Hockey: Invitation brings cash pressure for women's u-21 team

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Members of the New Zealand women's under-21 hockey team will have to put their hands in their pockets if they are to take up an invitation to play in the junior World Cup in Argentina in May.

The New Zealand Hockey Federation has received the unexpected invitation to the tournament following the withdrawal by France.

Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel said New Zealand were not even on the reserve list for the 16-team tournament, which will be played in Buenos Aires.

"We have to tell the international body by the end of the month if we are going to take up the invitation."

Patel said fast-tracking the women's team into the tournament would have financial implications because it was not part of the budget.

"It will cost more than $30,000 for accommodation, plus air fares," Patel said. "We have approached likely players and have had a positive response. It is likely to cost them about $1500 each.

"Our age-group teams have always had to pay something towards tournaments like this. It might be a little more than normal because of the lateness of the invitation."

The New Zealand women were already scheduled to play three matches against Australia. Those matches, in Auckland, may now become crucial warm-up games for both teams.

The New Zealand men's under-21 team have already qualified for October's junior World Cup in Tasmania.

Meanwhile, the federation have advised the international body that New Zealand will officially complain at not being invited to the men's World Cup qualifying tournament in Scotland.

The complaint stems from New Zealand's being excluded despite apparently being ranked high enough to take part.

Instead, Bangladesh got in under the continental quota system used to decide who can take part.

New Zealand, the second-ranked Oceania team, expected to go to Scotland because Australia, Oceania's top team, were already in the World Cup.

Patel said the New Zealand federation will ask sport's International Court of Arbitration in Lausanne to overturn the decision.

"That appeal has to be lodged by February 2."