Soccer: NSL chief defends Kingz against snapping Aussie rivals

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The call by some, if not all, Australian clubs for the Football Kingz to be booted out of the National Soccer League finds little favour with the league's hierarchy.

In Auckland yesterday on a whistle-stop visit, NSL chief executive Stefan Kamasz said that provided the Kingz meet the conditions of their participation agreement their short-term future was assured.

"The Kingz have an agreement for the next two seasons," said Kamasz.

"As long as the Kingz remain solvent and meet the conditions of the agreement they need have no concerns.

"I feel the Kingz are necessary for soccer in New Zealand and indeed the whole region."

Kamasz does not accept the argument put up by some Australian clubs that the Kingz should be kicked out, especially when the result of the recent Oceania Nations Cup is considered. "Rather than taking that attitude, the clubs should be calling on Soccer Australia to ensure they put out a team good enough to beat New Zealand."

Kamasz said that while the Kingz could look forward to the next two seasons even if the NSL was reduced from the present 13 teams, it was important to look beyond the club's initial five-year licence.

Of suggestions that Sydney club Olympic Sharks might be a late withdrawal from the NSL following the breakdown of talks with English premier league club Leeds United, Kamasz and league chairman Remo Nogarotto said they were assuming the Sharks would take their place.

"We are not even thinking about redrawing the league," said Kamasz. "In these days of sponsorship uncertainty, everybody is finding it difficult. Ten of the 16 AFL clubs, as an example, are going to lose money this season. The Kingz have one big advantage at present. While the league has yet to confirm any television coverage for the season, the Kingz, through Sky Television, have a deal already in place.

"This allows them to go to prospective sponsors on the basis of having guaranteed television."

All clubs will meet in Sydney on September 11 to sort out any problems before the September 20 kickoff.