Talent scouts pick Coast pair

By Nicholas McBride

Two West Coast students are one step closer to becoming future All Whites after being selected to attend the Talent on Location Day, in Christchurch this Saturday.
Vincent Lucas, from Hokitika, and Harvey Rubbo, from Greymoth, have been selected to join the best 1998-99 born age-group players from the Mainland.
Players were identified following
trials for their respective districts and then attended South Island tournaments in Nelson, and Blenheim under-11s and under-12s in September.
There will be stiff competition for
places as there are 44 outfield players
and five goalkeepers, but only 18 and three places respectfully.
The lucky 21 players will then go on
to attend the National Talent Centre at the end of April.
“It is a difficult task to identify these players and our selection will be made on long term player development principles and not the “here and now” thought process we so often associate in selecting winning teams,” development manager Alan Walker said.
New Zealand Football launched the three National Talent Centres last year in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington as a way to identify and monitor the best players in the country.