SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 20

SOCCER

■ r "*AM*CHAmtK"

BENNETT MEMORIAL RACE

•V.."VAN«UMD" ,

IN RETROSPECT

SEASON'S ACTIVITIES

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

■ Tie match against.a Navy, team, r to; be .played at Wellington; torday, will bring tbe 1031 Soccer season to a close. In. reviewing: the season, one must come to the conclusion that, on the whole, it has been very quiets No doubt the present financial conditions have been partly responsible ;for that. ; Wellington supporters of the code have not seen the overseas side yet,' but, the indications are' that' a visiting eleven will be seen in action next year; The necessity- for .such' a -visit 'cannot -be stressed too much. Irivariably, football suffers if: teams are left to .play among themselves, and it is to be hoped that if tho tour by an Australian side does eventuate, football; in /New Zea-land-will: be all the better for;it. •■ L6(Jallyj:the competitions have •been concluded without hitch, but the standard of football shown has ; been about the same as:.' that- of * previous': years. There have been some, .good club matches, but generally speaking the play has not been outstanding.: One of the most important.' matters connected with football has been the reduction, of the size of the ground: It was claimed by the. New Zealand Council," at whose instigation ■ the narrower ground was used, that the game would be speeded up by the . innovation, and ■ consequently it- would be more attractive. That in turn was to have meant increased attendances, with better "gates." The hope- that: the game would, improve was justified, but not for long.- Players^ going,suddenly^ from/a big field to a smaller one, \ did play brighter football, a> the number of goals, scored - would: indicate, .but ;it was not! long before they; settled down to the* smaller ground, and played comparatively the same: kind of. football. Moreover; the- smaller ground, has this one disadvantage: it resulted, in more throw-ins, and, to a < certain extent, interfered witlLtbe run .of; the game. Soccer .essentially is a fast game if it is to : be attractive, but the, frequent stoppages ■brought, about.'by; what one might well describe-as: V line play■?•' did not tend to make the game more enjoy able as far as the spectators were concerned. ;It was noticeable; that towards the end of the season when:the, teams had become accustomed.to;the smaller ground, the big scores which had been a feature immediately; afteT the innovation, vanished; The 'smaller ground is by no means popularwith all associations, and before: next.season:this im> portant question might >well ,b» considered by the controlling> authorities, Wellington had a somewhat/unfortunate season. After beating, Auckland in the F. A. trophy: match, the local ■■ representatives lost the trophy shortly afterwards to Otago,whjch sent pp..a very fine team. The.game was a, good one, and Otago are to be heartily con■gratulaied on\ their^well-d/esery.ed win; la the .Chatham, Cup,.the .local, representatives, Petonei were: beaten in ,the New Zealand, semi-firiiii;;arid the ..cup. left Wellington'again.,The filial for tho cup, played at Wellington, was not remarkable for the of either team. .•. .'....< -.. .'.-. ■, •'. '. . <-v; it ■ ' There is one Tiappy featute about the 1931 season. • The! game'was ably coiv trolled .idcilly, and tKe>e,;was; a.n absencei.,of any' disturbjiifc...iticidents.';. Coach Honoured, \ : . ■ The -Diamoncl intermediate football team, winners of 'the intermediate championship, stored. their appreciation of the'services rendered; them during the season by their coach, Mr. T. Pairjngtoni when they tendered him; a surprise .party at: his residence at Hataitai. '6a'mes,' competitions, etc.", were indulged in, arid; a\ novelty turn by Mr. W. Afcus added much to the success of :the evening. 'Supper was served by the ladies, .and competitions were' won by M£ W. Arcus and Miss L.'Helliwel].'. - ';, •, , ,"'. Italy's Football. , '■'■':It is Italy 'a aim to shine in;sport and niake sport assist in revitalising the nation, writes Ivan gharpe in the '.'Athletic News." ; "Stars are honoured: the left back of the international eleven (Caligaris) and an inside forward (Baloucieri) have received the title, of Cavaliere. To become a. paid -player is regarded as an achievement and as the reward of merit, As I understand it, the amateur, fftr from'seeing any loss of "dignity in becoming a paid> player, is encouraged to aspire to the proficiency, that: -will enable him to qualify for; remuneration. There are only a:score or so of wholetime . professionals in all Italy. The rest are ".part-time professionals, and there is an army ■of amateur players all' under the big and efficient organisation of the Italian Football Association and its general -.secretary (Giuseppe ?an'etti). :..V ::. ;- •' •".''■ ■. ■■ .-.. '■': : : " Thousands 'of. registration forms I saw at Italy's busy football headquarters, and each: contained; a photograph, of the player,'-, reminding me of my passport,' ■■-'■ -\- .■:• ■ .-. :.' '.. ■- ■;.;' wl;think■ 1 have the position .correctly when I add that the word professional isV.iipt usedi or ■recognisedl-in Italian footbalL. .Fnfort«na|;e^rj I: omitted to get official confirmation, but I was informed ' mote' than; once that it is part of the programme of • Fascism that no distinction.is inade^between the amateur and the professional,1: all being: termed just footballers.;, '' ; '■"'''■: . ■'•■' "There is aothing hidden, of course. These 'star' players-are openly paid, after the style of the Australian Test cricketers, and the fees, I was told, vary from about £10 to £30 monthly. • "Italy, believes in bonuses. Its system is intriguing.' Players receive.more for away wins or draws than.for home performances. They also receive a bonus for.good play in cases where they may have'lost. 'Hear, heari' I can hear the Players', Union saying.; 'It's time we fbltowed,, suit.'.; But; wait!a.'minute. For, a. home defeat.'or>badvperfbrn>»nce the players of Italy;mayieceiye' a deduction fiom^thejur- pay.' What about that? Of course, the: bonus system is all. a prod to; better play..,;. '■!s<> slackiiig' is-written 111 over Mussoliniland;' ■■: :•• '•■.' ■;' •:•■•.' .. ■■•'■■■ "I have not seen the Italy team at their best. 6f this I;am certain. IJp and' down the Continent; I* had heard of their telling combination of skill and speed. -The Austrians> having run Scotland off' their feet; warned them that the Italians were faster. "Italy beat Scotland 3-0 without showing the sgine class, but ■ Vittorio Pozzo, the hori.''-coach— a level-headed tutor who knows.much .of,-British football because lie lived here for some years—told me that absent half-backs had spoiled the team's style, and that this was their most disappointing dis-. play-of the season! '■ ■■ ■■ i;.

'"Anyway,. Italy are the"holders' of the Central European championship, )a Which "Austria,"".'Hungary,""'CzecndSlovakia^ and.Switzerland also play.. "They beat France 5-0 this season. That is why pjngland'S;s-2. defeat iv Paris, to quote AVaither.J Beisemanni' editor of 'Der Kicker,' tne'"German football, journal,' 'fell...like..a. bomb all Over the' Continent..'; ' * ■ .>- '■':..'■■ -also added, of the Scotiish defeat in Austria: 'On 16th Jlay^ between six 1 o'clock , and ; seven, British- prestige; which had already received a very hard smack at Paris, received; its death-blow at yienna.' • "Now you know what-.the world is saying. And that is why I am trying to rouse our too-complacent country to face the football facts, and do something all round' to' regain-lost ground :—on the field and in the'government of.the game.. . -. '>..-' ,;•■•.-.. ■ '■■; "It i? obvious that Italy "has some first-rate players. Orsi, outside left, is one of the best in Europe: a complete player—young, slim, .sleek, powerful; No need to say to this young man, 'Orsi, keep your- tail tip.' Cesarini, inside Tight, reminded me' in build of Tommys Little, who-used "to play, for Bradford, and in style of Clem Stephenstiri, of Huddersfleld-*6ql f , full; of cunning) a.iid rieyer-'in a hurry.' jA: good general. Constantino, outside right, shot ahead in the Italian style. Outside men should 'get along'—not stop to, pick flowers. Another, flrst-cla'ss dancing goalkeeper .'. (Combi) . aud two fast, " virile. ' backs - - (Monzeglio ; and Caligairis) complete the list; of Italian players who caught my, eye., :, ,' ' 'f There, w no doubt that \Ve Pjoght to see ,this team in Britain—the Booner the better."'."' ' .';.' ■' '" " ■" '. ":','. ' ' ... ■,' 'fit, as seems, likely, we are going to seek to regain some .prestige by meeting these countries under bur playing conditions, let us have them over in the right order. Austria and Italy should; be early arrivals.' " ; r. , "Are"they boastfulT You can't keep the 'fan' quiet anywhere. But .'listen to Eiccardo Pizzi, one of their .chief officials: *We hope to. meet' Scotland again. We don !t hope to lose, but we always hope to learn.''■ ■ ,' "Italian football, which has a First and' Second Division, embracing the 36 leading clubs (two going .up and down each year), has. earnest State support. I' have told you of Mussolini's active interest. His Undersecretary for Home Affairs (Signor Arpinati) is the president of the Italian Football Association. Progress.guaranteed: It is at Bologna, where he was formerly a local leader, that Italy has a State'Stadium7 for football, holding 60,000 spectators. At the Stadium in Eome, where Scotland played and where Mussolini often fences, are first;class facilities; ior-hatt'a dozen sports, all supervised' by Mario-Conde-lori,: former Italian sprint champion. Then—mark tny: w.ordi-^the ;'neW. Mussolini Stadium of white marble will make all Europe talk. 'Everywhere, •Go-ahead! ' : : . '■~ " . .-. i■' ■.' ,'■••■,'' ,' '/In-homely^Switzerland' the- atmosphere is different. Here; all are amateurs, and the players are not very anxious to make, the;long i-journeys involved in ■' meeting other- countries. ■ '" The improvement -in football since I>- last. played i;there; is' lgsS marked;" but aribther'-fine goalkeeper .'(Pasche) ,and outside right (Kram*r) popped ;up.; "Here, ; tod, the Keat was .too great for the British footballer. In the-shade of;, the stand I was hot. On the" terraces 20,000 men' had shed. coat .and, if any, waistcoat.: I envied them. : ■ "But you can?t':shed;your'coat at a show when" honoured .with1 a. : box. When it was necessary to walk fifty yards to my car at-the close :.' .phew! . 44'Atl&- to think;l.'was once so perishing.'cold at Evertp'n^l couldn't follow the play. ■>'' ''~" < -' \'■ '}'"■'.' -^'.'' ';'■.".,'■ ' "Switzerland is not a: leading fiower in Continental football on the field: of play, but it;has the: greatest of alj."cpn-. gelations: genuine sportsmanshipi"