KEY POINTS:
Funding cuts could cost the New Zealand men's hockey team a great chance to qualify for next year's World Cup.
Hockey New Zealand is scheduled to host one of three World Cup qualifying tournaments in November but that is in doubt following cutbacks from funding agency Sparc.
If New Zealand are unable to host the tournament - awarded following their success in hosting last year's Olympic qualifier at North Harbour's Crown Relocations Stadium - it is likely to go to Russia. That would send the Black Sticks away on a near mission impossible bid in their effort to claim a World Cup spot.
Last year's tournament, hosted with North Shore City support, returned a small profit and earned praise from the sport's governing body.
It is to be hoped Hockey New Zealand finds the necessary backing as the success of last year's tournament, which culminated in the thrilling extra time golden goal victory over Argentina, won a new band of fans for a sport which receives only limited television coverage. It is understood North Shore City is keen to back the bid.
Meanwhile, national coach Shane McLeod has plenty to keep him occupied. His hoped-for Christmas break was cut short with the Christmas Eve invitation for the Black Sticks to join hosts India, the Netherlands and Germany in the highly rated Punjabi Gold Cup.
The tournament, to be played in Chandigarh from January 31 to February 9, gives McLeod the chance to blood some new players and, just as importantly, the opportunity to start his search for a new captain following Ryan Archibald's call to relinquish those reins.
"It was Ryan's decision to step down as captain," said McLeod. "He felt he wanted to concentrate more on his own game. He was a very good captain who led by example but I support his call."
The captaincy in India will be shared by Phil Burrows and Dean Couzins who will also take the role for the four-test home series against India in late February.
Blair Hopping, who will bypass both series, will return for the Azlan Shah Trophy in Kuala Lumpur in April and take the captain's armband. Asked whether any of the players who have made themselves unavailable for the Gold Cup had done so because of security concerns, McLeod said that had not been an issue.
"Before we accepted the invitation, we checked things out and [HNZ chief executive] Ramesh Patel was happy there would be no problems," said McLeod. "We spoke about it at length."
Archibald is taking a break, doing some travel and will also miss the Azlan Shah as he, and possibly Phil Burrows and Simon Child, are likely to be involved in the Euro League at that time.
Bryce Collins will not travel to India but should be fit for the home series. Ben Collier is completing his MBA and will remain in Holland and miss both series.
Hayden Shaw and Blair Hopping are getting married - Shaw this weekend and Hopping in two weeks - and will not play either.
Dave Kosoof is heading back to Europe. Shea McAleese is recovering from shoulder surgery and will not be considered for the four home tests. Brad Shaw, who scored the winner at the Olympic qualifying tournament, will not travel to India (he is starting a new teaching job) but will be available for the home series.
In the Gold Cup, world No 1 Germany is the hot favourite ahead of fourth-ranked Holland, seventh-ranked New Zealand and the 11th-ranked Indians.
