Hockey: Towns weeps as Archibald ruled out of Games

8.10am - By MARK GEENTY

ATHENS - New Zealand men's hockey coach Kevin Towns broke down and sobbed today as one of his star players Ryan Archibald lost the race to be fit for the Olympic Games team.

The normally stoic Towns rated it one of the toughest moments of his seven years as national coach, and couldn't continue an impromptu media conference soon after the New Zealand flag-raising ceremony was conducted at the athletes village.

"It's huge, we've spent four years getting this team together. The engine room in every team is the midfield and Ryan's part of that.

"There's a guy not going to the Olympics who has tried for four years. Ryan got them there, that's about all I can say," Towns said, his voice trailing off as he broke down for a second time.

Although Archibald was always struggling on his injured leg, it was still a bitter blow for the team and Towns, who has known Archibald since he was a child.

He suffered a compound fracture just below the knee in June, but flew from New Zealand last week in a seemingly hopeless bid to make the squad of 16 for Sunday's opening match against Australia.

A key midfielder, Archibald has played 127 internationals at just 23 and was hoping to emulate his father Jeff who won a gold medal in Montreal in 1976.

Striker David Kosoof, who has scored twice in two warmup games against Korea and Pakistan this week, will replace Archibald, with striker Bevan Hari moving back to the midfield.

Towns said it was clear earlier today at training that Archibald was struggling.

"We put him through some game drills and he's fine, very good on the ball and we saw some of the old Ryan Archibald.

"Unfortunately when the opposition have the ball he finds it too difficult to contribute so we've had to make the decision for him to pull out.

"It's very tough, we've given him every opportunity. It was tough the day he got hit and we've had to live with it for a long time.

"The team's going to play a little bit with a flat tyre."

Archibald kept his composure when interviewed afterwards, saying he made the decision to pull out.

"I had a good crack at it this morning and some things went okay, but off the ball I just don't have the agility.

"It's a lot of mixed feelings. It's fantastic to be in this environment but very difficult to know I'm not going to take part when it really counts."

Archibald said he wanted to give the Olympics his best shot, given New Zealand hadn't qualified for the Games since 1992 in Barcelona.

He rated himself "reasonably close" to making the team but was probably two weeks short.

He hoped to remain with the squad to support them, but was unsure if he could and said there were "logistical issues" to sort out.

New Zealand's final warmup match is later tonight (NZT) against Germany.

- NZPA