All Whites set for Malaysia games but timing not ideal
The All Whites are about to come out of hibernation — but that could lead to a club versus country row within New Zealand Football.
The Herald on Sunday understands the proposed matches in Malaysia next month are almost certain to go ahead, with just some final paperwork and contractual details to be tied up.
That would see the All Whites play two games in the March 18-26 Fifa international window, ending a long period of inactivity.
The senior New Zealand side hasn’t been in action since June last year, when they took part in a fourteam tournament in India.
This would be a similar scenario, with Malaysia reprising the Merdeka Cup, held annually from 1957 to 1988 and intermittently since. As well as the hosts, two other Asian nations would be involved.
However, the timing of the window is not ideal, given it clashes with the ISPS Handa Premiership semifinals on March 23-24.
That may not have been such an issue in the past, but could be this time, given the amount of young players in contention for coach Fritz Schmid’s squad from title contenders Eastern Suburbs, Auckland City and Team Wellington.
NZF’s current focus in the men’s game is on the Under-20 World Cup to be played in May-June in Poland, and the under-23 team aiming to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
There’s less focus on the All Whites given the next World Cup is three years away and their next competitive matches (the Oceania Nations Cup) are more than a year away.
The likes of Callum McCowatt, Elijah Just, Tim Payne and Owen Parker-Price may face a difficult decision as the ISPS Handa Premiership reaches a climax. Some could forgo the chance to wear the silver fern.
NZF considered putting the domestic competition on hold during the window to avoid the clash but it’s believed they have decided against such a plan.
Several Phoenix players could go to Malaysia (Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Liberato Cacace and Louis Fenton) but it’s unlikely coach Mark Rudan will want them playing in two matches across the window, given their club workload in the past few months and the proximity of the A-League finals.
Schmid, who was technical director of Malaysian Football for three years before landing the All Whites job, has been the driving force behind the games.
It’s understandable, as the Swiss has become frustrated at the lack of opportunities to bring his team together.
But given NZF’s priorities, their lean budget and complications with the ISPS Handa Premiership — which is, after all, “where All Whites are made”, according to the tagline — going ahead with the matches in Malaysia is bound to be a hotlydebated decision.