The Men and Women hockey teams of New Zealand have been succeeded to attract top teams in the Golden Summer Series, which will definitely give them boost for the 2012 London Olympics.
New Zealand Hockey organised an event, where the Black Sticks will play fourteen games at home turfs from 5 – 22 February against world’s best squads including South Korea, Belgium and Japan.
The Men’s squad of New Zealand will face South Korea, Japan, and Belgium while the Women’s team will play against South Korea in different locations including Hamilton, Tauranga and Whangarei and Auckland. Golden Summer Series will fillip the players of
New Zealand and increase their confidence for upcoming mega events.
High Performance Manager of the Black Sticks, Toni Cumpston briefing the media said that their focus is to give enough practise to the both teams of New Zealand in order to prepare them for the future Olympics.
Cumpston said, “Our focus is to give both Black Sticks teams as much top quality international competition over the next 20 months as possible so they are prepared to take on the world’s best at the 2012 London Olympics and this series is a great start to
the year.”
Toni Cumpston further said though the Women’s squad is standing at the last positions in world ranking, but all these games will be played at high-tone.
Vice Captain of the Women’s team of New Zealand, Emily Naylor, who will join the squad in start of the January, said that the games against top teams will certainly improve their fitness level.
Emily said, “Although we have been keeping our fitness up, we haven’t played together since the Commonwealth Games, so it will be great to get back on the turf again and play against a top side.”
Another player of the Black Sticks Men, Andy Hayward said that he would play matches against top teams at all the four locations but competitions at native turf, Tauranga would be enjoyable.
Andy further said that the first event of the new year at home grounds will be very energetic, which would definitely provide them good competitions.
The Women’s squad of New Zealand will play five matches against South Korea of which three would be held at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland while remaining two would be played at Whangarei. The Men’s team of New Zealand will play their matches in Auckland,
Tauranga, Hamilton and Whangarei.
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