Soccer: NZ side has eight overseas players

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Almost half the New Zealand under-23 soccer squad will be able to call on their experience as full internationals when they play South Africa in the cutthroat Olympic qualifiers later this month.

Coaches Ken Dugdale, Ron Armstrong and Ricki Herbert have included eight players who have had at least some playing time with the All Whites in their 18-man squad for the home-and-away matches which will find the last of the 16 teams for Sydney 2000.

"I'm happy with the balance of the squad," said Dugdale. "Obviously we would have preferred to have had more time to look at players but we feel we have the got the best available, including eight from overseas.

"Some, like US-based Glen Collins and Ross Goodacre, who played in the one-off game in Tokyo, did not have enough time to show us what they could do but I'm sure they will get their chance."

Chris Killen, who had limited opportunities in the game against Japan, has been included more on his reported efforts and goalscoring deeds for the Manchester City reserves than for what he did in Japan.

He will battle Campbell Banks and internationals Paul Urlovic and Kris Bouckenooghe for a place in the attack.

"He is still eligible for the under-20 side and is already playing in a good standard of football," said Dugdale.

"Overall we feel it is a good squad but if things do not work out in the first game we have the opportunity to make changes for the second."

The first game will be played at North Harbour Stadium on May 19 and the return in Johnannes- burg on May 27.

The New Zealand team will assemble on May 15, the day after the South Africans are sched uled to arrive in Auckland.

Dugdale said the team had it all in front of them.

"For the players who went to Spain in 1982 and those who played in the Confederations Cup in Mexico last year, it was a first. This team have the chance of another first but it will not be easy," he said.

"Judging by what we have seen, the South Africans will be a very good side. Technically they will be very good."

New Zealand Soccer has set ticket prices at a realistic $15 (adult), $5 (students and senior citizens) and given free entry to under-12s.

New Zealand: Chris Marsh (Dunedin Technical), Robbie Barraclough (Nelson Suburbs; John Foundoulakis (Greece), Ryan Nelsen (US) captain, Gareth Rowe (Central), Josh Stick (Central), Graham Pearce (University/Mt Wellington); Jeff Campbell (Kingz), Gerard Davis (US), Raf De Gregorio (Holland), Noah Hickey (Kingz), Brad Scott (Central), Blair Scoullar (Dunedin), Mathew Urlovic (Melbourne); Campbell Banks (Central), Kris Bouckenooghe (Belgium), Chris Killen (England), Paul Urlovic (Melbourne).