Smith Captains the All Whites
Thursday, 24th May 2012 01:02

Town defender Tommy Smith has been confirmed as captain of New Zealand for their two friendlies in the US. The All Whites are in action against El Salvador in Houston overnight and against Honduras in Dallas on Sunday. Coach Ricki Herbert had been expected to name a more experienced player as regular skipper Ryan Nelsen’s replacement for the two US-based games.

Herbert will appoint a new vice-captain to Nelsen once his squad has arrived in the Solomon Islands for their Oceania Nations Cup matches next week.

The veteran Tottenham centre-half is currently injured and is unavailable for the friendlies and the games in the Solomon Islands, which double as World Cup qualifying matches, meaning his newly-appointed deputy will wear the armband during the tournament.

Smith and West Ham’s Winston Reid, who joins up with the squad after the matches in the US, are candidates for the vice-captaincy.

Photo: Action Images

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Page:
1

casanovacrow added 01:10 - May 24 Well done Tommy
0

Sindre94 added 01:23 - May 24 good lad
0

singtown added 04:53 - May 24 Morale booster for the kid and this can only be good news for us!
0

distractored added 05:00 - May 24

From the New Zealand Herald. Some positive comments.

- -

The 22-year-old Ipswich Town defender dons the armband for the first time in his 10th international and will also lead the team against Honduras on Sunday (NZT) as is believed to be the youngest All Whites skipper ever named.

Danny Halligan, Malcolm Dunford and current All Whites coach Ricki Herbert were all 23 when they captained the national team for the first time.

Herbert, without regular captain Ryan Nelsen (injured) and vice captain Tim Brown (retired) for the USA-based internationals and the upcoming OFC Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands, has signalled that he intends to name a young player to be Nelsen's long-term deputy.

Smith's elevation for internationals against El Salvador and Honduras puts him firmly in contention for that role along with West Ham defender Winston Reid, who joins the squad in Honiara.

"Ryan Nelsen will captain the side throughout the World Cup campaign but with Tim Brown's retirement we will look to appoint a long term vice-captain and will probably look for someone who has future leadership potential. We'll make that decision when we get to the Solomon Islands."