Navy Blues get All Whites nod

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 25 May 2018

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC players get international call-up as All Whites Head Coach Fritz Schmid named a young and exciting squad to contest The HERO Intercontinental Cup in India next month.

Cam Howieson and Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi have each been named in the squad with goalkeeper Cameron Brown and youngsters Callum McCowatt and Owen Parker-Price listed in the group of players on standby.

Nearly a dozen of those named in the squad have played for Auckland City FC at some stage of their careers and includes names such as Myer Bevan, Tim Payne, Sam Brotherton, Adam Mitchell, Matt Ridenton, Tom Doyle and Clayton Lewis.

The 23-man squad will compete against hosts India, Kenya and Chinese Taipei in the tournament staged at the Mumbai Football Arena from 1 – 10 June.

Schmid, who was named as the new Head Coach of the All Whites in March, said the tournament is an excellent opportunity for his team in the early stages of their rebuilding towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The squad includes six uncapped players in goalkeepers Michael Woud and Nik Tzanez, defenders Nikko Boxall, Justin Gulley and Liberato Cacace and forward Noah Billingsley.

Six players who were in the squad selected by Schmid for the 1-0 loss to Canada in March – Michael McGlinchey, Marco Rojas, Michael Boxall, Jeremy Brockie, Ryan Thomas and Themi Tzimopoulos – were unavailable for this tour.

New Zealand will open The HERO Intercontinental Cup on 2 June against World No 111 Kenya, they will play World No 121 Chinese Taipei three days later and finish their pool games against World No 97 India. The two top ranked sides from the six games will compete in the final on 10 June.

The Intercontinental Cup was first held in a tri-series format in 2017 (then known as Hero Tri-Nation Series). India were crowned the champions of the tournament after they finished top of the table with a win over Mauritius and a draw with St. Kitts and Nevis. It is the first event with the revised format.

New Zealand Football is pleased to confirm Roger Spry as the newest member of the All Whites coaching team. Spry has been named as an Assistant Coach alongside Des Buckingham and José Figueira. All Whites Head Coach Fritz Schmid said Spry will add a huge amount to the All Whites environment.

Ends

All Whites squad for The Intercontinental Cup (Club, Country, Caps, Goals)

Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (Salford City, ENG) 1, 0
Michael Woud (Sunderland, ENG) 0, 0
Nik Tzanev (AFC Wimbledon, ENG) 0, 0

Defenders
Nikko Boxall (Viborg FF, DEN) 0, 0
Adam Mitchell (Bolton Wanderers, ENG) 1, 0
Sam Brotherton (Sunderland, ENG) 10, 0
Thomas Doyle (Wellington Phoenix) 9, 0
Dane Ingham (Brisbane Roar, AUS) 7, 0
Te Atawhai Hudson Wihongi (Onehunga Sports) 5, 0
Justin Gulley (Stop Out Sports) 0, 0
Liberato Cacace (Wellington Phoenix) 0, 0

Midfielders
Matt Ridenton (Newcastle Jets, AUS) 3, 0
Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix) 1, 0
Henry Cameron (Limerick, IRL) 2, 0
Cameron Howieson (Three Kings United) 10, 0
Clayton Lewis (Scunthorpe United, ENG) 14, 0
Tim Payne (Eastern Suburbs) 15, 2
Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix) 5, 0
Andre De Jong (Hakoah, AUS) 1, 0
Moses Dyer (Manukau United) 10, 0

Forwards
Jai Ingham (Melbourne Victory, AUS) 1, 0|
Noah Billingsley (Santa Barbara University, USA) 0, 0
Myer Bevan (Husqvarna FF, SWE) 3, 1

Standby:

Cameron Brown (GK)
Niko Kirwan
Jack Henry Sinclair
Owen Parker Price
Callum McCowatt
Monty Patterson
Jake Porter
James McGarry
Logan Rogerson

All Whites Support Staff for The HERO Intercontinental Cup
Fritz Schmid – Head Coach
Des Buckingham – Assistant Coach
Jose Figueira – Assistant Coach
Roger Spry – Assistant Coach
Mark Oates – Goalkeeping Coach
Tom Reynolds – Doctor
Facundo Ramirez – Strength and Conditioning
Dong-Hyun Roh – Analyst
Seamus Marten – Manager
Roland Jeffrey – Lead Physiotherapist
Adam Crump – Physiotherapist
Chris Wardle – Kit Manager
Peter Thornton – Media Manager

The Intercontinental Cup Fixtures (all games kick off at 8pm local time, 2:30am NZT)

1 June India v Chinese Taipei
2 June Kenya v New Zealand
4 June India v Kenya
5 June Chinese Taipei v New Zealand
7 June India v New Zealand
8 June Chinese Taipei v Kenya
10 June FINAL