Hockey: Coach grounded by heart op

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

National men's coach Kevin Towns has undergone heart surgery, forcing him to stay at home during this month's Champions Challenge event in South Africa.

Towns experienced chest pains and was operated on in Auckland. Assistant coach Charlie Oscroft will take the team for the tournament in Randburg. Towns' son Simon will join the side from England as captain.

The tournament is seen as a key part of the build-up to September's Oceania Olympic qualifier with Australia and Fiji.

"Kevin is fine after some minor surgery, but it was felt it was better that he not go to South Africa," New Zealand Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel said yesterday.

He said Towns had previously experienced a heart murmur, but it was not known whether that was related to his latest problem.

"The operation was a precautionary thing but because of it he won't be able to travel on medical advice. I'd imagine he'll be right to travel again in a couple of months."

"Kevin had a number of things he was keen to try in South Africa and these will still done.

"There are a number of options in appointing an assistant coach and these will be worked through with Charlie and Kevin in the next 24 hours or so."

The team assemble on Thursday and leave the following day for the tournament, which starts on July 19.