Hockey: $140,000 grant perks up women's campaign

An unexpected windfall has dropped into the lap of Hockey New Zealand with the Black Sticks women the beneficiaries.

At a time when their world ranking is flagging, the women have been given a US$100,000 ($140,000) grant for their 2012 London Olympic Games campaign.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee grant follows an application from HNZ for support from the International Olympic Committee through its Olympic Solidarity fund.

The money will be paid over four years.

National women's coach Mark Hager is pleased his programme is the beneficiary of a funding grant which "came out of the blue".

"It is fantastic to know we are being backed in such a way," said Hager. "We will be able to accelerate the number of internationals we can play, which has been my aim all along. I had no idea it was coming.

"It will definitely allow us to plan for a better preparation ahead of next year's World Cup. Maybe we will be able to look at hosting series here and, more importantly, it should enable us to further increase our player depth."

Asked if he would like to see some of the funding go to the players as recompense for the heavy workload they will face in having a shot at the Olympics, Hager replied: "That is a good question. I would like to see something along those lines. Maybe in paying the players something when they are in camp.

"My No 1 priority has always been to look after the players, particularly our internationals."

HNZ chief executive Hilary Poole said they had already targeted 25 internationals for the women in the next year.

"Maybe we can get that up to 28," said Poole, who also welcomed the windfall, saying it would greatly assist what promised to be a busy programme in 2011 when Olympic qualification was up for grabs.

Meanwhile, Poole has confirmed HNZ are continuing to monitor the situation in Invercargill before November's World Cup men's qualifying tournament.

She acknowledged yesterday there was concern over bumps in a section of the No 1 turf at the new Southland Hockey Association complex.

Former national coach Kevin Towns has suggested that the sub-standard surface could strongly favour the Chinese in that qualifying tournament.