Soccer: Kingz recruit foreign legion

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Football Kingz will have the full complement of four imports when the new NSL season starts next month. Chief executive Chris Turner yesterday named 21-year-old Norwegian striker/attacking midfielder Aleksander Midtsian to join Chilean defender Mauro Donoso on the club's books.

Midtsian, who has played at under-16, under-18 and under-21 level for Norway, will arrive tomorrow. He will be on trial for a month with the view of signing him for the season.

At the same time, Turner confirmed the arrangement the club has with English premier league giants Chelsea, who will provide the remaining two imports.

Three of the four imports can be on the team sheet for any game during the NSL season.

"We have made it clear we are looking for a central defender and another striker," Turner said. "Under the partnership with Chelsea we can expect two players of a high standard to fill those roles."

It seems likely those players, who should be known within two or three weeks, will come from the Chelsea reserve team squad.

While the new arrangement will not mean any cash injection from the London club, any players used by the Kingz will remain on their books and be paid by Chelsea.

Turner also announced the signing of former All Whites defender David Rayner for the new season.

Rayner, who played in the national under-17 side in the 1999 world youth championships in New Zealand, has had a stint at English club Newcastle United.

Chris Jackson has re-signed with the Kingz but has yet to learn whether he will again lead the side.

The partnership with Chelsea was announced in London by club chief executive Trevor Birch.

He said the arrangement would have benefits for both parties.

"It gives the opportunity for our players to gain experience in a different environment playing in the Australian National League.

"It also gives Chelsea access to the best talent in New Zealand and Australia, and opens up playing and coaching exchanges.

"We have seen players such as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Brett Emerton and others come through the region, and New Zealand players such as Danny Hay at Leeds and Wynton Rufer at Werder Bremen."

The partnership was established following meetings over the past couple of years between Turner, Sky Television chief executive John Fellet, Birch, Chelsea chairman Ken Bates and the club's company secretary Alan Shaw.

The Kingz will be able to send young players to Chelsea's academy as part of the deal.

The Chelsea logo will be worn on the sleeve on the Kingz' playing strip.

In Christchurch, former All Whites captain Steve Sumner has hailed the link as one of the best developments in New Zealand soccer for some time.

"It's good news for the game here," said Sumner, who captained the All Whites at the 1982 World Cup finals. If you had to pick a high-profile team from Britain, you would be looking at Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and maybe Liverpool. They [Chelsea] are right up there."

Sumner said it would be a huge boost if Chelsea could provide the Kingz with young players "from a good football background."

Meanwhile, the All Whites have dropped seven places on Fifa's rankings list after disappointing performances at the Confederations Cup finals in France in June.

Mick Waitt's New Zealand team are now 60th equal with Scotland out of 204 nations.

The All Whites were 53rd before their losses to Japan, Colombia and France. But they are ahead of Australia, who dropped 13 places to 63.

Oceania, stripped of direct World Cup entry by Fifa, is the only zone without a nation in the top 50.