Thanks Winston
Thanks Winston
Because Winston Peters & Mr Helen Clark's block, on Fiji
coming to town to play the All Whites, New Zealand have
lost the chance to host Olympic fixtures.
I hope you are both happy.
I doubt Helen or Winston had anything to do with the initial
or final decision, Winston's dept have decided not to allow the
player here- and to be fair I do think the decision was a bit off!
I do feel the reaction of not trying to get the fixtures here
because on of isolated incident is a bit over the top. Basically
because one guy in a team couldn't get a Visa we are not going to
try to get any future fixtures just in case it happens again - talk
about throwing your toys! theprof2007-10-24 13:49:36
um imagine if we did host it...and the same thing happened again
(which is quite likely...since fiji are in it). It would be
embarrasing, and the games would just have to be moved anyway. Not
to mention FIFA would seriously look at our hosting of future
football events...So its hardly throwing toys
agreed Tegal, the Prof seems to conveniently ignore the impact of
Winston Peter's decision (as Minister he could have done
something!) on the original Fiji game - it was a sporting, PR and
economic disaster and a risk that we can not expose ourselves to -
until Peters and Clarke sort this out
i hope something similar happens with the Netball and Sevens...see
if they keep with the 'rules' they've made
Radio today said two of the Fijian Netball squad have brothers in
the army. The high-commission supposedly told them that isn't
a problem 
.
However, as 'luck' would have it they have made themselves unavailable.
.However, as 'luck' would have it they have made themselves unavailable.
I think I read somewhere the law says when an international
tournament is hosted by NZ, then the visa ban is exempt. I guess
the OFC qualifiers for 2010 don't count as a tournament
fixture in Winnie's eyes. If this were the case, the reason why we
lost the Beijing qualifiers was because our own government didn't
upheld their own laws... not that they correctly upheld the law
when it came to Tamanisau...
Without Fiji the seven's would lose some of it's kudos,
World football without the All Whites, Clark's government
don't care.
It's counted as being part of the World Cup, the Worlds biggest
sporting event. They have all said the same rules will apply
to Netball and the Sevens.
It will be interesting to see if it does.
It will be interesting to see if it does.
It's counted as being part of the World Cup, the Worlds biggest
sporting event. They have all said the same rules will apply
to Netball and the Sevens.
It will be interesting to see if it does.
It will be interesting to see if it does.
Very doubtfull
Contact the Minister for Sport and Recreation , Trevor Mallard, and ask him if he plans to assist our sport "at this difficult time"?
agreed Tegal, the Prof seems to conveniently ignore the impact of
Winston Peter's decision (as Minister he could have done
something!) on the original Fiji game - it was a sporting, PR and
economic disaster and a risk that we can not expose ourselves to -
until Peters and Clarke sort this out
Still dont think the final call falls at the feet of a
minister of a Govt agency. He oversees the department for sure, but
I doubt he personally made the decision - hence my comment. Sure
his dept made the decision not to issue the Visa for the Fijian
Goalie - and as per usual the media have presented one side of the
story - their is always two or three sides to every story. It may
have been a bad call at the time - but I think Football NZ's
decision not to host future football events "just in case" is silly
and childish! Sure it may happen again for a range of reasons, but
it may not too! I just don't see the point of giving up on a
possibility of something happening. 
And
besides by the time we get to host anything football related -
given we rank well below anyone else in the "civilised" world -
chances are there will be another minister running the
show!!!!!
theprof2007-10-25 11:12:12
And
besides by the time we get to host anything football related -
given we rank well below anyone else in the "civilised" world -
chances are there will be another minister running the
show!!!!!
agreed Tegal, the Prof seems to conveniently ignore the impact of
Winston Peter's decision (as Minister he could have done
something!) on the original Fiji game - it was a sporting, PR and
economic disaster and a risk that we can not expose ourselves to -
until Peters and Clarke sort this out
Still dont think the final call falls at the feet of a
minister of a Govt agency. He oversees the department for sure, but
I doubt he personally made the decision - hence my comment. Sure
his dept made the decision not to issue the Visa for the Fijian
Goalie - and as per usual the media have presented one side of the
story - their is always two or three sides to every story. It may
have been a bad call at the time - but I think Football NZ's
decision not to host future football events "just in case" is silly
and childish! Sure it may happen again for a range of reasons, but
it may not too! I just don't see the point of giving up on a
possibility of something happening. And
besides by the time we get to host anything football related -
given we rank well below anyone else in the "civilised" world -
chances are there will be another minister running the
show!!!!!
And
besides by the time we get to host anything football related -
given we rank well below anyone else in the "civilised" world -
chances are there will be another minister running the
show!!!!!as i understand, the reason they withdrew from the olympic
qualifiers is bc of the financial costs involved in putting forward
a bid and in organising a major event in advance, when there
is still a genuine risk that could be money
down a drain if there are problems (remember, they just lost a
stack of cash thanks to the fijian game falling over). furthermore,
it may be that fifa has told them behind closed doors - you aint
going to win this while there is still this visa risk hanging over
the tournament.