Michael Burgess: Changing All Whites' name would be disrespectful and pointless

New Zealand Football are considering dropping the 'All Whites' name. Photo / Photosport

OPINION:

Hopefully New Zealand Football are just testing the water.

Hopefully this has come from one of those tiresome corporate type brainstorming sessions, where 'no idea is a bad idea' and even shy Andy from accounts is encouraged to have his say.

And hopefully it is quickly realised that a) it's ridiculous and b) NZF have much more pressing priorities, like organising the 2023 FIFA Woman's World Cup, finding a new Football Ferns coach, capitalising on the men's heroics in Tokyo and bedding down the new national league structure.

Dropping the All Whites' name, as the governing body are said to be considering, would be unnecessary, disrespectful and pointless.

The moniker has nothing to do with race or the colour of someone's skin and it would be a stretch to find anyone who is actually offended by it.

And if there is someone, in a far-off corner of the internet somewhere, so what?

Does NZF really need to undo 40 years of history to pander to the opinions of some anonymous, vacuous Twitter or social media types?

In almost 20 years of covering the All Whites, I've never come across anyone who was disturbed by the name. Curious, yes, intrigued, maybe.

In Peru in 2017 there were plenty who found it unusual, before they twigged when the ubiquitous rugby team was mentioned ("Ah, Los All Blacks…Si!).

The genesis of the nickname came about by accident, but most of the best ones do.

Wynton Rufer in action for New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup. Photo / Getty

Adidas couldn't provide enough black shorts ahead of a lengthy away trip in 1981 and everyone soon realised that the one colour kit looked better, before supporters and media christened them the All Whites.

Since then, as a legendary former player told the Herald on Monday, there have been four decades of blood, sweat and toil behind the name on the world stage.

"There is a lot of work on getting the All Whites to where they are, and making that name a respected name," he said. "By us in 1982, by the team in South Africa (2010) and the team now. It's just crazy, it would be disappointing. There are no connotations at all. They play in white, and they are called the All Whites. I don't know what they are trying to achieve."

It's about now that we should probably mention the All Blacks, Black Caps, White Ferns, Tall Blacks et al but that is so obvious it hurts.

And what about the players and coaches? It's unlikely they have been consulted.

The 1982 boys sacrificed so much for the All White jersey – physically, mentally and financially – and made a nation dream like never before. The late, great Steve Sumner can't have a say, but his reaction would likely be unprintable.

What about the Ricki Herbert's heroes of 2009 and 2010, with their deeds against Bahrain, Slovakia and Italy, which made headlines around the football world?

Have the proud players of Māori heritage, like Wynton Rufer, Harry Ngata and Winston Reid been asked for their opinions on wearing the All Whites shirt?

This feels like something that has been hatched at board level, folk who are often desperate to 'make a statement' and be 'thought leaders'. Types who want to leave a legacy, when all they are actually doing here is undoing one.

Winston Reid scores against Slovakia during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Photo / Photosport

Do they realise, by the way, that Real Madrid, arguably the biggest club in football history is nicknamed Los Blancos (The Whites)?

Maybe there is a marketing element to this, an idea that a black kit would look better on the world stage. Maybe that aligns better with most other national teams from this country. Maybe.

But the New Zealand football team can still wear black as an alternate strip. Liverpool are the 'Reds' and have different colours for their away shirts. Same for Everton (Blues), Manchester United (Red Devils), Uruguay (Sky Blues) and Argentina (Blue and Whites) etc.

If this is true, it feels like NZF are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist, to make a stance that no one really understands, to achieve an outcome that probably no one wants.

It's just a name, sure, but like a flag, the symbolism means so much to so many.

Whatever happens, it's hard to imagine fans – especially for the next few generations – just dropping the name.

The last word, as it should, goes to another proud ex-All White.

"No one has complained for 40 years so what is the problem? They (NZF) want to spend more time on trying to win games."