A number of new names feature in the All Whites squad named today for the upcoming Oceania Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying tournament, including former U17 and Olympic Squad Captain Steven Old (pic). New Zealand Soccer has today named a 23 man squad for the May 29 – June 6 tournament in Adelaide. The most notable feature of the team is the inclusion of 5 uncapped players, with 10 of the players graduating from the NZ Olympic qualifying campaign that went so close to upsetting Australia at North Harbour Stadium in January. Olympic Squad captain Steven Old is the youngest of the new faces and at just 18 years of age will become one of the youngest ever to represent New Zealand at senior level in a full international. Others from the Olympic squad are Tony Lochhead (1 cap), Dave Mulligan (9 caps), Rupesh Puna (1 cap), Leo Bertos (1 cap), Brent Fisher (2 caps), Shane Smeltz (5 caps) and as yet uncapped Tim Brown, Neil Jones, Tamati Williams and Glen Moss. Balancing that youth and relative inexperience is the inclusion of seasoned internationals in captain Ryan Nelsen (31 caps), Vaughan Coveny (66), Simon Elliott (51), Ivan Vicelich (49) and Gerard Davis (29). Mark Paston has confirmed his position as the number one goalkeeper in the country after overcoming injury to once again become first choice with English first division club Bradford City, playing well in a relegated side. The former Napier City Rovers keeper is joined by Glenn Moss (Sydney Olympic) and Tamati Williams, both of whom featured in the Olympic campaign. All Whites Head Coach Mick Waitt is excited about the talent available to him, in particular the injection of new blood. “A number of players were given an opportunity in Iran last year and illustrated they have the talent and the mental fortitude to compete at international level. Tony Lochhead, Rupesh Puna and Mike Wilson impressed me in particular in a hostile environment and I look forward to working with them and the other newcomers alongside some seasoned pros. Leo Bertos and Noah Hickey provide us with pace and flair out wide and with Paston, Nelsen, Vicelich and Coveny, I think we have the foundation for a very good side. This will be a new experience for a number of players but I believe they are ready and capable of lifting further by drawing on their recent international experiences with the Olympic side and All Whites in Iran,” said Waitt. *** GOALKEEPERS *** MARK PASTON - BRADFORD AFC - UK GLEN MOSS - SYDNEY OLYMPIC FC TAMATI WILLIAMS - UNIVERSITY MT WELLINGTON *** DEFENCE *** RUPESH PUNA - CAVERSHAM AFC GERARD DAVIS - WESTERN SUBURBS FC TONY LOCHHEAD - SANTA BARBARA UNI - USA CHE BUNCE - RANDERS FC - DENMARK RYAN NELSEN - DC UNITED – USA (CAPTAIN) STEVEN OLD - MANAWATU AFC *** MIDFIELD *** DAVID MULLIGAN - DONCASTER ROVERS – UK DUNCAN OUGHTON - COLUMBUS CREW – USA MIKE WILSON - MINNESOTA THUNDER – USA IVAN VICELICH - RODA JC – HOLLAND SIMON ELLIOTT - COLUMBUS CREW – USA TIM BROWN - CINCINNATI UNI - USA FAELE DE GREGORIO - WESTERN SUBURBS FC *** FORWARDS *** LEO BERTOS - ROCHDALE AFC - UK NOAH HICKEY - FOOTBALL KINGZ VAUGHAN COVENY - SOUTH MELBOURNE FC CHRIS KILLEN - OLDHAM ATHLETIC FC - UK SHANE SMELTZ - ADELAIDE UNITED - AUST BRENT FISHER - NORTHERN SPIRIT -AUST NEIL JONES - SANTA BARBARA UNI - USA Crowdie
Since the end of the NSL regular season we haven't heard anything of Mr Utting. I know that NZ Soccer has announced that they ranked Mark Paston as the current #1 keeper. Crowdie