Playing tough with the goal keep

The news this morning from Soccer New Zealand that it could be twelve months before the All Whites and Fiji play their postponed World Cup qualifying match is the third bout of bad news for New Zealand following the losses of the All Blacks and Kiwi squads in subsequent weekends, said the Maori Party.

“The Government’s Get Tough policy in denying the Fijian goalkeeper a visa to enter New Zealand, not only brings with it a massive cost estimated by NZ Soccer to be over $200,000, but also affects our position in the international scene” said Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party.

“I have heard that the ability to host the Women’s World Cup next year in New Zealand has come under threat because of the political interference from this Government”.

“The Government clearly wants to play tough with Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, by picking on the goal-keep” said Mrs Turia. “Trouble is, the tactics backfired, and so New Zealand Soccer, their families, the spectators and all players in the Oceania soccer match, all miss out, just so that the Government can prove a point”.

“Simione Tamanisau, in having the audacity to be engaged to a woman whose father is a military policeman, is hardly the pivotal point of the military regime in Fiji” said Mrs Turia.