Soccer: Black is out - All Whites staying true to their name

The New Zealand soccer team are set to wear their alternate black playing strip at least once during next month's Confederations Cup in South Africa or in the three lead-up matches, but that will not signal any long-term switch away from the traditional white.

Suggestions the All Whites could change to a black strip in the future remain just that, with many strongly against any change.

"It is a standard line which comes up from time to time," said New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum. "There is no proposal to make any change. And, should it reach our board, any decision we make, I'm sure, will polarise people both ways."

Van Hattum, a member of the 1982 World Cup team which first took the All Whites name, is certainly no great fan for a switch.

"The All Whites are an instantly recognisable brand name and I don't think it has anything to do with the colour of the jersey. Yes, our alternate strip for games in Africa is likely to be black - as it has been in the past - but that doesn't mean we are not the All Whites just as it was when we had blue as the alternate strip." Van Hattum is determined he will not be side-tracked by such issues ahead of one of the most important periods for the code since that 1982 campaign.

The Confederations Cup gives the All Whites their third chance to play at that level.

They have the opportunity to improve on previous efforts. In six matches spread over the 1999 and 2003 tournaments in Mexico and France, the All Whites failed to pick up a point, scoring only two goals in 3-1 and 2-1 losses to Colombia and the US respectively but without, apart from the 5-0 loss to France six years ago, ever being embarrassed.

More importantly, the six matches in Africa are seen as ideal preparation for the home-and-away World Cup play-offs in October and November.

It also gives New Zealand Football a healthy funding boost but one van Hattum insists is no windfall.

"It is payment in arrears. There is a significant cost to get there [the Confederations Cup]. It is a high-risk investment," said van Hattum. "But it [qualifying] is a priceless moment. Are we the eighth best team in the world?

"Certainly not, but tournaments like this are a wonderful opportunity to play at this level.

"The Confederations Cup money helps our World Cup preparations."

It is certainly much more than they could ever hope to get from playing internationals at home. Apart from the home leg of the World Cup play-offs, it is most unlikely the All Whites will play in New Zealand this year.

The venue for that game against a yet-to-be-determined opponent will be decided by the end of June with van Hattum admitting at this stage "everything is an option".

He did say, however, that planned matches in the Fifa windows in September are likely to be played in the Middle East as a team from that part of the world are more than likely to be the All Whites' opponents in their quest for a spot in World Cup 2010.

Van Hattum said that while there would be benefits in playing here, that is not the most practical option.

"Getting the team together is much easier offshore," said van Hattum. "As for home advantage, that will be more in the crowd they attract and the weather. This will be one of the biggest games we have ever staged. Let's hope it gets the support it deserves."