New Zealand's Gareth Brooks and Phillip Burrows to partake in Azlan Shah Hockey Cup
Gareth Brooks and Phillip Burrows, the legendary field hockey players, from New Zealand have rejoined the national squad that is going to contest the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup, scheduled to be held from May 05 to 15 in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Apart from these two, seasoned Kiwi players, Kyle Pontifex and Dean Couzins, are also back with the team to further boost up their team's momentum in the mega event. It will be second event for the New Zealand hockey team in Malaysia this year, as
it had already contested Malaysia Airlines Summer Series earlier in February 2011.
The return of legendary players will be a morale-boosting point for the Kiwis who managed a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games held in 2010 in New Delhi, India. These four fabled hockey pros were not part of the team that played series earlier
in Malaysia.
Shane McLeod, the chief coach of the New Zealand Hockey Team, while speaking to the media said that the Malaysia-based tournament would assist the selection committee to evaluate their players prior to the Oceania Cup. It is vital to mention here that
the Oceania Cup is a very crucial tournament for the Kiwis, as it would serve as a qualifying round to the 2012 London Olympics. He further stated that the event would give them an opportunity to face world’s best squads ahead of 2012 London Olympic Games.
He said, “The Azlan Shah tournament is a top international event that will give us the chance to play against teams that we are likely to compete against at next year's Olympics.”
World’s best seven teams will feature in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup including Australia (Word Champions), Pakistan (Asian Champions), India, Korea, New Zealand, Great Britain (European Champions) and the host Malaysia.
The coach maintained that they had chosen a reasonable squad for the tournament and anticipated positive results. Brooks is a very professional hockey player and his assistance would be an asset for the youngsters, he continued.
In his views, the Kiwi players particularly the youngsters would get a great chance to face a vast range of top squads and as well players in the event to improve their various skills. Senior players, including Ryan Archibald, Blair Hopping and Bradley
Shaw, have been dropped from the squad for the upcoming event. Amazingly, the men’s hockey team of New Zealand will face Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament on May 05, 2011.
The Kiwi line up will be comprised of Steve Edwards, Nick Wilson, James Coughlan, David Green, Nick Haig, Andy Hayward, Hugo Inglis, Simon Child, Dean Couzins, Blair Hilton, Marcus Child, Stephen Graham, Kyle Pontifex, Phil Burrows, Gareth Brooks,
Blair Tarrant, Arun Panchia, Shea McAleese, Stephen Jenness, Richard Petherick and Ben Collier.
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