Zea- ■ land waler polo team's his- . toric trip to China in October

has been heightened by the recall - to contention at this stage, not yet the team - of Dennis Reid.

First a national representative in 1972. captain since 1976, Reid was'dropped from the captaincy, and then the team, late in 1979. Nor was he named as a trialist in the season just finished.

But Reid has since had a telephone, call from the national coach. Ken Mark, and a letter from the team manager and chief organiser, Mr Rex Feear, asking him to make himself available for consideration for, the national team's build-up to and including the .world championships in Ecuador next year. The strong-willed Reid has not been slow in responding. "My dedication has waned over the last 18 months, with proposed trips never getting off the ground. New Zealand water polo seemed to go through a period of trying to land on the moon before we were even able to build toy rocket-ships for kids in New Zealand to play with. "Partly because of that. I have found it difficult to maintain enthusiasm. However. with the prospective programme showing there are real and positive steps being taken to ensure that the programme is brought to fruition. I’m eager to obtain that major objective." And the major objective, according to Reid, is success at Ecuador, where New Zealand for the first time receives the opportunity to compete at the full." top international level. It is not likely that Reid will be returned to the captaincy of the national side, though his age — 29 next month — does not make him a back-number in international water polo. The management is probably looking at his background in which he is comfortably New Zealand's most-capped international.

Reid admits candidly that decreased motivation was not the sole reason 'for his sudden demise. In the same period, he has been busily engaged developing his Motivation Programme business. the marketing of the "psychology of winning" philosophy of the famous American. Dr Dennis Waleley. And the same business interests will make his aim of returning to the national side a daunting prospect. In a couple of weeks. Reid will be heading to Auckland to open the business there; he also has seminars in Invercargill on August 24 and 27. another in Auckland on August 28.

, Then it. will be a mad dash to Wellington the same day for the start of the final trial period in which the national team will be chosen for China. One other national team stalwart who faces apossible recall is Mark Harding, a bulwark of the sides since his debut at the age of 17 in 1973. Now in Australia, Harding has been asked to make himself available again, though he has not yet replied.

Whatever the team, it will face a daunting responsibility. Though it has a place in the world championships field, it would need to form at least respectably ; in the strong competition of China to justify the additional considerable expense of getting to South America.

RAY CAIRNS