Soccer: Thumbs up for new strip

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The United Nations look that is so much part of the Football Kingz took on a new meaning yesterday.

Joining the players from Germany, Australia, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand as their new Italian-designed playing strip was revealed, was their latest fan - another foreigner.

She was the much-publicised Australian terrier who had dog-lovers baying for blood when, in a television commercial, she appeared to fall from a burning building, and goalkeeper Julio Cuello caught a falling soccer ball - instead of the dog.

But this time the Argentine keeper made sure of taking his "catch."

A pedigree bitch with a long name, she happily became "Striker" - a much preferred alternative to the unkind "Splat."

But all might not end as well for Cuello as the team prepare for their first Australian National Soccer league match of the season, away to Sydney Olympic on Sunday.

While Cuello will travel under the new rule which allows a goalkeeper to be named as one of four substitutes - with three allowed to play - it seems certain New Zealand under-23 goalkeeper Chris Marsh will start.

Cuello was the early tip, but coaches Wynton and Shane Rufer favoured Marsh in last Friday night's win over Marconi and are likely to stay with him for the season opener.

While the 15 players to travel will not be named for a day or two, Wynton Rufer is hopeful that his new signing, Tim Stevens, will be cleared from his club, Waitakere City.

Stevens will join the Kingz on a performance-based contract, which will allow him to continue outside employment but still be available for training.

Mark Elrick and Fred de Jong played under similar arrangements last season and, if required, will play on the same basis again.

The Kingz will play in their new Lotto strip for the first time on Sunday.

The gear is designed on the lines of the famous black-and-white strip worn by Italian giants Juventus FC.

The players are impressed with that and the white alternative strip, also unveiled yesterday.

After Sunday's away game, the Kingz will play their first home game of the season at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland against the Eastern Pride - formerly the Gippsland Falcons - on Friday week. They will be back at the stadium the following Friday to play the Newcastle Breakers.

Of their first three opponents, only the Eastern Pride finished below the Kingz on last season's points table.

Victory over the other two sides would give their season a flying start.

It is likely that home matches against Sydney United, on January 19, Marconi, on March 16, and Perth Glory, on March 2, will be played away from Auckland, the first two at Wellington's WestpacTrust Stadium and the game against Perth at Christchurch's Jade Stadium, to avoid a clash with the Big Day Out and two Auckland Blues Super 12 rugby games.

The Kingz finished eighth last season, just two places from the playoff series.