Soccer: Set for the challenges of soccer's hot seat

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The gut-wrenching moment when athlete Craig Barrett's golden dream turned to disaster will live with Graham Seatter forever.

Just appointed as New Zealand Soccer's chief executive, Seatter has moved on from that sad day in 1998 and made his mark in the corporate world. Now he faces the challenges of soccer's hot seat.

On that day at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, Seatter was just minutes from his greatest triumph when, as Barrett's coach, he handed him a drink bottle with just 2km of the 50km road walk remaining.

But the dream became a nightmare as Barrett collapsed.

Seatter, taking over from Bill MacGowan, will learn the machinations of a sport which, often without trying, often finds itself in the headlines.

MacGowan righted a sinking ship when he stepped on board in February 2000. When he ups anchor in February he will be able to look back on a game, financially and elsewhere, in good heart.

For Seatter, without MacGowan's soccer background, it will not be easy.

He can call on his involvement with athletics and his school teaching/corporate background to help, but it will still be a challenge.

From a life in which he held a senior role in Lion Nathan, a company turning over between $400 million-$500 million a year, to something a lot, lot, less and with as much, or more, accountability, Seatter will quickly learn of roles worlds apart.

"I'm looking forward to it. I have moved on from my days in athletics," said Seatter, 49, this week, after he had won what appeared to have been a keenly-contested race.

That contenders like Earle Thomas (with his high-profile business, soccer/sporting background) and others who could list international and coaching experience were not given an interview begs questions, but perhaps speaks highly of Seatter's credentials.

"In my 8 1/2 years with Lion a significant part of that has been spent in working with various sports," said Seatter. "This [his new chief executive role] is the kind of size of role for someone coming into sport.

"I have often thought about sports management. The timing is right. I will not be arriving with any preconceptions.

"I am keen to see international football back in New Zealand. I did a graph of New Zealand's Fifa rankings and an analysis and then compared that with hockey and basketball and could see where and why they had improved.

"I don't know what the answer is, but I'm certainly going in with an open mind."

Graham Seatter

* Born: Timaru, October 11, 1955.

* Education: Christchurch Boys High; University of Otago (Bachelor of Arts - history and education). Diploma in Teaching. Extramural: accounting, economics (University of Canterbury).

* Employment: Head of Commerce Department, Hastings Boys High 1989-93; national manager, Business in the Community 1993-95; executive director Beer, Wine and Spirits Council 1995-96; corporate affairs director, Lion Nathan/Lion Breweries 1996-2004.

* Sporting: Represented New Zealand at 1978 Commonwealth Games (7th in 30km road walk) and 1986 Commonwealth Games (ninth, 30km walk); eight NZ and three British walking titles (set 10 NZ records). Distance coach (athletics) 1996 Olympic Games.