Smith now 100% into All Whites
Former captain vowing to never again turn his back on country
Tommy Smith is a changed man. That was the impression he wanted to give yesterday, saying he was “100 per cent committed” to the All Whites, and promising that he would never again turn his back on his country.
Smith has played in only two of the last 17 All Whites matches, choosing to prioritise his club commitments during most of the past 31⁄ years. But not any more. “[I’m] delighted to be back and 100 per cent committed going forward, no question,” said Smith. “I can understand [fans] questioning me, to be honest, but there are factors there that I don’t want to get into. It’s down to me to prove them wrong, show my commitment and hopefully win them over.”
Smith has been one of the most intriguing New Zealand footballers of recent times. He was superb at the 2010 World Cup and later excelled when given the armband as a 22-year-old in 2012.
But things unravelled later that year, ahead of the World Cup playoff games against Mexico, and he has barely been seen since, apart from games against China and Thailand in November 2014.
Coach Anthony Hudson said last year that Smith would not be considered for the national side again — exasperated after the Ipswich defender pulled out of the Oceania Nations Cup campaign — but had a change of heart after meeting the 26-year-old last October.
“I needed to have that chat and lay my cards on the table,” said Smith. “Anthony wanted that 100 per cent commitment from me and I am happy to do that. That was the crux of the matter, really. I love pulling on the shirt but it was factors out of my hands previously that led to the decisions that I did make.
“[There] was a situation beforehand that got out of hand, really,” said Smith.
“It happened behind closed doors and I would rather keep it that way, at the risk of naming names. It’s all behind us
[I’m] delighted to be back and 100 per cent committed going forward, no question. Tommy Smith
now and hopefully we can move forward and get that shirt on again . . . I would rather leave the past in the past.”
Smith has missed most of the Championship season, after suffering a back injury last September.
“The back is 100 per cent now,” said Smith. “I’m back in the first team picture and it all feels good.”
The All Whites will have a final training session today at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
They travel to Fiji early tomorrow before Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Fiji in Lautoka at 2pm (NZT).