Soccer: Rufer buys Kingz-sized fight

By Terry Maddaford

The biggest names in New Zealand soccer are on a collision course over the future of the Football Kingz.

Kingz player-coach Wynton Rufer and Oceania Football Confederation boss Charlie Dempsey are coming from opposite tacks in the war of words over the club's participation in the Australian National Soccer League.

And the sparks could fly if the two come face to face next week in Zurich, where they will both be on official business at the home of the sport's governing body, Fifa.

OFC president Dempsey has long maintained that the Kingz' life in the NSL is just two years - this season and 2000-2001 - after which they must return to their "own" competition.

But Rufer, voted Oceania's player of the 20th century, sees it differently.

He says there is no "own" competition for the Kingz to return to - as the only professional club in New Zealand they have nowhere else to play.

"Like Charlie Dempsey, I'm also on Fifa," Rufer said. "I have spoken to Sepp Blatter's personal assistant who said he was disgusted with what Dempsey had been saying about the Kingz.

"Sepp Blatter is keen to have soccer people [like me] in a leadership role. I'll be in Zurich next week and will be talking to Fifa about the Kingz and their future.

"People at Fifa agree [having the Kingz playing in the NSL] is the most positive thing for New Zealand soccer. They feel it can only strengthen Oceania football and add weight to the argument for direct World Cup entry."

Dempsey has long maintained that the Kingz gained Fifa's approval on a sympathy vote and would not extend beyond the initial two-year agreement despite the Football Kingz holding a five-year licence with the NSL.

Rufer's stance comes just 24 hours after the Kingz announced that they had entered a conditional deal with Sky Television for the broadcaster to take an 80 per cent stake in the club.

The deal should bring to an end weeks of uncertainty at the Kingz and result in Rufer and his co-coach and brother, Shane, re-signing for another year.

Sky chief executive Nate Smith and the chief financial officer, Paul Smart, met the players before training yesterday. The company is expected to ratify the deal after due diligence has been carried out on the club.

Meanwhile, former Kingz midfielder Dino Mennillo, who walked out on the club two weeks ago claiming he had not received proper bonus payments, has been given clearance to join the Wollongong Wolves.

Kingz chairman Chris Turner said yesterday that following discussions with Mennillo it had been decided that the Kingz would not stand in his way.

"We believe we had grounds to contest it," Turner said. "But it was obvious he does not want to play for the Kingz. We don't want an unhappy player. We understand he is likely to be cleared in time to play for Wollongong this weekend."

The Kingz leave tomorrow morning for their return game with defending champions South Melbourne tomorrow night.

"We won't have Chris Jackson or Che Bunce, who are both suspended, but I expect Mark Elrick will be back in the squad," said Rufer, who also hopes to play, as does Fred de Jong. "We have quite a few variations we can look at among the 15 players we will take."

Rufer hopes Jason Batty and Aaran Lines will be ready to join team training next week after working their way back to fitness following injury.

The Kingz match against Newcastle at Wellington's WestpacTrust Stadium next weekend will now be played on Saturday at 3pm rather than Sunday.

Rufer said: "Because we changed a fixture within 28 days of the game, both clubs had to agree on a new time. Newcastle would not agree to Sunday as they have a game the following Friday. We have to go along with that."