Hockey coaches demand secrecy

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

They are even checking up the light towers for spies at the Olympic hockey stadium.

Such is the paranoia running through some of the world's top hockey teams that any soul who happens upon the State Hockey Centre is subject to interrogation.

Even electricians who scaled the lighting poles, which lean over the ground like monstrous hockey sticks, came under scrutiny when the world champion Australian women trained at the weekend.

Coach Frank Walsh was concerned that the workmen were British spies. With the Australians due to meet Britain first up this weekend, Walsh had his team trying out top-secret penalty corner moves that he did not want the opposition to see.

Most teams, including the New Zealand women, have ordered closed training sessions in the week leading up to the Olympic competition.

A Kiwi camera crew were told they could not film the Canadian men's practice yesterday, even though there is no New Zealand men's team at these Games.

The New Zealand women will play a practice match against Spain tomorrow to an empty house.

Coach Jan Borren does not want anyone in the 15,000 seats before Saturday's first game, against the Germans.

His team had an intense, 90-minute run-around on the back turf in the Olympic village yesterday, but not everyone lasted the distance.

Explosive striker Moira Senior took a limited part in the training, favouring her left leg.

Senior, a double international who chose hockey over softball, strained a calf muscle last week in New Zealand's big win over Argentina in Auckland.

"We want her to play it safe until the Olympics begin," Borren said after the run. "There's no point in her taking the risk and aggravating it further."

Borren has decided New Zealand will play only one warm-up match before the Games begin, with the emphasis on building up their mental strength for day one.

"I don't want any more than one game. Coaches make the mistake of playing too many matches and then their teams aren't hungry when they get there," he said. "But I don't want us to be surprised first up. We made that mistake in the Olympic qualifying tournament - we won't be doing that again."

The New Zealanders probably did not take any notice, but in the traditional medal picks in Sports Illustrated, the Kiwi women have been chosen as bronze medallists, behind Australia and the Netherlands.