Oceania loses Israel team to South America

Press, 4 March 1988, Page 34

Oceania loses Israel team to South America

NZPA-AAP Sydney 4 ! I Australia and New Zealand have | won a major off-field b'attle with the announcement yesterday that[ Israel [has been transferred | from Oceania to South I Am'erica I for ( this year’s world Youth soccer championships. The leading: Oceania officia s Have long . protested the presence of Israel in | their ! division and claimed Israel should compete (closer to its home (territory. “We weke very shocked to heair of (the change. Our team is not: ready for: the opening matches in i May and will have to rush its preparation,” said ( the Israel manager; Abraham Bendori. ( I ! “Our first match is against Paraguay followed by Argentina. I don’t believe we’ll have more

chance in South America than we did in Oceania.” The Israeli under 16 side was withdrawn from Oceania last year to compete in Europe, and with departure of the Youth side, officials will now intensify, efforts to gain removal of Israel from thie Oceania Olympic Games and World Cup qualifying rounds. ("I understand the world body, F.I.F.A. is going step by step with Israel, starting with the under 16 division and working its way up to the seniors,” said Mr Bendori. [ Brian Emery, the Australian Soccer Federation executive director/ said yesterday the news was particularly pleasing for Oceania after the repeated requests to F.I.F.A. “In June, there will be a move to accept Vanuatu

and the [ Solomon Islands as full’ members of Oceania j to bring our strength [ to : eight countries,” he said. “Some( nations in Europe; ( and South America, qualify for the Olympics arid the World Cup from groups with as low as three members.” The ( national youth coach, Les Scheinflug, will now haye( to overcome the major hurdle of New Zealand to qualify Australia for the World Youth finals in Saudi i Arabia next January. ! / "Israel ( and the Kiwis have been’ the biggest problems for the Australians in recent years but we have managed to compete in the last four world finals,’’ he said. “It will certainly make it easier for Oceania without Israel although the skill of their players was

a good challenge and test to our coaching and playing ability.” ( [; • The , New Zealand soccer coach, ; Kevin Fallon, does; not know what to expect from; Taiwan (Chinese-Taipei) when the teams meet in Sunday’s Olympic qualifier at Melbourne’s Olympic Park. Mr Fallon yesterday lamented the lack of resources which prevented the Kiwis from organising a spying mission on its Asian opponents. ( “We’re not' a rich nation. We just don’t have the budget to send officials on scouting missions all the time,” he said soon after arriving in Melbourne from Auckland. Then tongue-in-cheek: “Do you think I could ring the Australian coach, Frank Arok, and get some information off him?”