N.Z. soccer side ‘determined’ to face challenge

Press, 5 June 1982, Page 60

N.Z. soccer side ‘determined’ to face challenge

PA Wellington The New Zealand World Cup soccer team is now en route for Spain - awed but determined as it faces New Zealand soccer’s greatest challenge. Ahead of the team lie the bright lights and bunting of Spain — the recognition and adulation, the triumph and despair which earmark soccer's World Cup finals as the premiere forum of professional sport. Behind the team lie meagre, often trying beginnings and a tortuous, triumphant qualifying campaign which propelled it in nine months from football obscurity to the centre of the world stage. Nine months — from its • first qualifying match against Australia on Anzac Day to the cloying humidity of ’ Singapore's national stadium on January 10 when a 2-1 victory sealed its triumph — has all but transformed the face of New Zealand sport. . Rugby still ranks as New Zealand's favourite sport, the popularity polls say, but soccer comes a close’second ... and it is gaining. Now the men from Gisborne. from Dunedin, and North Shore ... from an obscure national league in a backwater of ■ the football world face baptism in the championship furnace which moulds, or melts, international reputations. • Apprehensive but determined, the manager, John Adshead. has levelled a challenge to the tournament's favoured sides. New Zealand may not have an impressive football pedigree, its players may not rank with the world's football stars but if character counts for anything, they have the credentials to succeed. On paper New Zealand's only claim to fame is a string of obscure records compiled in their tumultuous 15-match qualifying campaign.

The team's 15 matches

played in qualifying are more than any other side has faced: its 13-0 victory over Fiji in Auckland is the largest victory ever in the World Cup: its ’ 44-goal qualifying aggregate is more than any other side has achieved: and its run of nine matches without conceding a goal is unprecedented in World Cup preliminaries. Now. all that remain are the finals and the opportunity to enhance an already remarkable achievement. The financial rewards are obvious, a twenty-fourth share of world television rights-, amounting to as much as $1 million per team. But more, the tournament will be a learning experience ... a chance to benefit from an association with the giants of the soccer world.

Facing teams of the calibre of Brazil, Scotland and the Soviet Union in group six of the championships, New Zealand's chances of progressing past the first round are few.

Though Adshead has boasted that New Zealand's eyes are on a place in the tournament's final ten, the real object of the side is to leave Spain older, wiser, and with the deserved respect of its peers. The veteran striker, Brian Turner, said of the team's qualifying success ... “We’ve won the battle ... now here comes the war."

A small number of people farewelled the New Zealand soccer squad early yesterday when it left for Spain.

The team was more than five hours late for take-off from Auckland International Airport. The delay was caused by a mechanical fault and the sickness of a crew member. The New’ Zealand team's “Aunty” Dawn had an “impossible dream” come true just before the team departed when she was told, she would be going to Spain for the World Cup.

Mrs Dawn Hair washed and mended the New Zealand soccer team's clothes throughout the Kiwis' long campaign to the World Cup finals. And she was at Auckland airport to say goodbye. Mr Adshead and “a couple of the boys" made the dream come true. They clubbed together and bought her a ticket to the finals.

The gift came as a complete surprise to Mrs Hair, affectionately known by the team as “aunty." British television viewers have seen the tough physical approach of New Zealand’s World Cup soccer team when it was highlighted during a 20-minute documentary on the side shown on 8.8. C. television on Thursday.

The programme was made by 8.8. C. Scotland soccer reporter. Archie McPherson, during his visit to New Zealand with the Scottish manager. Jock Stein, last month.

Mr Stein, whose team is New Zealand’s first World Cup opponent in Malaga on June 15, was non-committal throughout the programme about the performance of the Kiwis after watching them play the League of Ireland al Auckland and Rotorua. Brazil remains the World Cup favourite, according to the latest odds being offered by London bookmakers. William Hill and Mecca are offering odds of 15-8 for Brazil, and Coral has the side at 2-1. Hills and Coral are both offering odds of 4-1 for West Germany and 6-1 for Spain. Both bookmakers have New Zealand at 500-1 and Mecca has New Zealand at 750-1. Brazil trounced the Portuguese first division side. Belenenses. 13-3 (half-time 42), in a friendly match on Thursday. The Brazilians scored through Careca (3), Serginho (4), Zico (3). Edvaldo, Leandro, and Difceu. Djao (2) and Arnaldo scored for Belenenses.