After nearly two years of inactivity, the All Whites have added two more games to their fixture list with Malaysia inviting them for return games sometime in 2006.
The Malaysian side will visit here for two internationals next month, the first in this country for three-and-a-half years, and have invited
the All Whites to play two games there at a time of New Zealand's choosing.
Add in games against Charlton and Crystal Palace, and a probable game against Ryan Nelsen's Blackburn, and it means Ricki Herbert's side is more than halfway past the goal of playing 10 games a year.
It's all part of a master plan to qualify for the 2010 World Cup but it's also part of regaining credibility after years of infighting, underachievement and inactivity.
"Malaysia have invited us for two games, which we have accepted, and we have also asked them if they might be able to help us get one or two more fixtures against nations ranked around or above us like Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam," New Zealand Soccer (NZS) chief executive Graham Seatter said.
"We have thought for a long time that South-east Asia is a good fit for us and this is a good foot in the door. If we play up there every year and also play a game down here, then that's a good level for us."
Seatter outlined a plan to follow the 'Road to South Africa', in reference to both the Confederations Cup to be played there in 2009 and the World Cup in 2010.
The path would see the All Whites play 40 games in the next four years and the Oceania Football Confederation has given them $50,000 for each of the four years to help them achieve that.
"They have given us $50,000 to get to London in May and June [to play Charlton and Crystal Palace] and they are doing that because Oceania will only survive if it is strong," Seatter said.
"They are going to support us every year for four years so we can take a team to Europe."
Herbert will name his squad of 20 players on February 7 to take on Malaysia, with as many as eight or nine expected to be domestically-based. On Tuesday he will announce the 37 players the All Whites coach has his eye on as part of his 2010 qualification programme.
He has written to the clubs of all 37 players seeking their release for next month's games but accepts many of his top players like Nelsen, Simon Elliott and Ivan Vicelich will be unavailable.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
After nearly two years of inactivity, the All Whites have added two more games to their fixture list with Malaysia inviting them for return games sometime in 2006.
The Malaysian side will visit here for two internationals next month, the first in this country for three-and-a-half years, and have invited
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