Hockey: Towns back at helm of hockey side

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The chance to complete unfinished business when he quit after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics has sparked Kevin Towns' bid for the New Zealand men's hockey coaching job.

Towns yesterday beat off the challengers and was reappointed to his former role, but this time will head a four-strong coaching and selection panel which includes recently retired New Zealand captain and goalkeeper Scott Anderson.

Also on the new panel is New Zealand's most dynamic goal-scorer, Peter Daji who, like Anderson, played over 100 internationals.

This trio are joined by former England under-21 international Charlie Oscroft, who has played his club hockey in Auckland for the past three years.

He also helped Towns to coach the national league side Midland Express.

"We have taken a slightly different approach in the make-up of this panel," New Zealand Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel said yesterday.

"All four will be selectors. They will also have a hands-on coaching role, while Charlie Oscroft and Scott Anderson will share the team management and video-analysis roles."

Towns coached the national side from 1989 until the Barcelona Olympics, where New Zealand finished eighth, when he felt it prudent to step aside as his son Simon - who has now played over 100 internationals - was approaching national selection.

Towns headed off former assistant coach Allan Hill and Grant McLeod, who was a member of the last selection panel, for the job.

Former coach Robin Wilson and Graham Sligo, who had the dual manager-goalkeeper coach role, were unavailable.

Hill and McLeod are likely to be used in other coaching roles by the federation.

"It is a bit of a challenge," said Towns. "I suppose there is some unfinished business after Barcelona. I'm happy with what we have come up with.

"In Peter Daji we have a forward coach and Charlie Oscroft gives us something else as he comes from a different environment with different ideas.

"Having Scott Anderson really adds to things. We have some new goalkeepers coming through who need to be worked with," said Towns.

"They all need to be brought up to the point where they are comfortable playing internationally."

Towns has seen the country's best in action in the national league and will sit down with his fellow coaches to work out a style he wants to see the team develop.

"There is a lot to be done. One of my priorities is to speak to all the players who appeared in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Japan and ascertain their future plans."

Towns said it was likely a squad will be named for the first two tests of the upcoming series against Pakistan and another for the third and fourth.

The appointments are through to the 2002 World Cup.

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