Waitt happy with All Whites' progress

15 October 2003

By KENT GRAY

A fifth successive international loss has not stopped coach Mick Waitt from declaring the All Whites whistlestop tour to Iran a success.
 

Iran overpowered Waitt's baby-faced side 3-0 in the Oceania-Asia Challenge Cup match before 50,000 people in Tehran on Monday.

While the All Whites were comfortably beaten by the world's 45th ranked nation, Waitt was pleased to give four under-21 players their first senior international caps ahead of January's Olympic (under-23) qualifiers in Auckland.

He singled out United States-based defender Tony Lochhead as the tour's "success story".

"Besides (captain) Ryan Nelsen, Tony was probably our best player," Waitt said of the Santa Barbara University student.

"Unfortunately he slipped over when they scored their third goal but that was just a minor blip in an excellent international debut."

The other debutants were Caversham defender Rupesh Puna, Lincoln City forward Allan Pearce and England-based Wellingtonian Leo Bertos.

Waitt described Bertos' effort alongside Noah Hickey in attack as "very encouraging" with the Rochdale wing adding a vital ingredient absent from New Zealand teams in recent years – genuine pace.

"He wasn't in the game as much as Tony but he worked hard and showed some really good qualities. He delivered some nice balls."

Waitt was also encouraged by Che Bunce's effort at centreback after three years out of international football and earmarked Bradford City goalkeeper Mark Paston for a lengthy reign between the posts.

"I think Mark's going to push for the No 1 spot for the next 10 years. He's only 26, he's been getting rave reviews at Bradford and he did well again in Tehran."

Waitt is unlikely to persist with the experiment of playing Ivan Vicelich in the centre of defence and pushing Nelsen into the midfield.

"I don't think it cost us the game but it didn't really work. Ivan didn't really want to play there," Waitt said.

"We got beaten by a better team but I guess we expected that. In the second half, apart from Tony's mistake, we matched them though you have to put that into context because Iran were relaxed at 2-0 up ... but overall it was a worthwhile exercise."