N.Z. to tackle Saudi Arabia in Melbourne

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 48

N.Z. to tackle Saudi Arabia in Melbourne

By

GARY BIRKETT

Christchurch national league soccer players on the fringe of national selection will know tomorrow morning whether they have been included in the New Zealand team to play Saudi Arabia in two hastily arranged friendly matches in Melbourne next week. The All Whites coach, Kevin Fallon, has been busy telephoning prospective players and will sit down to work out his final squad today.

“There has been a very good response, it will be a strong side,” he said.

The All Whites leave Auckland on Monday, play Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Thursday, and return home on Friday.

The Middle East team is building up to the Australian Gold Cup bicentennial tournament, which also includes Brazil and Argentina. Mr Fallon, keen for matches to prepare for the World Cup firstround ties with ChinaTaipei in December, has welcomed the Melbourne fixtures.

He, like all soccer supporters, was disappointed that the visit by Brazil was cancelled at the last minute, and feels the two matches next week will be most beneficial/ / “Any match is a good

match and it will show what we have to do before December. Some players have to check with employers but we should have it sorted out by tomorrow morning.”

Mr Fallon did not. elaborate on who he was considering for the squad but one of his biggest worries will be filling the goalkeeping position. Much will depend on whether he can get the Australian-based custodian, Clint Gosling, released by his club. Grant Schofield, his back-up in the Olympic series, has only just returned to playing after injury and Frank van Hattum is out with a broken wrist. That could leave the way open for Alan Stroud, of Christchurch,

to force his way into the squad while the new Mount Wellington keeper, Peter Kuiper, is an outside chance.

Probably the biggest certainty is that Billy Wright, who scored a controversial winner against Christchurch for Mount Wellington last Sunday, will be in the squad. He is now eligible to play for the All Whites and the talkative striker should get his chance in Melbourne to prove he is international standard. The Christchurch midfielder, Danny Halligan, is also a certainty while Ceri Evans, provided he can get time off his medical duties, and Gary Lund, could form the centre-back partnership. Lund impressed Mr Fallon last Sunday with his strong game against Mount Wellington as did the Christchurch wing, Paul Nicholls.

The fleeting visit to Melbourne will also be a chance for Mike McGarry, the All Whites’ most potent attacker in its disappointing Olympic campaign, to prove that playing in the southern league for Mosgiel has not dulled his skills.

McGarry has six goals to his credit, including three penalties, from 10 games, a moderate return for a player of his class.