Hockey: Archibald confirmed for Athens at eleventh hour

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

Ryan Archibald completed the first stage of his remarkable comeback from a broken leg after being cleared to join the Olympic hockey team in Athens today.

New Zealand Hockey (NZH) confirmed the 23-year-old midfielder passed a final fitness test in Auckland this morning.

He leaves for Athens this afternoon.

Archibald broke his leg just below the knee on June 9 during a national squad practice session.

A NZH spokesperson said Archibald was cleared in the hope his leg would continue to improve before the squad was finalised on August 11 by coach Kevin Towns.

The final decision on whether he will rejoin the 16-man squad - at the expense of North Harbour's David Kosoof - will be made by Towns.

That decision must be made two days before the start of the Olympic tournament - on August 15 - when all teams must be declared at a managers' meeting.

Archibald admitted he would be going without any match fitness.

"I haven't had any hockey for 10 weeks," he said yesterday. "It will be up to Kevin how he uses me. There are a couple of warm-up games I could play, but he might decide it is better to keep me out of those."

He told Radio Sport today that while he was pleased to have the chance to prove himself, he still had a lot of work to do.

"I'm not over confident at all at making the team, but at least it allows Kevin (Towns) to make the decision after seeing me in the flesh rather than talking on the phone."

Archibald, a 127-cap veteran at just 23, is seen as a vital player in the New Zealand team's midfield.

Team physiotherapist Wayne Hing told NZPA Archibald had improved rapidly overnight after taking a series of painkillers following yesterday's initial fitness test.

Hing said Archibald was assessed and cleared by an independent doctor on the basis that his condition could improve over the coming week.

"He had improved enough to indicate that he warranted some extra time to make the team."

Hing confirmed that Archibald was still feeling pain while running, "but it's not severe pain -- just enough to alter how he runs.

"His running was a lot better today and his limp was almost non-existent."

Hing said Archibald would be put through a series of hockey drills and tests by Towns when he arrived in Athens, but was still rated "an outside chance" to make the team.

While in Athens, Archibald will wear an air-cast, which was a small air-bag covered by a hard plastic sleeve to help stabilise and aid recovery said Hing.