Terry Maddaford: Something about NZ Soccer decision doesn't add up

New Zealand soccer is in danger of falling between a rock and the proverbial in addressing a couple of thorny issues.

On one hand they are bleating that a funding shortfall will not allow them to send the national side to the Oceania under-17 qualifying tournament.

On the other, they appear happy to scoff at what could be a golden handout if Australia shuffled off to pitch their tent with the Asians.

The under-17 issue has the more serious implications.

For some time NZS has trumpeted their development programme as being envied in many countries.

The first serious opportunity to show just how successful it has been comes with the under-17s.

From their early teens many players have come through a talent identification process aimed at selection for development/academy coaching programmes.

Throughout the country they worked long and hard - usually with strong parental support - in the hope of international selection.

That rug has cruelly been pulled, leaving players and parents wondering why they bothered.

Chief executive Graham Seatter announced "regretfully, NZS will not be participating in the tournament".

"Our commitment hasn't changed from our business plan, that is to send teams to all Fifa qualifying tournaments, provided key criteria of finance, development and competitiveness are met ... unfortunately the budget simply does not stretch to participation in this tournament at this time."

Seatter adds: "There are other factors in the equation such as conditions and preparation . . ."

But is this not the same association which, late last year, reversed a decision to allow the under-20 side go to the Solomon Islands in January?

The initial advice, from a committee set up by the national body, was that the team was not up to standard and that conditions in the Solomons in January were a concern. NZS board members agreed.

Under pressure, that decision was reversed. The team went to the Solomons, failed dismally and had players affected by the heat.

The under-17s surely can't be seen as under-prepared - they have been working towards this for three or four years - and New Caledonia in April poses no other concerns.

Cost too, could be a smokescreen. With the Oceania Football Confederation picking up the travel tab and Nike supplying kit, the national association, surely, has to cover only assembly costs here and accommodation costs there. No player payments.

NZS director of football Paul Smalley says player development will not be jeopardised by the decision. Try telling that to the players and their parents.

If finance is the real reason, NZS should therefore be happy to see the back of Australia when they head off, leaving New Zealand and its island neighbours to scramble for spots in Fifa tournaments and the big dollars that go with them.

Seatter maintains that without Australia, New Zealand would lose bargaining power.

One has to wonder what New Zealand could bring, or collect, from that table.

It would have to be plenty to offset the money they could pocket by winning the Oceania spot at the Confederations Cup every four years or share with the club which makes it through to the Fifa Club Championship every two.

Direct entry to Fifa tournaments must appeal, provided they get past island opposition.

But that is another story.