New Zealand Soccer [NZS] has taken steps to ensure that under-age teams never withdraw from Oceania qualifying tournaments again.
The under-17 team was pulled out of this year's tournament at the 11th hour, much to the disgust of players, parents and football aficionados alike, while NZS admitted it had made
a mistake in sending the under-20 team for their ill-fated venture to the Solomon Islands in February.
"We are going to be at any Oceania tournament and we are going to qualify," pledged NZS chief executive Graham Seatter.
"I believe that if we make the commitment and it's in the budget, then we go."
In preparation for the 2007 world under-17 championships, for example, a side will be selected from this year's national championships in Napier in December and then placed in an academy programme, including a week together in Auckland, before heading to Germany in April.
Similar arrangements will be made for an under-18 women's side, which will also travel to Germany - something arranged by All Whites coach Ricki Herbert three months ago.
New Zealand sides have a great chance of qualifying for world tournaments following Australia's move into Asia, as well as the fact two sides will be found from Oceania for the under-17 champs.
Fifa has made a short-term commitment to Oceania despite Australia's withdrawal from the confederation but there is a danger of stripping this if Oceania sides aren't competitive enough on the world stage.
NZS eventually hopes to establish a fulltime academy at their base at North Harbour Stadium for the country's top juniors.
Oceania is also expected to relocate from its present base in Penrose to Albany to tie in more closely with NZS.
Oceania hopes to use North Harbour Stadium for all of its qualifying tournaments, apart from World Cup qualifiers and World Club Championships, which will both return to a home and away format.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
