N.Z. hockey officials angry at treatment

Press, 15 July 1982, Page 32

N.Z. hockey officials angry at treatment

By

KEVIN TUTTY

If an unofficial draw for the Junior World Cup hockey finals in Kuala Lumpur next month is correct, the New Zealand Hockey Association will lodge the .strongest protest at the treatment the New Zealand team, has received.

The draw, received through a news agency, has New Zealand playing its first two games against Belgium and Spain on August 14 and 15 respectively. Then follows three rest days before New Zealand plays its final three pool games on consecutive days against Pakistan, Malaysia and the Netherlands, in that order. "If that draw is correct it would be a disaster. It would hardly be worth our while going," said the manager of the team, Mr Ross Gillespie, yesterday. The N.Z.H.A. ‘has had no correspondence on the tournament since the annpuncement of the pools several weeks ago. New Zealand fared badly enough there, being drawn in an extremely tough pool. Now the start of the tournament is only four weeks away and the association has riot received a draw

or starting times for its matches.

Yesterday, officials of the N.Z.H.A. were desperately trying to confirm the draw, but as the association has found in the past, making contact with the Malaysian Hockey Federation is not easy. . The N.Z.H.A., through its I.H.F. council member, Mr B. Bremner, is endeavouring to obtain a copy of the draw. A telex has been sent to the I.H.F. in Brussels seeking the draw.

At the World Cup in Bombay last January the New Zealand senior ’team was given a raw deal in the draw. Its seven games were all at the early starting time, the hottest part of the day. It was the only team to have all its games scheduled at that time.

When asked why the New Zealand team could not have been given one or more later starting times, International Hockey Federation officials in Bombay dismissed it with a collective shrug of their shoulders. The N.Z.H.A. is determined that the Junior team will not be treated with the same disdain. “If the draw is correct we will protest in the strongest possible way,” said the chairman of the N.Z.H.A., Mr Dave Coulter. “If the draw is correct we could be tempted'to say: To hell with the tournament."

"We have to protest now before the team leaves," said Mr Gillespie. "If we leave it until we arrive in Kliala Lumpur, it will be too late. T)he organisers will say it is too late to make alterations.”