Grant Young's return to the Auckland City squad for the rest of the season adds interest to tonight's friendly against Kuwait at Kiwitea St.
Young has not played for City this year after quitting for business and family reasons but has answered a call from coach Paul Posato help out.
With Keryn Jordan requiring a minor knee operation and import Adam Dickenson playing no more than a few minutes on debut after being brought out from Tranmere Rovers, City's striking stocks are thin. Only Paul Urlovic and young Milos Nikolic have appeared regularly in recent weeks.
Tonight's game marks the first New Zealand appearance of a team from Kuwait since the controversial World Cup qualifier at Mt Smart Stadium in October 1981.
A number of the All Whites from that campaign will be guests at tonight's game including Frank van Hattum, Ricki Herbert, Brian Turner, Keith "Buzzer" Mackay, Adrian Elrick, Duncan Cole, Glen Adam, Sam Malcolmson, assistant coach Kevin Fallon and kitman Arthur Egan.
The 2-1 loss to Kuwait was the only defeat for the All Whites in 15 Asia/Oceania qualifiers en route to the 1982 World Cup finals.
It was a bitter affair following a disgraceful display by Indonesian referee Hardjowasito Sudarso, who awarded Kuwait two dodgy penalties in the opening nine minutes of the second half. They scored one, the other was saved by goalkeeper Richard Wilson.
Many of the players, with coach John Adshead, are expected to also attend Friday's game against Waitakere United at Allen Hill Stadium in Devonport.
Kuwait have been in Auckland since Saturday and are preparing for a crucial Asian Cup match against Australia in Canberra on March 5.
After a period of uncertainty within Kuwaiti football, the new-look 24-man squad under a new coach are intent on claiming one of two qualifying spots in their group to win through to the final qualifying round in November.
They lost their only game so far 1-0 (to a 93rd minute goal) to Oman, a country where Adshead was employed for many years.
The City side will be bolstered with the inclusion of Andy Barron (Team Wellington) and Otago United goalkeeper Liam Little who will come under Herbert's watchful eye in his role as All Whites coach.
