Hockey: Veteran hangs up his stick

By Terry Maddaford

New Zealand Hockey was caught on the hop yesterday when long-serving international John Radovonich announced his retirement.

The popular Canterbury player advised the New Zealand selectors of his decision while they were wrestling with the naming of the side to play in Malaysia later this month.

"With John's decision to step down from international hockey, we have given the selectors another day to name their side for Malaysia," said NZH chief executive Ramesh Patel. "They want to reconsider the make-up of the side in the light of John's unavailablity."

Radovonich captained the New Zealand team in last week's three-test series against Great Britain with the highlight the first test in Whangarei when he joined the select "100 club."

"I enjoyed the test series," said Radovonich. "I was in good form leading up to the series but I do not believe I played up to my expectations. I found it a bit difficult keeping up with the pace of the game at that level."

Patel paid tribute to Radovonich, who first played for New Zealand in 1985 at the start of a 102-test career.

He came back strongly in 1996 from a four-year break and played a vital role in getting New Zealand to the World Cup, said Patel. "He started playing at right half, moved to inside right and then, when Peter Daji retired, took the responsibility of the vital centre-forward role.

"His ability to play in a number of positions was the key to the team's success."