Soccer: National body to support Kingz

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand Soccer are poised to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Football Kingz this week.

The move will formalise the national body's support for the club which is set to play in the revamped Australian National Soccer league.

Speaking from Paris where he attended Fifa's centenary congress, NZS chief executive Bill MacGowan said he was pleased with the outcome of talks with Kingz benefactor Brian Katzen.

"Our discussions in London covered a huge variety of topics," said MacGowan. "Brian Katzen made it very clear he is committed to the Kingz and is determined to make it happen.

"There is the potential for a small New Zealand Soccer holding in the club and a management role coming out of our office. Katzen is excited about taking the club forward but, like us, he is waiting for the Australian Soccer Association to put out the documentation which will cover major issues including sponsors and television partners.

"We were in agreement that things must go forward. The Kingz are an important part of our game," he said. "I expect the memo of understanding to be on my desk when I return to New Zealand on Monday."

MacGowan said there was no discussion on a likely coach but said Katzen was keen to use his contacts with Swansea City when the search for players begins.

Australian officials in Paris gave MacGowan the impression there is likely to be a mini-league of eight teams playing one round of seven matches in late January solely for the purpose of finding a representative in next year's Oceania Football Confederation club championships. Should the Kingz win that, they would represent Australia in the club play-offs.

Tonga's Ahongalu Fusimalohi succeeded in convincing the Fifa executive he should hold his place on the powerful body until 2006.

In rejecting Australian Ron Harvey, elected unanimously at the last OFC congress, Fifa placated him somewhat by naming him as a Fifa vice-president elect.

Former OFC president Charlie Dempsey was one of six, including Asian general secretary Peter Velappan and European vice-president Lennart Johansson, to be presented with Fifa's Centennial Order of Merit.

New Caledonia, the newest OFC member, became the 205th Fifa member country contributing to the 250 million participants in the code worldwide.