Economics are isolating N.Z. hockey

Press, 11 June 1982, Page 24

Economics are isolating N.Z. hockey

Bv

KEVIN TUTTY

Unless there is a re-organ-isation of its international programme, the dire financial predicament in which the New Zealand Hockey Association has found itself during the last few months will continue to recur. The situation is not entirely of the N.Z.H.A's own making. The proliferation of international tournaments, and New Zealand's desire to be represented in the major ones, has thrust the financial burden on the association Any review will not be a simple matter, however. The N.Z.H.A. wishes to continue to play in both the Olympics and World Cup tournaments with its senior team, and it believes the Junior World Cup is an important step-ping-stone for younger players on the verge of full international status. Ironically, part of the reason tor the present crisis was New Zealand's withdrawal from the 1977 World Cup in Buenos Aires. Because it did not play in that tournament. New Zealand had to qualify for this year's World Cup in Bombay by playing in the Inter-Contin-ental Cup in Kuala Lumpur in April last year. At the World Cup in Bombay. New Zealand finished seventh, but now it finds that it will have to play in the next Inter-Continental Cup in 1985 — probably in Europe - to qualify for the 1986

World Cup in London. Only the first six from Bombay qualified automatically for the next tournament in London. Why not forget the* World Cup and concentrate on the Olympics? Unfortunately. New Zealand cannot do that it it wants to continue to play in the Olympics. The linernational Hockey Federation has decreed that Olvmpic qualification will be decided on World Cup placings. So the N.Z.H.A. is in a nowin situation. If it wishes to play in the Olympics, it will have to continue to play in the World Cup. The .Junior World Cup will involve heavy expense every four years. New Zealand will have to play in a qualifying tournament, as it did in Hong Kong last October, and if it is successful, tne finals the following vear. no doubt in some far-off corner of the globe. The heavy commitment of the leading international teams has created another problem for the N.Z.H.A. It would like to have a team such as India. Pakistan or Australia tour New Zealand, but smaller. 1.H.F.-sanc-tioned tournaments in vari-

ous parts of lhe globe have reduced the time for these teams to make tours. India wanted to tour New Zealand later this year, as preparation for the Asian Games in December, but a recently-introduced ruling bv the I.H.F. prevents any team from spending more than four months a year on tour. As a result, the Indian team has had to cancel its tour to Australia and New Zealand While the leading haltdozen teams in the world have all the hockey they need, others such as New Zealand, with limited Government funds, are falling behind. Unless the international federation’s penchant to create elitisi tournaments, such as the current Champions' Trophy tournament in Amsterdam, is curbed, the standard in those countries outside the top six will continue to fall. Australia is no longer interested in playing New Zealand because it has earned itself a regular place in the top four in the world. It can play in the Champions’ Trophy every year, the

World Cup and Olympics, and attract the occasional tour by overseas teams. In addition, by December, it will have had two international tournaments on home soil in the last four years. The I.H.F must realise that New Zealand, and many other countries, do . not receive the massive Government funding thrown the way of West Germany, the Netherlands. Pakistan. India and Australia. To ask New Zealand to play in the Inter-Continental Cup in 1985 after finishing seventh in the World Cup in Bombay is placing a strain on the association's players and supporters that they will 'not he prepared to tolerate much longer. Hoss Gillespie, the coach when New Zealand hockey had its finest hour at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. believes it would be of tremendous benefit to hockey to return to the days of regular tours. "If we could get back to the davs before 1960, when we had teams playing through the country on a fortnight tour it would be ideal. Il would expose more of our players to top inter-

national sides. "One of the greatest criticisms I have heard from players and supporters in the last few months has been that not enough is being done to attract a top international team to New Zealand. "Since we have become involved in the World Cup. it hasn't been financially possible to bring teams to New Zealand, and the situation is going to get worse. "It will be harder to be competitive under the present conditions of shamateunsm with lhe leading countries receiving Government support. Our costs to compete at international level are a hindrance too. They are staggering by comparison to most countries." said Mr Gillespie. "To attract the top teams to New Zealand, it would have to be made very attractive for them. We would virtually have to pay all their costs, including air fares. "That is perhaps not a silly idea. If we sav we are going to torgei the sorld Cup tor a year, we could use the monev to promote a tour by a major nation. "We have planned our international programme up to the 1984 Olympics, but after that, the N.Z.H.A. will have to take a serious look at our involvement in future international tournaments.' 1 said Mr Gillespie.