Hockey: Coaching teams to have a hand in selections as well

By TERRY MADDAFORD

In a radical change, the new national men's hockey coach and his two assistants will take dual selection roles as well.

The New Zealand Hockey Federation is expected to name a successor to outgoing coach Robin Wilson next week.

Wilson, who stepped down after the team failed to win Olympic selection, is not a contender, and his assistant, Allan Hill, has yet to confirm whether he will seek a place in the new-look set-up.

"We have a shortlist of eight for both [coach and assistant coaches] positions and will work through those this week," said federation chief executive Ramesh Patel yesterday.

"The selection panel of three or four will interview the candidates and announce their decision as soon as possible."

While Wilson was one of the three selectors under the last regime, his co-selectors were just that. They had no hands-on role with the team.

"It is a departure from past policy. We are keen to try this, particularly with the men's team," said Patel. "It might not be ideal all the time but we felt in the present situation it was worth having a change."

The new appointees will take the team through to the February-March 2002 World Cup in Malaysia.

Their first task will be to select a team for the upcoming tour by Pakistan.

Originally planned to assist New Zealand's Olympic preparation, the tour will still go ahead despite the failure qualify for Sydney.

The tour will open with a match against a national under-21 or academy side at Rosedale Park in Albany on August 27. The visitors will then play tests in Auckland (August 29), North Harbour (August 31), Hamilton - on a new water-based surface - (September 2) and back in Auckland on September 3.

These matches will be the first step on the path to the May 2001 World Cup qualifying tournament in India.