KEY POINTS:
A cruel theft has shattered New Zealand women's soccer coach John Hardman as he prepares to put the national side out for two tests against the visiting Canadians.
Thieves broke into Herdman's car while he was attending after-match speeches at Bill McKinlay Park last Sunday and stole his
two laptops, cellphone, iPod and external hard drive, robbing him of five years' hard work.
"It is absolutely devastating," said Herdman, who is also New Zealand Football's manager of coach education. "I have lost everything.
"Gone is all my planning for this year's Women's World Cup, my analysis of the Canadian team and their players, all my motivational DVDs and photos from previous games with the national side."
The thieves broke into his car during the 45 minutes Herdman attended the function after an Auckland-based development team had lost 1-0 to the University of North Carolina.
"I'm desperate to get them and my little blue book with all my notes back," said Herdman yesterday. "They have taken my work laptop as well as my personal laptop on which I had backed everything up. They are no use to anyone else. And much of it can't be replaced."
On a happier note, New Zealand Football has revealed figures which again underlines the strength of the game worldwide.
Projected television figures show that 180 countries will take coverage of the September 10-30 Women's World Cup in China.
Early figures show that 95 countries have already agreed to take coverage from next year's women's under-17 World Cup in New Zealand with projections that will rise to 120 by kick-off.
These numbers are well in excess of the 33 countries who are set to take coverage of this year's Rugby World Cup in France and the three countries who want footage from November's World Netball Championships in Auckland. A further 10 are committed to taking part coverage.
The two-test tour for the Canadians - ranked 10 in the world (of the 142 on the list) - began on a sour note when they were fined at Auckland International Airport for attempting to bring oranges into the country.
The first of their two matches against 23rd-ranked New Zealand will be played at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The second test will be played at the same ground next Wednesday.