Soccer: Kiwi domination does Kingz proud

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Football Kingz are getting closer to being a New Zealand soccer team.

Having been propped up by imports in many of their games in their first season and a half in the National Soccer League, the Kingz almost made it an all-Kiwi affair at Ericsson Stadium on Friday night.

When player-coach Wynton Rufer replaced German-based striker Dennis Ibrahim at halftime, 10 of the 11 Kingz players were New Zealand born. Australian defender Levent Osman was the odd man out.

Of the 11 New Zealanders who helped the side to a 1-0 win over Sydney Olympic (Tim Stevens replaced Paul Urlovic in the second spell), only keeper Simon Eaddy has not been an All White.

"We are a Kiwi team, that's clear," Kingz assistant coach Shane Rufer said yesterday.

"It is not something we think too much about but I knew we were pretty close when we had to replace Andy Bluhm after his car accident."

Bluhm, who suffered whiplash in the accident, is back training and expects to be available for selection for Saturday night's away game against Eastern Pride.

He might be under some pressure to win back his place given the manner in which the all-Kiwi midfield of Noah Hickey, in his first start of the season, goalscorer Mark Burton, Harry Ngata (who came back in for Bluhm), Gerard Davis and Aaran Lines played against Olympic.

The Kingz have consecutive away games against Eastern Pride and Newcastle, both below them on the points table.