Kiwi problem

03/07/2003

NEW Zealand are among the most improved hockey teams in the world, and
that spells trouble for Malaysia who will play them on July 20 in the
Champions Challenge in Randburg, South Africa.
The last time Malaysia played the Kiwis was at the Azlan Shah Cup in
Ipoh, and the hosts went down 2-4.
Amin Rahim and Riduan Nasir scored for Malaysia in that match while for
the Kiwis, the scorers were Hayden Shaw, Mitesh Patel and Umesh Parag who
have all been selected for the Challenge.
After the Azlan Shah Cup, New Zealand headed for Canada where they
played Five Test matches and won 4-1. But history was writen in Wellington
for the Canadian team as it took them 36 matches and almost 30 years for
them to beat New Zealand.
New Zealand are currently ranked ninth in the world while Malaysia are a
rung below.
And in naming the Champions Challenge squad, New Zealand coach Kevin
Towns made only slight changes to the team who played Canada.
On the New Zealand hockey website, Ryan Archibald, Darren Smith and
Mitesh Patel were named in the experienced midfield, along with the up-
and-coming Bryce Collins, who was introduced to the side against Canada.
The team will be strenghtened with the return of Gareth Brooks, who was
playing for Dutch club Rood-Wit.
"Gareth has been playing in midfield in Holland but we will be looking
for him to attack the circle and improve his goal scoring," said Towns on
the website.
New Zealand have set their sights on a top-three finish at the Champions
Challenge on July 19-27. The teams competing are England, South Korea,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and South Africa.
The New Zealand squad: Goalkeepers: Paul Woolford, Kyle Pontifex.
Backline: Dion Gosling, Hayden Shaw, Dean Couzins, Wing halves, Casey
Henwood, Wayne McIndoe, Blair Hopping.
Midfield: Simon Towns, Ryan Archibald, Darren Smith, Bryce Collins,
Mitesh Patel.
Strikers: Phillip Burrows, Umesh Parag, Bevan Hari, Gareth Brooks, David
Kosoof.
(END)