Hockey: Numbers game consigns men's team to limbo

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The New Zealand men's hockey team are headed for the wilderness following the decision by the sport's governing body to exclude them from this year's World Cup qualifiers.

It may not stop there - a place in next year's Commonwealth Games is also in doubt.

The International Hockey Federation has rejected New Zealand's bid for a place in the 16-team qualifying tournament in Scotland in July, giving the 16th place to Bangladesh. Seven teams from that tournament will join the nine nations already named for the World Cup in Malaysia last March.

The FIH ruling that allows countries to qualify on a pro rata basis calculated on the number of teams who have played in various continental championships has cost New Zealand their place.

Australia, as the Oceania champions, have qualified for Malaysia, but with only one place available to the Oceania Hockey Federation, New Zealand have missed out, even though they are ranked higher than other teams who will play in Scotland.

"There is obviously an anomaly in the system," New Zealand Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel said yesterday. "We have pointed this out to the FIH and are awaiting a reply. We were not too concerned when a list of 15 countries was released on December 1 because we felt we would get the 16th spot. But that was subsequently - under the criteria system - given to Bangladesh.

"We protested and the FIH asked Bangladesh to play us to find the 16th team for Scotland. They refused - and I don't blame them for that - and we have missed out."

Depending on the number of Commonwealth teams among the nine who have already been handed places in the World Cup and the 16 teams in the qualifying tournament, New Zealand might also miss out on the eight-team tournament at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, despite just missing a semifinals place at the 1998 Games.

Patel is concerned that some experienced players might give hockey away.

"I'm sure there are some who saw the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games as the chance to re-establish the men's team among the best in the world," he said.

"If the chance to play these tournaments is taken away, they might consider their futures."

Three tests in Australia in May and the four at home against India in June will go ahead, even though they were planned as a buildup to the World Cup qualifiers.