Keeping Ricki Herbert

Ricki Herbert is a manager with a lot on his plate. As head coach of both an international and A-League side he manages to balance the weight of passionate New Zealand supporters with the added pressure of controlling a Hyundai A-league team.

Whilst the fixture list for the All Whites may not be the most demanding in the world, only five fixtures since October 2010, his success at the 2010 FIFA World Cup has earned him the respect that many within the sport, and those close to him, feel he deserves.

Admittedly, the results since then have not suggested a man deserved of a new contract. Within the five matches were three losses and two draws including a fairly heavy 3-0 defeat to local rivals Australia; as with all results context is required. The Socceroos are over one hundred places higher in the FIFA World Rankings than New Zealand and boast a much larger pool of talent to choose from.

Despite the run, Herbert has been offered a new contract extension until 2014 suggesting he will be the man to guide them through the next World Cup. Some disagree with the decision and have rightly been asking whether Herbert has taken them as far as he can.

There is no doubt that he is somewhat living off the successes of South Africa but in a country that has football playing fourth fiddle, to the two rugby codes and cricket, stability is surely what is needed.

Time must also be taken to praise the results of his A-League team, Wellington Phoenix who currently sit fourth in the table. Phoenix rose from the ashes of the New Zealand Knights, hence the name, in 2007 and Herbert is the only head coach they have known.

Since their formation they have gone from strength-to-strength, making the play-off finals in 2010, against the Newcastle Jets, and breaking attendance records for football in New Zealand. Two back-to-back losses against Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Roar have seen them slip down the table in the last two weeks but the only Kiwi side in the league are showing they are an opponent to take seriously.

Herbert and the Nix face hostile crowds at almost every away match where the old Australia- New Zealand rivalry is brought to the fore. Predictable sheep noises bleat across the terraces from the opposing fans but Herbert still have a chance to silence their Australian cousins.

What New Zealand football needs is a man who not only understands football very well but also understands New Zealand to a similar level. This may sound exceedingly obvious but combining these two notions with an aptitude for management is something many countries have struggled with including England.

Herbert’s career is so tightly intertwined with that of football in New Zealand he seemed destined to take over the role as All Whites head coach. Born in Auckland, he represented his country in the 1982 World Cup and has been head coach of the New Zealand Knights, Wellington Phoenix and the national side. Combine that knowledge with time spent learning football abroad, noticeably in England with Wolves, and Herbert’s credentials to lead are obvious.

Former All White Danny Hay has come out to back Herbert’s contract extension saying, “Under Herbert, the current squad of players all know their roles and Herbert’s expectations, as well as Herbert knowing their strengths and weaknesses- NZF (the governing body, New Zealand Football) made the right call”.

Sam Murray

Wellington Phoenix defends

Banning Football in New Zealand

Being a football fan in New Zealand means committing blasphemy. Kneeling at the altar of Messi et al is tantamount to worshipping false idols and the worst sin that can be committed, punishable by expulsion from the country itself, is suggesting that the All Blacks are not at the very least semi- divine. In a land where names like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are seldom heard Daniel Carter and Piri Weepu rule the roost.

One example of the rugby dominance comes from my 6 year old cousin. Whereas most European children of his age will have seen the England shirt I was wearing and recognised the name Rooney on the back he asked me, “who’s Rodney?”, recalling a reverse of Del Boy’s bracelets in Only Fools and Horses. Show him a picture of Dan Carter, of which there are many in New Zealand, and he would have no trouble picking him out.

The Halberg Awards, the Kiwi version of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, provides little hope for fans of the spherical ball. The AB’s won every category apart from Disabled Sports Person of the Year, Sports Women of the Year and the Emerging Talent Award- all of which they would have a great difficulty in winning.

Even the marketing machine that is the Barclay’s Premier League has difficulty breaking the monopoly. The All Black’s fern appears on my deodorant, the Crusader’s sponsor beer in the pubs and Mr Weepu graces the television adverts trying to stop people smoking.

The reason I highlight the omnipresence of rugby, and in particular the All Blacks, is not for a chance to complain I do not get my daily fix of football nor to suggest that the sport needs funding from the national government or FIFA. The real reason is to say, “keep football out of New Zealand”.

This may seem bizarre coming from a dedicated football fan but there are strong and valid reasons behind it I promise you. It is particularly encouraging to visit a country where kids do not follow a team they will only see on a small coloured screen thousands of miles away from a place that they will probably never visit. Instead they wear the colours of their local heroes who play at the rugby pitch down the road.

Their athletes went to schools they themselves attended and grew up around the corner from them. They understand the clubs that they play for and more importantly the people who pay money to support them week in and week out.

I am of course not saying rugby is the perfect sport or that the people who play them are saints who only promote good, old-fashioned sportsmanship. Rugby has it’s failings like any other sport and humans will always make mistakes no matter what shaped ball they kick. 

Football is still present to those who seek it however and successes are celebrated to a certain degree. Last year’s Halberg Awards saw the All Whites presented with the Supreme Award and Ricki Herbert, New Zealand’s head coach, provided with the Coach of the Year Award.

As always the Premier League can be found on the sports channels and every now and then a flash of United red or Chelsea blue can be seen within the mobs of people on the high street. Wellington Phoenix also gets their fair share of coverage.

There is no doubt however that it is rugby that dominates the news headlines, rugby posters that cover kid’s walls and rugby that provides the heroes for the New Zealand public and long may it continue.

Sam Murray