Hockey coach disappointed

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 38

Hockey coach disappointed

By

KEVIN TUTTY

A solitary point from five games at the Champions Trophy tournament in Karachi was a disappointment to the New Zealand hockey coach, Mr Brian Maunsell. Speaking after his return from the tournament yesterday Mr Maunsell said he would have liked a few more points from the team. There was a small consolation in the . fact that the team played more consistently than it did when it finished fourth in a 10nation tournament in Melbourne last December. Mr Maunsell said there was no excuses for the team not earning more points. It had four penalty-strokes in four different gams and scored from one off those.

“That was not a high enough conversion rate. We should have scored from at least three,” he said. Mr Maunsell had no complaint about a couple of harsh penalty-strokes that were awarded against New Zealand at vital stages of games. “Even though theywere tough, good teams should be able to win in spite of such setbacks.” . Because it finished sixth of six teams there has been a question mark over New Zealand’s inclusion in the 12 teams for the Olympics next year, but Mr Maunsell and the New Zealand manager, Mr Dave Coulter, of Christchurch, believe New Zealand has a much better than even chance of inclu-

sion. International Hockey Federation officials said they were impressed with the team and said it played better than Russia did when it finished second at the European championships in September. Passing, and the maintenance of possession were two aspects of the team’s play that worried Mr Maunsell before he left New Zealand, but both improved dramatically in Karachi. “We eliminated long free hits and used more short passing to hold the ball and build our attack,” he said. On attack the team did not have the efficiency in thefiftrcle to capitalise on the‘attack' and score field

goals, and it is an aspect of play Mr Maunsell wants to improve on next year. The half chances and deflections that the team scored from in Melbourne were not scored in Karachi.

Mr Maunsell was pleased with the play of Chris Brown, a new cap in the team at left-half, and George Carnoutsos, who was selected only when Balvant Bhana was forced to withdraw with an injury. “George had all his confidence back and played very well. Chris was very efficient. In the first two games he marked Kaleemullan (Pakistan) and Colin Batch (Australia), the two best right wings in the world.- On those twffi,performances he was as«£B to

play in an International XI against a Pakistan team at the end of the tournament in a testimonial match for the retired player Samiullah. Unfortunately he had to decline the invitation along with Arthur Parkin.” Mr Maunsell has told the players, to put their gear away for two months and that the Olympic build-up will start' in earnest in January.

Mr Coulter spoke to Mak ysian officials in Karachi md its tour of New Zealand in March is still on, and Canada wants to tour New Zealand in June. In addition the New Zealand team will play Australian state sides in Melbourne at Easter.