Women’s game a bright spot amidst gloom
THE winds of change swept through New Zealand Football in 2014.
The previously maligned national body now has a new chief executive in former London Irish rugby boss Andy Martin, a new chairman in Mark Aspden, a new All Whites coach in ambitious 33-year-old Anthony Hudson and a well credentialled new technical director in Welshman Rob Sherman.
A fresh start was much needed after a disorganised All Whites side were swept aside by Mexico in last year’s World Cup playoff and long-term coach Ricki Herbert fell on his sword.
Martin and Hudson have set their sights high, releasing a new high performance plan and boldly targeting to not only qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but win games at the tournament for the first time.
That is some task: the All Whites’ world ranking has plummeted to 131 after a year in which they failed to win a game, with two draws and three losses their lot.
Things are brighter in the women’s game, with Tony Readings’ Football Ferns sporting a healthy world No 18 ranking as they publicly aim to win next year’s World Cup in Canada.
While that might be wishful thinking, the Ferns are certainly capable of mixing it with the big guns, having drawn twice with Brazil and once with another women’s powerhouse, Norway, in 2014.
New Zealand’s under-20 women’s team also performed strongly, beating Paraguay and Costa Rica in World Cup group play to advance to the quarterfinals where they met their match in eventual runners-up Nigeria.
At club level, part-timers Auckland City outshone A-League professionals Wellington Phoenix with their wonderful bronze medal run at the Club World Cup in Morocco.
Superbly led by coach Ramon Tribulietx and skipper Ivan Vicelich, Auckland’s unlikely United Nations squad defied the odds to win three games, beating Moroccan champs Moghreb Tetouan, African champs ES Setif and North and Central American champs Cruz Azul.
They also went within a whisker of stunning the world and earning a spot in the final against the might of Real Madrid, before falling 2-1 in extra time against South American champs San Lorenzo.
Vicelich, 38, deservedly shared a podium with Madrid superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos in winning the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third best player.
Under new coach Ernie Merrick, the Phoenix had a disappointing end to a oncepromising 2013-14 season, finishing second last as injuries bit hard into their depth.
Things are on the up in 2014-15, however, with the Phoenix playing entertaining, attacking football and on track for a finals berth after 11 of 27 games.
They also claimed a major preseason scalp: stunning English Premier League club West Ham United at Eden Park as part of the Phoenix’s Football United Tour that also featured Newcastle United.
The only Kiwis to feature at the World Cup in Brazil were referees Peter O’Leary, Mark Rule and Jan-Hendrik Hintz.
However, their experience ended on a sour note, with Whangarei schoolteacher O’Leary receiving death threats following Bosnia’s controversial World Cup elimination at the hands of Nigeria.
Elsewhere, Ryan Nelsen was sacked as coach of Toronto FC and Herbert picked up a new gig as coach of India’s NorthEast United, while Winston Reid (West Ham) and Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle) continued to perform strongly in Europe.
The big focus next year will be New Zealand’s hosting of the under-20 men’s World Cup in MayJune.