Following two weeks in managed isolation after returning from Japan, we caught up with men’s Olympic team Head Coach Danny Hay on his side’s historic Tokyo 2020 campaign. 


With the Olympics now over, what are your reflections on the tournament? 

Obviously after taking a world-class side like Japan to penalties in the quarter-finals we were gutted to go out, especially in that manner, but looking back now I’m very proud of the way the players showed courage in their performances and the way they played. We challenged them to play a style of football that represents us as Kiwis and I think they did the country, and themselves, proud. 

 

The side made history by qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time. Did you expect them to perform the way they did? 

For some of these players it is fair to say competing at this level was a step up, to suddenly go from their club environment to training alongside Premier League players, but they all embraced the challenge.

As a coaching staff we were always confident in the talent of the squad we assembled and believed they could do something. The more time we spent together, the stronger the team bonds and culture got. Everyone believed in the approach and wanted to give it everything because no one wanted to let anyone else down, on or off the pitch. I think that showed in their performances across the tournament.  


You were with the squad for about a month in Japan, how important was that time together?

It was critical. After such a long time between games we needed a significant period together to implement what we wanted to do on the pitch, as well as for the team to get to properly get to know each other, not to mention acclimatise to the conditions in Japan. 

In a way, being so restricted by Covid regulations worked in our favour as it meant all the players and staff had to be together at all times which helped to build the strong bonds and team culture we established. 

Even before Japan, the Auckland training camp we had at St Kents with the New Zealand and Australian based players was massively important in setting the standards expected of our players. 

 

What impact did Chris Wood and Winston Reid have on the team? 

As proud Kiwis, Woodsy and Winnie were desperate to be part of the tournament and represent the country on the international stage. 

They are obviously both world-class players so bring a huge amount to the team in that respect but off the pitch they are equally important. As a team we talk a lot about mana and that is something both play a huge role in bringing. Even when Winnie couldn’t play in the Romania game because of his injury, he played a vital role in the team. 

It was great to see them both working with the younger guys and really being role models as Kiwi players who have gone to the highest level of the game. I’d often see Woodsy sitting with Ben Waine over dinner, or at training, talking to him about his game. 

I know from speaking to them they really enjoyed the tournament which, as a coach, is excellent to hear. 
 

This was a particularly young group, it must be good to see the generation of talent emerging?

Yes, it’s exciting isn’t it. 

Having players born in 2002, in Marko Stamenic and Matt Garbett, not only be part of the team but start in critical games shows the level of talent some of our young players have. Also, so many of our young players now being in Europe is only going to improve their development. 

One of the really exciting things is that a number of the squad will also be eligible in three years’ time for Paris 2024, allowing them to bring all of the experience of this tournament to the next Olympics. 


With The Games now over, what’s next?

We need to keep up the momentum we have built with the team and bring it to the full All Whites side. We are in the process of exploring options for All Whites games in the spring, looking at the October and November FIFA windows, most likely in Europe or the Middle East.  

We’ve shown we have the talent to win games at international level, we now have to build on that and ultimately do it at the FIFA World Cup.  

Article added: Thursday 19 August 2021