KEY POINTS:
Disappointing results in Beijing have again left New Zealand hockey at the crossroads. Amid claims that a weak club competition and a head-in-the-sand attitude by associations over proposed changes to the timing of the NHL is undermining the sport, Hockey New Zealand also faces funding cuts.
A comprehensive
review of the high-performance programme is already under way but that may throw up more questions than answers.
"Both results [men and women] in Beijing were disappointing in relative terms," said HNZ chief executive Ramesh Patel.
"What it means, particularly for the women who have dropped to 12th in the latest ranking, is that they now face a tough qualifying system to get back into the top tier.
"I don't go along with suggestions the teams did not deserve to be in Beijing. The win by the women over Australia in the Oceania Cup final rightfully earned [them] their place. Any suggestion that Australia were not too concerned is wrong. In losing to the Black Sticks, their ranking dropped from third to fourth which gave them a tougher Olympic draw and in the end probably cost them a medal.
"But that does not hide the fact that after that 1-0 win, they turned in some very average performances. They then beat the US and Spain in pre-Olympic matches and we still saw them as a top eight team.
"There is no question, they under-performed after that."
Patel's most pressing demand is to work through coaching issues with incumbent Kevin Towns. While he is contracted until the end of the year, Towns' future is uncertain. He feels HNZ must move quickly as, ideally, the new coach _ if there is to be one _ should be on the horizon before next month's NHL.
In admitting the Olympic campaign was "fairly difficult" and "probably the hardest I've ever done," Towns said he was left shaking his head in watching the team play so well against Germany and Argentina and so poorly in other games including the shocking 4-1 loss in the last match against South Africa.
"At the end of the day, we know we should have done better. With those results, it is understandable that our ranking has dropped _ there was a hell of a loss of points," said Towns. "And, when you are looking for an investment in your sport, you need results."
Towns said that the players had trained well in Hong Kong en route to Beijing but when the intensity picked up, the "cracks started to appear."
But he is not about to turn his back on the game he has given so much to. Unless, of course, the powers that be feel such a move would be timely. The next stop, sooner rather than later, will be to sit down with Patel and dissect his time with the team he inherited from Ian Rutledge.
"I'm bitterly disappointed. Simply, it was not good enough. In the time we had we did all we could. The girls were fit enough but not strong enough mentally," said Towns.
Like most close to the game, Towns welcomes the high-performance review being undertaken by Canadian Dr Peter Davies.
"If that review doesn't change things, we will get the same result. We have to go back to the grassroots. The club competitions in New Zealand are, tactically and technically so far away from what the game needs."
To what extent, if at all, Towns will be involved will be a tough call.
"There are decisions to be made," he said. "The high-performances review _ and I understand up to 35 people will have some input _ will play a part in any decision."
Towns is not alone in criticising the attitude of the eight NHL franchises in refusing to heed calls to change the timing of the league to best accommodate the top players.
"It appears the associations are more concerned about their own club competitions than doing what's best for the game as a whole," said Towns. "Whatever happened to the Tony Palmer Memorial Trophy which used to be played annually between Auckland and Canterbury? Those were matches that meant something."
Whatever the outcome, Towns says he will get on with life but quickly adds, "if there is someone better than me, get them on board." Quickly.
For Black Sticks men's coach Shane McLeod, the scenario is different. He has already been appointed through to the 2012 London Olympics with a mid-term review in 2010 _ a year in which it could be full-on with a World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
"I'm happy with that," said McLeod on his return from Beijing. "I now have the chance to introduce new players into the programme after the NHL and national tournament. In having so many players missing, the next tier will get their chance."
Like Towns, McLeod was disappointed with aspects of the Olympic campaign pointing to the last-ditch 1-0 loss to Spain and the draw with China.
"From the sideline that was very frustrating."
But he has to take some satisfaction in seeing the team's ranking rise to seven from 10. "That's probably as high as we have ever been ranked."
WHAT'S NEXT
* Late January/early February:
Six-nation tournament hosted by New Zealand and Australia likely to involve China, India, Korea and Japan (men/women).
* August 2009:
Oceania Cup warm-up matches, opponents/venues/dates TBC.
* August 24-30, 2009:
Oceania Cup in New Zealand (men/women) winners qualify for 2010 World Cup.
* October 2009:
World Cup qualifier (men) likely to be played in NZ.
* 2009:
Champions Challenge tournaments (men/women), venues/dates to be confirmed.
* March 2010:
World Cup (men), New Delhi.
* September 2010:
World Cup (women), Chile.
* October 2010:
Commonwealth Games, New Delhi.
