Smeltz unhappy over All Whites clash
Striker Shane Smeltz is calling for the Football Federation Australia to reschedule the Phoenix’s crucial game against Newcastle, to avoid the clash of dates with the All Whites.
Speaking ahead of the Phoenix’s game against Perth Glory at North Harbour Stadium tonight, the 35-year-old said Australian football’s governing body need to step in to avoid a situation that’s damaging for both the Phoenix and All Whites.
The All Whites face Fiji in crucial home-and-away World Cup qualifying fixtures on March 25 and 28.
The Jets take on Wellington at Westpac Stadium on March 26 and the Phoenix have 11 players in contention for the All Whites, plus striker Roy Krishna plays for Fiji.
For the players, their loyalties will be torn between helping their country qualify for Russia 2018, or help their club make the playoffs.
Smeltz and his team-mates have been focussing on their important game in Albany this weekend but says the FFA should move the game against the Jets.
‘‘There has been full focus on the up and coming games, [but] I know that this is only around the corner,’’ Smeltz said.
‘‘The club in the background have spoken to the FFA as far as I know and asked for the game to be rescheduled and not sure what the response is.
‘‘In my opinion it should be rescheduled.’’
It is understood the Phoenix’s pleas have fallen on deaf ears and the game will go ahead on the scheduled date.
‘‘I don’t know how the game is going ahead with the number of players that are missing,’’ Smeltz said.
‘‘For me, it’s an easy one, you just reschedule the game.
‘‘Looking at the six games that are so important to us, it’s not a great situation.’’
Every game left this season for the Phoenix will be like a cup final.
If they’re going to move up from eighth place on the ladder, into the top six for a playoff spot they need to win and keep on winning.
Their surprise 2-1 victory over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium last Saturday was a result that boosted the confidence of the players and Smeltz says it could be regarded as the pivotal result of the season.
‘‘Sometimes there can be turning points in the season,’’ he said.
‘‘There can be doom and gloom at one point, then all of a sudden you can go on a run and clearly make the finals.
‘‘I’ve done it before and last week was probably a good starting point.
‘‘If you look at it, there were a few issues off the pitch, a few meetings during the week and some serious talks between players, between coaching staff and we all looked at ourselves in the mirror.
‘‘We then went and had a great result away from home, which probably not many people expected.
‘‘You could look at that and probably say we’ve turned the corner a bit and it’s up to us now to make sure we show that consistency and build on that week in, week out for the remainder of the season.’’
Back in selection contention are Wellington’s troublesome trio of Roly Bonevacia, Ryan Lowry and Tom Doyle, who were all stood down from the Brisbane game, for staying out until 4am after the loss to Melbourne last month.
Smeltz believes lessons have been learnt from the incident and everyone can now put it behind them.
‘‘There has been a line drawn in the sand with the playing group, the coaching staff and we all move on from it.
‘‘It had to be done and it’s about making sure that going forward the culture is right.
‘‘We’ve got it right now, albeit that we shouldn’t be doing that in the middle of a season.
‘‘It’s done and dusted and hopefully we’re moving in the right direction.’’