NEW FACE: Rotorua's Leo Mitai-Wells, 20, has been called up to the Black Sticks to help his country try and qualify for the Rio Olympics. Photo / Stephen Parker
NEW FACE: Rotorua's Leo Mitai-Wells, 20, has been called up to the Black Sticks to help his country try and qualify for the Rio Olympics. Photo / Stephen Parker
Kiwis must win Oceania Cup to secure Rio spot
Rotorua's Leo Mitai-Wells is the surprise pick in the New Zealand men's team for the vital Oceania Cup series beginning in Taranaki next week.
Mitai-Wells is the only new face in the squad of 18, who must beat world No1 Australia and win the cup if they are to advanceto the Rio Olympics.
"Leo is a physically strong and very hard-working player who will give us a point of difference in the attacking half," coach Colin Batch said about the forward.
The 20-year-old impressed during the recent Ford National Hockey League, playing for Midlands, and has been training with the Black Sticks squad this year.
"He has been training with us all year and while it's his first opportunity to play for New Zealand, he certainly understands every part of our game plan and won't be fazed by the occasion."
Capital striker Stephen Jenness has also earned a recall after missing out during the recent South Island Tour against India, and will add another scoring threat for the Kiwis.
The squad will be led by world-class striker Simon Child.
Among those missing from the enlarged squad who lost a series against India 2-1 this month are Auckland attackers Marcus Child and Jared Panchia, who has been troubled by a hamstring injury.
The other teams in the Oceania Cup are Fiji and Samoa but they are essentially making up the numbers in terms of winning the cup.
Batch knows the stakes could not be higher but believes his team are ready.
"We're not fearing the importance of this event. We need to embrace it and aim to achieve our best performance of the year. We are confident we have what it takes as a group to pull this off," he said.
The Oceania Cup includes a round robin before the final on Sunday, October 25.
The Australian men's team have already qualified for the Rio Olympics but due to qualification rules the New Zealand men's team will miss out if they don't win the tournament.
