Along with the confirmation of the selection of four triathletes, the addition of the Oly Whites and Football Ferns adds weight to an already talented Olympic team set to perform with distinction and earn New Zealand’s 100th Olympic medal this year.
Ryan Nelsen and Rebecca Smith were named as team captains with 18-player squad announcements to be made by June 15.
New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general and selector Kereyn Smith says the two football teams are expected to be very competitive and perform strongly at London.
“Based on the significantly enhanced programme for the Football Ferns and their improving ranking internationally, as well as the performance of the All Whites at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Football New Zealand are looking to both teams to make a mark on the Olympic competition,” she says.
High Performance Sport New Zealand chief executive Alex Baumann also commented on the announcements. With just under 100 days to go until the Olympic Games begin, he’s delighted to see the athletes from two more sports selected for the New Zealand team and wants to wish all the Kiwi athletes well in London.
New Zealand first sent football teams to the Olympic Games in 2008. The women’s team finished tenth and the men finished 14th. The Men’s Olympic Football Tournament is contested by squads comprised of U-23 players with three overage players per squad.
The draw for both football tournaments will be made in London next Tuesday night (NZT).
New Zealand Football chief executive Grant McKavanagh says both football teams will go to London on the back of a steady diet of internationals and with high expectations for themselves.
“The experience of Ryan Nelsen, along with two other overage players, in a squad containing at least five other current All Whites means the men will be able to field an exciting young line up of players now earning a living in leagues around the world,” he says.
“The Football Ferns have shown consistently since Beijing that they are a match for the world’s top teams and have taken a big jump since last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup with the majority of the team now playing professionally.”
McKavanagh also confirmed that Neil Emblen would coach the men’s team in London, after successfully guiding the Oly Whites through qualification. Tony Readings is the Football Ferns coach.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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