George Kostanza wrote:
article from NZF website
Attacking balance to New Zealand squad for U-17 qualifiers
New Zealand U-17 coach Steve Cain says he has emphasised attack in selecting a 20 strong squad for January�s FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifying tournament in Auckland.
Steve Cain adresses his squad at training.
December 16, 2010
AUCKLAND � New Zealand U-17 coach Steve Cain says he has emphasised attack in selecting a 20 strong squad for January�s FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifying tournament in Auckland.
The Young All Whites has been pooled with Fiji, American Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu in Group A of the 10 team OFC U-17 Championships beginning on January 8, with the winner of the pool facing the top team from Group B comprising Tahiti, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Tonga.
The winner of the January 19 final will represent Oceania at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Mexico in June and July.
With little margin for error, Cain has opted for players who can break down Oceanic teams increasingly well drilled on defence.
�If anything we�ve gone with an overload of attacking players,� says Cain.
�We�ve got some very talented and pacey players in this squad. We hope to go at teams and we know we�ll be up against some pretty solid and well organised opponents and we�re looking to impose our game on them. We at home so we�re going to look to make things happen when we�ve got the ball.�
In the 2009 edition, New Zealand posted 2-0 wins over Tahiti and New Caledonia and a 3-0 victory over Vanuatu 3-0 in qualifying before reaching the knockout stages of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.
Cain says that if qualification is secured the balance of his squad may have a different look to it for the finals.
�If we�d been going to a World Cup we�d need to be more conservative and more balanced between attack and defensive minded players.
�It�s a difficult choice because we are not taken anything for granted � we know how strong some of the teams are going to be but we have to back ourselves especially at home and with the type of players we�ve got.
�We�re trying to be as positive as possible but bearing in mind there are no gimmes in this world anymore.�
The majority of the squad have been with ASB Youth League squads this season and a few have been listed in ASB Premiership squads. Waitakere United�s Tim Payne � who made his debut for Auckland City late last season � has already featured the top league and that tender age of 16.
The New Zealand coaching staff had interest from players with kiwi ties in Australia, USA, Taiwan and Europe although the group chosen are all New Zealand based.
�It�s a reflection of how well we did last time and of course who well the All Whites did in South Africa. The attention we�re getting Worldwide has ramped up quite significantly.�
Cain has identified Vanuatu, who sent an U-15 side to the U-17 qualifiers two years ago, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea as the main threats to New Zealand in the group stage.
New Zealand Squad for 2011 U-17 OFC Championships
Goalkeepers
1-Scott BASALAJ (Team Wellington)
20-Scott ARMISTEAD (Oratia United)
Defenders
2-Harshae RANIGA (Central United)
3-Shawn O�BRIEN (Canterbury United)
4-Reece LAMBERT (Central United)
5-Luke ADAMS (Waitakere United)
16-Bill TUILOMA (Birkenhead United)
Midfielders
7-Kip COLVEY (Asia Pacific FA)
8-Rhys JORDAN (Forrest Hill United)
11-James DEBENHAM (Albany United)
12-Jordan VALE (Waitakere United)
13-Cameron MARTIN (Auckland City)
14-Ryan HOWLETT (Waitakere United)
15-Nathan BUSWELL (East Coast Bays)
17-James WYPYCH (Team Wellington)
18-Calvin OPPERMAN (Central United)
Forwards
6-Alex RIDSDALE (Canterbury United)
9-Tim PAYNE (Waitakere United)
10-Cameron HOWIESON (Asia Pacific FA)
19-Ken YAMAMOTO (Canterbury United)
Management
Stephen CAIN (Head Coach)
Darren BAZELEY (Assistant Coach)
George SMITH (GK Coach)
Dale WEBSTER (Team Manager)
Rob LEE (Physiotherapist)
Andrew FOSKETT (Sports Scientist)
Paul KENNEDY (Team Doctor)
OFC U-17 Championship
January 8-19, 2011
Trusts Stadium, Waitakere
Winner qualifies for FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011
Group A: New Zealand, American Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu.
Group B: Tahiti, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tonga.
New Zealand schedule
January 8 � bye
January 10 v Vanuatu, 4pm
January 12 v Fiji, 1.30pm
January 14 v American Samoa, 1.30pm
January 16 v Papua New Guinea, 3pm
January 19: Final
@Jamie Scott - maybe you should proof read these before they get posted online.
Even spell check would be a start.
