Rufer hopes All Whites buzz hangs around

Auckland Star/Sunday Star-Times Auckland Star/Sunday Star-Times Auckland Star/Sunday Star-Times Auckland Star/Sunday Star-Times

New Zealand's Brian Turner goes high against Indonesia's goalkeeper.

ON THE DRIBBLE: New Zealand's Duncan Cole gets between two defenders during a qualifying match against Taiwan for the 1982 World Cup.

ON THE BALL: New Zealand's John Hill is in a race for the ball with a Kuwaiti player during a 1981 qualifying game for the 1982 World Cup.

ON THE BALL: All Whites captain Steve Sumner in action against Kuwait during a 1981 qualifying match for the 1982 World Cup.

« Previous« PreviousNext »Next »

New Zealand football looks set to yet again lose the full-time services of Oceania player of the century Wynton Rufer.

Rufer, 46, was among the sell-out 35,500 crowd at Wellington's Westpac Stadium to watch the All Whites take on Bahrain for a spot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Twenty-seven years earlier and he was among the squad which went to Spain '82 - the All Whites' sole World Cup appearance.

Rufer spent the majority of his glittering professional career in Europe, something which restricted his appearances in the national team to just 39.

He returned to New Zealand with his young family in 1999, spending the next two seasons with the ill-fated Kingz franchise.

Since hanging up his playing boots in 2001, he has headed the acclaimed WYNRS academy which is bringing on the next crop of Kiwi footballing talent.

And shortly before last night's sudden-death qualifier, Rufer revealed he was once again looking at heading off-shore.

''I have got WYNRS to a certain extent,'' Rufer told Sunday News.

''But to really grow it to another level, you really do need a serious partner like Soccer New Zealand or a big corporate.

''It really is in the situation now that I really only need to be there two or three times a year. So if I can get an opportunity somewhere else, I will be honest I would go.

''It is very slow here. We have a great thing going, but it is very slow. It is a small market, it is not easy.''

The impact that WYNRS is making on the local football scene was evident at the recent Fifa Under-17 World Cup. Half of the New Zealand team had gone through Rufer's training programme.

Several players have gone on to pick up professional deals in Europe.

Rufer was called into the All Whites aged just 18 ahead of their 1982 qualifiers in the Middle East against Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Looking back, he said was of his greatest frustrations had been how football in New Zealand had been unable to take full advantage of their place among the world's elite.

Since returning to New Zealand he has at-times found himself on the outer following perceived personality clashes with football officials.

Rufer said regardless of the result of the All Whites' clash against Bahrain, he said the hype surrounding the team should be a boon for the game in New Zealand.

''Hopefully they can take advantage of it, they didn't take advantage of it last time,'' Rufer said. ''I came back because of the World Youth Championships held here in 1999. It was the perfect platform to help make something happen for the game here but say no more.''

- © Fairfax NZ News