Hockey: Penniless Argentina scrap tour

By DAVID LEGGATT

New Zealand's plans to give their men's hockey team a quality buildup to the Commonwealth Games have been foot-tripped with the cancellation of a tour by Argentina.

The Argentines, this week playing off for fifth to eighth places in the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, were due to play four tests in New Zealand from June 13-23. That would have given the New Zealand team an ideal send-off to the Games, starting in Manchester on July 25.

Argentina's dire economic situation has forced the country's hockey association to cancel all tours overseas this year, apart from the women's trips to the Champions Trophy in August-September in Macau and the World Cup in Perth in November-December. In addition, the Argentine women will come to New Zealand in November as part of their World Cup leadup.

The Argentine men, who beat New Zealand 3-1 at the World Cup five days ago, would have been ideal opponents as they are not part of the Commonwealth.

Playing teams who will not be in Manchester is the preferred option, and New Zealand Hockey chief executive Ramesh Patel is already canvassing candidates.

The alternatives are world No 2 Korea, Japan, Malaysia and India.

Malaysia - in the fifth to eighth category at the World Cup - Korea and India are taking part in a four-nations tournament in Australia in June, and there are hopes that one of them will call in either before or after that event. India are in the ninth to 12th playoff group in Kuala Lumpur, along with New Zealand, Japan and Spain.

Japan have been sent an invitation and a reply is expected by March 18.

"We certainly want them to tour, but the timing has to be right," said Patel. "Korea would be great and we've spoken to Malaysia and they are receptive to a couple of games."

Just before the Games, the New Zealand men and women have warmup matches in the Netherlands. The women have two tests and the men two games against the Dutch under-21s, with fingers crossed that a test can be arranged as well.