Soccer: Stoush as under-20s fare badly

Another shocker from a New Zealand team against an island nation has stirred up a war of words between New Zealand Soccer management and board chairman John Morris.

New Zealand Soccer bosses, on advice from a high-profile committee, recommended the national under-20 side should not play in the Oceania qualifying tournament in the Solomon Islands.

The board rejected that advice and now watches in dismay from afar as the youth side follow the All Whites in failing to make it through to the business end of an Oceania tournament.

Given little or no preparation time and mindful of the harsh conditions the team would have to endure in the island heat, the NZS football committee of Sam Malcolmson, Fred de Jong, Wynton Rufer, their chief executive Bill MacGowan and association director of football Paul Smalley said the team should not go.

That recommendation was apparently accepted initially but later overturned on the advice of Morris on his return from a Fifa meeting in Zurich.

The team went to the Oceania tournament last week but losses to Fiji and the hosts - coached coincidently by former Football Kingz coach Shane Rufer with assistance from his brother - ended any play-off hopes.

It is understood two New Zealand players suffered heat exhaustion in the 2-1 loss to the Solomons.

"They were on a hiding to nothing," said Malcolmson, who is also a board member.

"Paul Smalley and Ricki Herbert know more about these players than we do and we are not just talking about ability."

Morris, who insists the decision to send the team was the right one, was upset that a board member had gone public on the issue.

"I'm the one person who speaks on behalf of the board," Morris said. "Sam Malcolmson is not the spokesman for the board.

"Naturally, I'm disappointed with the results but I was keen for the team to go. You are not going to know where you stand and if you have or have not improved if you don't play in these tournaments.

"It is easy to hide and not play but we need international exposure. I think we had a fair side. Some of these under-20 players will become All Whites.

"The majority view of the board was that they should go.

"I was annoyed that the initial contact was through email ... We were not going to make stupid, emotional decisions."

Of suggestions it would be a financial burden, Morris said whether the team went to the Solomons or played two matches, as offered, against Argentina here, it would still be a cost to the national body.

"Whatever we do we have the problem of having to bring players back from the United States."