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SAGA OF 81/82 PART 1

Harry Horsman

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2005

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 OCEANIA

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Many words have been written many more have been said,
Regarding earth’s greatest feats, mainly war and of its dead,
So what a relief to find something totally different instead,
John Adshead and Kevin Fallon and their twenty-two men.
This all white squad, our New Zealand’s poetry in motion,
This great game of soccer, its ideals, concepts and notions,
Many encounters to be fought, lands to cross, also oceans,
Many turbulent scenes, stoning, tears, fears and emotions.
Although one’s small beginnings started long before April eighty-one,
It was not till the 25th that folk sang their song,
A three all draw with Aussie, a hit with everyone,
Hurry, the return match, patience needed, it will not be long.
No man was reprieved, next came five days of toil,
Before the squad left to its first encounter on foreign soil,
The host nation ‘Fiji’ crafty change of venue just to foil,
But a humid four-nil victory kept Kiwi on the boil.
Next day to Taiwan with its stadium of brown clay,
Totally devoid of grass situated in the city of Taipei,
No goals for the Kiwi, but none for them either today,
‘Well earned New Zealand attitude will have the last say.’
May the 11th in Jakarta one hundred thousand partial souls,
Gave New Zealand the weapon, Kiwi then answered with goals,
A two-nil victory today, every man played out his role,
Confidence reigns supreme, but no illusions on reaching one’s goal.
Now in Sydney, the most crucial match of them all,
Kiwi liken to local uric. This! Would ensure Aussie’s fall,
Two brilliant goals for victory, three million Kiwis stood tall,
Gold and green were devastated, by New Zealand at football
With 747 landing Mangere was host to a joyous scene,
To pay homage created by one’s talent and television screen,
A coming home worthy of a dreamer’s wildest dreams
‘Forget the future’ If only a moment,’ you’ve beaten the cream.’
It’s back to the grindstone to coin ‘Ye olde phrase,’
Hard tackles to be the norm physical attributes for this phase,
Indonesia were a disappointment running around in a daze,
A five-nil victory to add fuel to Kiwi’s latest craze
Picturesque Mount Smart hosting this game on 30th of May,
Taiwan were the visitors, green grass the enigma this day,
A two-nil victory although not a lot to say
But nothing to worry about, Kiwi had all the play.
No one could ever imagine, these lads just want to qualify,
World records would tumble in their quest to win or die,
The annihilated Fiji thirteen goals to nil were known to sigh,
‘This small band of valiant men got New Zealand by.’
Many words have been written many more have been said,
Regarding earth’s greatest feats, mainly war and of its dead,
So what a relief to find something totally different instead,
John Adshead and Kevin Fallon and their twenty-two men.

© Harry J Horsman 1986

Notes

Editor’s note :

this may be going back in time, but we welcome this contribution from Harry, which showcases an exciting time in New Zealand’s football history.

NB :
The “All Whites” referred to on line 5, is not a racist reference,
but is in fact the nickname for the New Zealand football team (referring to the colour of their strip), in much the same way as the Rugby team is nicknamed the “All Blacks”.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/saga-of-8182-part-1/