Sam Malcolmson: Exciting times for NZ Football

Auckland City FC players celebrate after defeating Cruz Azul during the third place match between Cruz Azul and Auckland City FC at the Club World Cup soccer tournament in Morocco. Photo / AP

Opinion

I read with interest that NZ Cricket are entering a new dawning due to the incredible success of Brendan McCullum's Black Caps which augurs well for cricket's forthcoming World Cup.

The arrival of 2015 has also found NZ Football's star to be at its highest for over a decade and that includes the wonderful success of the 2010 All Whites in South Africa. The future on many fronts is exciting and there is a feeling that we are entering a "new era of anticipation" within the game, such is the expectation within the soccer fraternity.

Whether by good management or good fortune the tide of success began to turn with the arrival of new chief executive Andy Martin. It would be a brave man who laid all the bouquets for this turnaround at the feet of Martin. However he is aptly qualified and comes with a strong commercial background as well as experience in the running of a sports organisation, albeit not football!

After taking time to settle in Martin has travelled around New Zealand and listened and spoken to many involved within the game at all levels. He certainly seems to have listened, and the launch of "Beyond Football" has laid down what he believes to be the priorities needed to move football forward. He has assembled his team to cover all areas including coaching, player development, national league and international teams including All Whites and Football Ferns. Now the talking has to stop and action has to take place. However unlike any NZF boss in years he has inherited so many positive features that he has the opportunity to make his own legacy and put soccer on a secure and positive footing for years to come.

Look at the feast on Andy Martin's football table. We have just enjoyed the success of Auckland City in the recent World Club championship. People who had no interest in soccer were caught up in the "David and Goliath" escapades of the Kiwi minnows facing the might of football giants and winning. That fairy story and unexpected success put thousands of dollars in NZ Football coffers, as well as ASB Premier League teams around the country. Auckland City, led by the irrepressible and extremely humble Ivan Vicelich, who was deservingly rewarded in the New Year's Honours list, were a real class act off and on the field.

Along with Auckland City we have a youthful Wellington Phoenix side that is riding high in the A League and playing an attractive and exciting brand of attacking football. Without doubt this is the best-balanced squad I have seen at the Phoenix and the best is yet to come - I would be shocked if they did not make the top four this season.

They seem such a tightly knit organisation under Scotsman Ernie Merrick's guidance, and I don't think failure is in their vocabulary. Their continued success helps keep football to the forefront.

Then we have the Under-20s World Cup on our doorstep in mid-year when we will undoubtedly witness the best-quality live football ever played in New Zealand and we have the Junior All Whites representing our country. To add further Oceania flavour we have a team from Fiji as Oceania Champions.

The 24-team competition will have a galaxy of stars on view from all over the planet and I have no doubt we will see some who will soon hog the small screen playing in the EPL, La Liga or Serie A. Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguerro have won "best player" in previous tournaments.

If I were chief executive Dave Beeche, I would be the phone to secure Ivan Vicelich as New Zealand's ambassador for this tournament, as you will not get a finer role model anywhere in our game at present.

Another shining light in Martin's watch is the continued success of the Football Ferns, who are now handily placed inside the top 20 women's football playing nations in the world. I fully expect them to perform well at this June's World Cup in Canada.

An everlasting legacy of Martin's reign would be if he could arrange regular fixtures with Australia as we all love to play the "Auld Enemy" in any sport. In the UK they resurrected the Scotland v England game with great success. Such fixtures help fill the coffers of the host country as they attract full houses. I also think it is important we see the All Whites play at home against meaningful world-class opposition like Asian giants Japan or Korea.

I guess the one area where the jury is still out is on the new All Whites coach. Anthony Hudson's appointment was seemingly made under a shroud of secrecy, when interim coach Neil Emblen (sensibly brought back into the fold last week as assistant coach for the Under-20s) and Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx were seen as the main contenders for the vacant post.

However most people I have spoken to are impressed by Hudson's knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm and have been prepared to give him time. However the defeat to Thailand, where he did play an experimental side, was not what was expected, and a better showing by the national team has to be his priority when they next play in March or the drums of discontent will start beating. However the main priority is to win the World Cup qualifying games at the end of year.

Football in New Zealand just now has a wonderful buzz about it.