Post by Sydneyhooligan on Jun 6, 2005 10:55:43 GMT 10
Soccer: Poisoning knocks Auckland players
06.06.05
By Terry Maddaford
An already disappointing Oceania Club Championship in Tahiti for New Zealand representatives Auckland City took a turn for the worse yesterday when many of their players were laid low by suspected food poisoning.
The sick parade stretched to 11 at one stage, leaving just eight fit players, and tournament organisers decided to postpone their last match against Papua New Guinea side Sobou FC.
That game, scheduled for yesterday, will now be played as the last game today after the two remaining group B fixtures.
"There was never any thought of not playing the game even though there is nothing riding on the result," said tournament director Bob Patterson from Papeete last night. "But it was obvious the game could not be played as scheduled."
The City team, and Australian representatives Sydney FC, are staying at the same hotel as match officials but it appears only the City players were affected.
Patterson paid tribute to the part Auckland played in the tournament opener when they went down in stoppage time to the Australians.
"It was a fantastic game decided by a fantastic free kick," he said.
"Watching the City players against Tahitian side Pirae in their next game, there was the feeling there was not much gas left in the tank after that first game and they needed another day to recover."
Going down 1-0 to Pirae meant the tournament was over for the Allan Jones-coached City side.
In the only match played yesterday, Sydney thumped Pirae 6-0 to finish pool play with a perfect record.
They will now play the runner-up from group B in the semifinals, and Pirae will play that group's winner, who will come from Vanuatu, New Caledonia or the Solomon Islands.
rofl.....
06.06.05
By Terry Maddaford
An already disappointing Oceania Club Championship in Tahiti for New Zealand representatives Auckland City took a turn for the worse yesterday when many of their players were laid low by suspected food poisoning.
The sick parade stretched to 11 at one stage, leaving just eight fit players, and tournament organisers decided to postpone their last match against Papua New Guinea side Sobou FC.
That game, scheduled for yesterday, will now be played as the last game today after the two remaining group B fixtures.
"There was never any thought of not playing the game even though there is nothing riding on the result," said tournament director Bob Patterson from Papeete last night. "But it was obvious the game could not be played as scheduled."
The City team, and Australian representatives Sydney FC, are staying at the same hotel as match officials but it appears only the City players were affected.
Patterson paid tribute to the part Auckland played in the tournament opener when they went down in stoppage time to the Australians.
"It was a fantastic game decided by a fantastic free kick," he said.
"Watching the City players against Tahitian side Pirae in their next game, there was the feeling there was not much gas left in the tank after that first game and they needed another day to recover."
Going down 1-0 to Pirae meant the tournament was over for the Allan Jones-coached City side.
In the only match played yesterday, Sydney thumped Pirae 6-0 to finish pool play with a perfect record.
They will now play the runner-up from group B in the semifinals, and Pirae will play that group's winner, who will come from Vanuatu, New Caledonia or the Solomon Islands.
rofl.....
