Soccer: Olympic football hopefuls face camp

Kosta Barbarouses of the All Whites. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's under-23 footballers hoping to play at the London Olympics next year face an examination of their credentials at a week-long camp and trial in Taupo later this month.

The 32 New Zealand-based players will battle for a place in an 18-strong squad for an Oceania qualification tournament in Fiji in March. The winner of the tournament will play in London against 15 countries in the under-23 competition where sides can field three overage players in each squad.

All Whites Chris Wood, Tommy Smith, Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas and Jake Gleeson are all eligible for the team, but their clubs are not required to release them for the qualifying tournament.

All Whites technical advisor Raul Blanco, Waitakere United's Neil Emblen, New Zealand under-20 coach Chris Milicich and former All Whites Michael McGarry and Chris Zorocich will run the rule over players during the week with All Whites head coach Ricki Herbert also attending during camp from August 29 to September which culminates in a trial match.

New Zealand Football chief executive Grant McKavanagh said the camp was a first step towards qualifying for London 2012.

"We have a potentially strong group for London when you look at our young overseas pros and collegiate players with three senior All Whites added to that mix," McKavanagh said, "but we have to qualify first and the size of that task should not be underestimated."

The Football Ferns reached the final stage of their Olympic qualification as winners of the Oceania Football Confederation women's Nations Cup. They will face the winner of an Olympic preliminary tournament home and away on dates yet to be confirmed.

- NZPA