Ten from 1982 All Whites stay

Press, 30 August 1985, Page 32

Ten from 1982 All Whites stay

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Ten players who went to Spain in New Zealand’s World Cup soccer squad three years ago have held their places in the All Whites party of 22 for the qualifying series for Mexico next year. That group includes Barry Pickering, probably the country’s outstanding goal-keeper, who has been restricted by injury to just a handful of Rothmans League matches this year; and Grant Turner, who, for various reasons, occupies his own spotlight in New Zealand soccer. It is no surprise that Turner, who did not play in Spain through injury, has been included, despite his having had yet another season of turmoil. He parted company in acrimonious circumstances with Gisborne early this season, and was recently suspended for the rest of the year by his new club, Petone. With the question of citizenship for four players and the problems surrounding the availability of the captain, Ricki Herbert, and the Rufer brothers, ironed out,

the national coach, Mr Kevin Fallon, probably hoped his worries were over when the squad was announced yesterday. Unfortunately they are not. Pickering tore a stomach muscle in National Mutual Miramar’s match against Napier City Rovers on Wednesday night, and Herbert will miss the opening game against Australia, on September 21, with an Achilles tendon injury. His leg is in plaster. Sean Byrne has been included, subject to his receiving his citizenship at least 10 days before the qualifying series begins. Ceri Evans, the Christchurch Brother United defender, who has been in impressive form this winter, is the only South Islandbased player to win a place. It is a largely predictable squad, and the only player who could claim with considerable justification that he is unlucky to miss out is the gifted D.B. Wellington player, Billy Harris. His transformation this year from a talented, if erratic, midfielder, into a striker with 13 league goals to his credit this seasoon, made

his worth a punt at the expense of the Mount Maunganui striker, Greg Little. In addition to Harris, the other players to be dropped from Mr Fallon’s previous squad of 27 are Paul Halford (Napier), Fred de Jong (Masport Mount Wellington), Barry Weymouth (HanimexNorth Shore), Colin Tuaa (McKee Nelson United) and Alex Metzger (Landbase Papatoetoe). The squad is.— Goalkeepers: Frank van Hattum (University Cowan), Barry Pickering (National Mutual Miramar), Clint Gosling (Newcastle). Defenders: Shane Rufer (Zurich), Richard Mulligan, Sean Byrne, Ken Cresswell (N.Z. Permanent Gisborne), Keith Hobbs, Allan Boath (HanimexNorth Shore), Malcolm Dunford (D.B. Wellington), Ricki Herbert (Wolverhampton Wanderers, captain), Ceri Evans (Christchurch Brother United). Midfielders: Steve Sumner (Southmall Manurewa), Duncan Cole, Peter Henry (North Shore), Grant Turner (Petone), Declan Edge (Gisborne), Bill McClure (Landbase Papatoetoe). Strikers: Wynton Rufer (Zurich), Colin Walker (Gisborne), Greg Little (Mount Maunganui), Kevin Hagan (North Shore).