Current All Whites Jake Gleeson and Marco Rojas, who have been released by Portland Timbers and Melbourne Victory respectively for the event, are the biggest coups for Emblen’s squad with Rojas joining after his side’s home match against Wellington Phoenix on Friday night, thus missing New Zealand’s opener against Papua New Guinea the same day.
Emblen has also been able to include two players who competed in New Zealand’s Olympic campaign four years ago as teenagers.
Wales-based professional Greg Draper has scored 20 goals this season for The New Saints and made two appearances for the Oly Whites off the bench in China before receiving his sole All Whites cap later that year.
Auckland City fullback Ian Hogg has just returned from a trial in Sweden and, while he is yet to be capped at senior level, he still adds valuable experience as one of only three members of the 2008 squad – the others were Simon Elliott and goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley – to play every minute of New Zealand’s Olympic debut.
“It’s a great boost to have all four of these guys available as it looked as though we might not have any of them for the qualifiers,” Emblen says.
“With their experience of professional, Olympic Games or senior international football, we expect them to be leaders on and off the field in what will be a testing tournament.”
While the likes of Chris Wood, Tommy Smith and Kosta Barbarouses could be added to the mix if New Zealand qualify for the Olympics, Emblen says the core of local players are just as important and backed them to get the first part of the job done.
“They really have double the motivation. Not only are the boys trying to get the country to the Olympics, they are playing for places knowing players are likely to be coming in if the team is successful in getting to the Games.”
Wellington Phoenix’s Cameron Lindsay, 19, is the fourth professional named in the side while the majority of the squad are supplied by ASB Premiership sides including five players from Team Wellington, three from Auckland City, two each from Waitakere United and Waikato FC and one from Otago United.
New Zealand face Papua New Guinea and Tonga in Group B, with the top two progressing to crossover semi-finals against the top two teams from Group A which features Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and American Samoa. The final on March 24 decides Oceania’s sole berth in London.
The men’s Olympic football tournament is a 16-team event with teams able to add three over-age players to an otherwise U-23 squad.
New Zealand squad for OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifier
Goalkeepers
Jake GLEESON (Portland Timbers, USA)
Michael O’KEEFE (Fairfield University, USA)
Defenders
Michael EAGAR (Team Wellington)
Anthony HOBBS (Florida International University, USA)
Ian HOGG (Auckland City)
James MUSA (Team Wellington)
Tim MYERS (Waitakere United)
Tristan PRATTLEY (Otago United)
Adam THOMAS (Waikato FC)
Midfielders
Alex FENERIDIS (Auckland City)
Jason HICKS (Waikato FC)
Cameron LINDSAY (Wellington Phoenix)
Adam McGEORGE (Auckland City)
Marco ROJAS (Melbourne Victory, AUS)
Daniel SARIC (Unattached)
Forwards
Greg DRAPER (The New Saints, WAL)
Louis FENTON (Team Wellington)
Dakota LUCAS (Team Wellington)
Ethan GALBRAITH (Team Wellington)
Sean LOVEMORE (Waitakere United)
Staff
Head coach: Neil EMBLEN
Assistant coach: Chris ZOROCICH
Technical advisor: Raul BLANCO
GK Coach: Mark OATES
Manager: Brian TURNER
Doctor: Mark FULCHER
Physio: Roland JEFFERY
Masseur: Tahwai WHITEWOOD
Gear manager: Seamus MARTEN
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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