Selection of Christchurch soccer trio well merited

Press, 10 July 1987, Page 22

Selection of Christchurch soccer trio well merited

By

GARY BIRKETT

Writing in the New Zealand Soccer Annual this year, its editor, Mr Vic Deverill, is fulsome in his praise for the young Christchurch centre back, Ceri Evans. Mr Deverill has a not-so-subtle dig at the news media, which he said gave little coverage to Evans’ naming as one of the 12 Young Achievers of 1986, a national competition.

“Had Ceri been an All Black,” writes Mr Deverill, “then the newspapers would have had a field day. One of our weekly tabloids would have conducted an investigative probe and unearthed the fact that he has muesli for breakfast, shaves every day and twice on Sunday and has a weakness for girls with long legs. If we can unearth another

dozen Ceri Evans we may learn to market soccer all over again.” Evans, aged 23, may not agree with those sentiments. Although he is undoubtedly a young man of great talents, he is reluctant to sing his own praises and would rather stay well away from the glare of publicity. The son of the recently retired N.Z.F.A. secretary, Gwyn Evans, he will graduate as a doctor in December.

By then he also hopes to have an Air New Zealand league medal and Chatham Cup winner’s medal and to have secured a permanent place in the All Whites team, an extremely taxing schedule.

Evans is one of a crop of young players who could restore the All Whites as an international force.

In spite of his youth, he has already played more than 150 national league games and over 30 for New Zealand, a record few players his age could boast.

Evans was recently named in Kevin Fallon’s 26-strong squad to prepare for two internationals against Australia, along with his team-mates, Gary Lund and Danny Halligan. Evans dismissed suggestions that he would be playing against the Socceroos, saying his main aim was to make the final squad of 16. Rather than talk about his own prospects, he preferred to discuss the selection of Lund and Halligan. “Gary is having a tremendous year and it would have been farcical if he had missed out, while Danny has the potential to be around for a long time.” Evans said the success of the Christchurch team and the attacking football it was playing had ensured that he had not become stale. “I really enjoy playing

in the back four and the system we are playing. This season we have a good blend and there are no personality conflicts. “We learned a lot last year and I think that will help. We can win the league, but it is up to us. Nobody hands it to you on a plate,” he said. Lund, aged 21, made his debut for the All Whites against Fiji last season and has continued to improve in partnership with Evans in the heart of Christchurch’s defence. Their form has been largely responsible for Christchurch conceding only 14 goals in 15 games. Lund is seldom beaten in the air and is deceptively quick, attributes which also apply to Evans, who is playing with so much confidence he could probably step into an English first division side and do well. Lund faces stiff competition from the likes of Evans, Malcolm Dunford, Craig Simpson and Robert Ironside if he is to win a place in the starting XI

but has time on his side. He is also a useful allround cricketer for the East Christchurch-Shirley senior side, a sport he has in common with Halligan, who turns out for the Riccarton senior team. Halligan, aged 22, transferred to Christchurch from Halswell this season

and, at first, looked a little out of his depth in the national league. He only broke into the starting line-up after another player was injured, but has held his place, growing in confidence with every game. Mr Fallon has obviously been impressed with Halligan, noting in his newspaper column that Halligan has one of the best first touches in the league. Some armchair selectors might have been surprised by Halligan’s promotion, but not the Christchurch coach, lan Marshall. “When a player gets his confidence he starts to play to his full potential. Danny needed experience when he first started. In the national league all the games are laden with tension and there is a lot at stake. In addition he is facing top quality opponents all the time,” said Mr Marshall. The step from national league to international soccer is a big one but both Halligan and Lund have the potential to accomplish it. Along with Evans, already an established international, they seem certain to feature prominently in New Zealand soccer for some time.