SWANZ

<BODY BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" LINK="#FFCC99" ALINK="#009D74" VLINK="#FF9966"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#CC3300" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website</B></FONT>     |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id825.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Womens Sports Favourites"><U>Other Women's Sports Favourites</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1012.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NZ Sports Favourites"><U>NZ Sports Favourites</U></A>   |   <B>SWANZ</B>   |   <A HREF="id1013.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Womens Tennis Favourites"><U>Women's Tennis Favourites</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04658020.gif" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> SWANZ</div> <div> <B>AND WHEREFORE ART THE SWANZ?</B></div> <div> <I><B>by Jeremy Ruane</B></I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="632" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 4282 WIDTH="626"><div> The more observant among you, in spite of the time you’ve just spent in this section ogling at some of the finest female physiques in local and international sport, will have noticed something glaringly obvious missing from a website primarily set up to acknowledge the efforts of New Zealand’s women’s soccer players.</div> <bR> <div> That’s right - no photos of the code’s more camera-friendly campaigners in this country. And now you’re probably wondering why.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>MANDY SMITH  - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Black Sticks' most skilful and most</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>eye-catching star who, until her retirement in November 2001,</B></div> <div> <B>was regarded as the first lady of New Zealand's sports scene.</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="d3ceb6b0.jpg" border=0 width="235" height="363" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10"></div> <div> It’s not as if there aren’t any - players, that is! Au contraire!! The problem is they haven’t had anything like the amount of exposure (pun intended!) that the likes of Mandy Smith and friends have enjoyed and been privy to in recent years, and for that, one has to point the finger at those in positions to engineer change in such situations.</div> <bR> <div> I've had the distinct impression at times that the powers that be, while they are at pains to assure me that they do care about women's soccer in New Zealand, don’t give a monkeys - a crying shame, really, considering that the women arguably provide this country with its best chance of qualifying for future FIFA tournaments not hosted by this country.</div> <bR> <div> Everything seems to be geared towards the success of the All Whites - 44 internationals since the Oceania Women's World Cup qualifying tournament in October 1998, compared with five for the SWANZ, presents a fairly strong case for the prosecution on this score. </div> <bR> <div> Now, I’ve nothing against the All Whites at all - don’t get me wrong. Improving the chances of success for the national men’s team is all well and good.</div> <bR> <div> But at the same time, it mustn’t be done to the detriment of the country’s other national soccer teams, and the development, both skill-wise and experience-wise, of the core squad members of said teams.</div> <bR> <div> This is where I believe NZ Soccer has got the mix horribly wrong in the last fifty months, particularly with regard to the All Whites’ female equivalents, the SWANZ, who have effectively been in mothballs in that time, something which has been highly detrimental to the development of the senior players.</div> <bR> <div> They have effectively been denied the opportunity to better their own game, and consequently continue to raise the bar at domestic level, through this lack of international activity. It doesn't do much for the players' self-motivation either, knowing that there's little point doing extra personal training because of the absence of a worthwhile incentive, which international action most definitely is.</div> <bR> <div> It goes without saying that such a situation simply shouldn’t be. So one must ask why such a situation exists? And what is being done to rectify it? If the answer to this last question is nothing, why so?</div> <bR> <div> Well, in December 2002, I am delighted to report that some changes for the better have already happened, and some quite significant changes are afoot, prompted by the arrival of the new Director of Football at New Zealand Soccer, Paul Smalley. </div> <bR> <div> As the former Assistant Coach of the England women's team, he's well versed in the women's game globally, and is already endeavouring to drag New Zealand women's soccer kicking and screaming into the 21st century, with the creation of a new position at NZS, namely <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id1003.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Job Description"><U>Director of Women's Technical Development</U></A></FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> Some of the changes taking place came earlier in 2002. During negotiations for the All Whites' pre-Oceania Nations Cup tour of China, our Asian friends offered an out-of-the-blue invitation to NZS for up to four of our finest women's players to be part of the Chinese Women's Super League, on short-term professional contracts.</div> <bR> <div> Maia Jackman and Simone Ferrara were able to take up the opportunity - refer <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id941.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="China Calling"><U>China Calling</U></A></FONT> and <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id1008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chinese Whispers"><U>Chinese Whispers</U></A></FONT> - while Nicky Smith and Nicola Morrison were dead keen to join them, but were unable to do so for varying reasons, primarily work commitments.</div> <bR> <div> A further change for the overall good was the change from the week-long National Tournament to a weekly <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id986.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="National Womens Soccer League"><U>National Women's Soccer League</U></A></FONT>, the inaugural season of which took place throughout October and November, 2002.</div> <bR> <div> Then there are the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id1004.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Paul Smalleys Plans"><U>plans</U></A></FONT> which Paul Smalley has for the game - ally these to the raft of youngsters who are beginning to find their feet at senior level, and there is any number of reasons to be positive about the future for women's soccer in New Zealand, particularly at national level and beyond.</div> <bR> <div> While these initiatives offer much promise, there is so much more which can - needs to - be done, if New Zealand is to return to being anywhere near as competitive as they once were at international level - remember, during the 1980's, New Zealand were considered to be one of the top four women's soccer-playing nations in the world, based on their endeavours at the World Women's Invitational Tournaments in Taiwan.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>MORE GAMES PLEASE!</B></div> <div> There is one question I get asked with a great deal of regularity over the course of a season by any number of people - primarily players, their parents and friends, and spectators. "What's happening with the SWANZ?"</div> <bR> <div> There is one particular group of people who, more than any others, deserve to know the answers to these questions - the players. Because they are the ones who are suffering most of all, by missing out on international experiences which can only benefit the game here.</div> <bR> <div> I know I’ll have the backing of every single women’s soccer player in New Zealand when I say that, to a woman, there is nothing they would love more than to give their all and then some while wearing the white (or black) shirt of their country, and do the silver fern proud.</div> <bR> <div> For the majority of these players, just being given such an opportunity would be the realisation of their footballing dreams. But an elite group of New Zealand’s women’s soccer players have a greater ambition still - to represent New Zealand on the greatest footballing stages available to them, the Women’s World Cup Finals, and, from 2004, the Olympic Games, for which a separate qualifying tournament will now be held.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>BRANDI CHASTAIN - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>reveals the world's most </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>famous sports bra after scoring the match-winning </B></div> <div> <B>penalty in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final.</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="d3db4bb0.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="187" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10"></div> <div> It’s an ambition I would dearly love to see these players realise sooner rather than later, having been involved with a few members of this group now for the best part of a decade and beyond.</div> <bR> <div> Along the way, I’ve helped them celebrate their successes, and helped pick them up when fortune has not been in their favour. I’ve stood by them, not because I get anything back in return, but because, as is the case with the other sports stars featured in this section of the website, I recognise and greatly admire their dedication to their cause, and their willingness to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve their footballing objectives, objectives which I am only too willing to help satisfy - within reason, of course!</div> <bR> <div> Penning an article such as this is but one example. I’m well aware that I’m the only member of the NZ Soccer Media Association who actively looks to publicise the activities in the women’s game on a regular basis, and I do so for the players’ sake. </div> <bR> <div> Why? Because I see no reason why their efforts shouldn’t gain such public recognition. Some people will probably scoff when I say that the elite women’s players contribute as much to their side of the code as their male counterparts. I say this because, to quote Bryan Ferry’s lyric from the title track of the Roxy Music album Manifesto, “I know, I’ve seen”.</div> <bR> <div> And what I’ve seen, in over ten years of covering the women’s game in New Zealand, doesn’t deserve to go unrewarded. </div> <bR> <div> When the time eventually does come for the SWANZ to be removed from mothballs, building up their public profile will be every bit as important as getting the on-field combinations and patterns of play sorted out.</div> <bR> <div> With regards the latter aspect, the code is well served at present, but when we’re looking at building up the profile of a team, just concentrating on the skill factor alone isn’t enough - the general public can’t identify with it.</div> <bR> <div> They can, however, identify with character, charisma and personality, to mention just three individual traits. Then there’s the all-encompassing element of sex appeal, as you’ve already witnessed in this section and which, let’s be honest, is a must-have in this day and age, like it or not.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>FOUR OF OUR FINEST</B></div> <div> <B>packed with athleticism, character, charisma, charm, courage, footballing prowess, intelligence, personality, self-confidence, sex appeal, style ... and they're highly photogenic too!</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="d3e7ac80.jpg" border=0 width="122" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10">  <IMG SRC="d3f73c80.jpg" border=0 width="115" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10">  <IMG SRC="d408ac80.jpg" border=0 width="138" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10">  <IMG SRC="d418fc80.jpg" border=0 width="143" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10"></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" >Needless to say, I’m delighted that the likes of </FONT><A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="M.Cox"><U>Michele Cox</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" >,</FONT> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jackman"><U>Maia Jackman</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" >,</FONT> <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ferrara"><U>Simone Ferrara</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" > and </FONT><A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oostdam"><U>Marlies Oostdam</U></A> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" >(respectively pictured above) have each of these individual qualities in abundance, to go with their proven prowess on the park.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> What they haven’t got at present is a platform upon which they can prove the fact. Women’s hockey star, Mandy Smith, was the beneficiary of just such a platform, by way of the Black Sticks at Sydney 2000. She made the most of the opportunity, and until her retirement in November 2001, was, in the public’s eyes, the first lady of New Zealand sport.</div> <bR> <div> Yet for mine, she doesn’t even begin to compare with Michele and Maia in the good looks stakes ...</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>AMY TAYLOR  - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>shapely covergirl of the </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Matildas' (in)famous 2000 fund-raising calendar. </B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="8a7de2c0.jpg" border=0 width="222" height="300" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10"></B></div> <div> At least with the likes of the above-mentioned quartet, and players such as <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id489.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crawford"><U>Amanda Crawford</U></A></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id920.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Priscilla Duncan"><U>Priscilla Duncan</U></A></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id919.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hayley Moorwood"><U>Hayley Moorwood</U></A></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id854.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rachel Doody"><U>Rachel Doody</U></A></FONT> and <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" ><A HREF="id630.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ormond"><U>Vicki Ormond</U></A></FONT>, raising the SWANZ public profile at short notice shouldn’t be too difficult ... although I don’t think they need to go to the lengths the Matildas did for some additional publicity, by way of their (in)famous calendar! </div> <bR> <div> I’m sure our girls would far sooner be seen pulling on, as opposed to peeling off, their country’s playing kit - they get precious few opportunities to wear it as things stand!!</div> <bR> <div> NZ Soccer have openly admitted to me that they would dearly love to have a Mandy Smith-type player in New Zealand women's soccer. Their "Small Whites" programme is fronted by 24-year-old Ryan Nelsen, but for all the budding women's soccer internationals of the future, a poster of a SWANZ star on the wall to whom they can aspire would be far more appropriate. </div> <bR> <div> I'm sure, among the names of the Kiwi women's soccer stars mentioned above, there are at least a couple of players to whom NZS can turn, in order to provide the young 'uns with a role model for their sport. </div> <bR> <div> And while their ideal is for that person to be one of the younger generation coming through onto the international stage, such are the circumstances with this subject that they really need to focus their energies on utilising the skills of one of the senior players at present, and gradually introduce the newcomer to the scene - after all, you can never have enough role models, in any walk of life. There are enough of them on this section of the website alone!!</div> <bR> <div> But in order to have a profile, one must have a stage on which to build it, and in that regard, the SWANZ will come out of mothballs in 2003 - HALLELUJAH!!<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>And they should be seen in action on a far more regular basis from now on, too, given there is now separate qualifying tournaments for the Women's World Cup Finals and the Olympic Games.</div> <bR> <div> Here's hoping the representatives of New Zealand's national women's soccer team will have something better than a runner’s chance of qualifying for China 2003 and/or Greece 2004 and subsequent competitions, in order to realise their Women’s World Cup Finals and/or Olympic Games dreams.</div> <bR> <div> For all the sacrifices made for their sport by these players, and their numerous predecessors down the years, they deserve nothing less.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> PS  NZ Soccer are looking to re-market the New Zealand Women's Soccer Team, the title by which they refer to the more media-friendly SWANZ. If you've got any ideas on a catchy nom-de-plume for the team, along the lines of the All Whites and the OlyWhites, please don't hesitate to let them know.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stars of Other Codes"><U><B>Stars of Other Codes</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </BODY>