The OlyWhites have received a big boost on the road to the Tokyo Olympics with key defender Liberato Cacace declaring himself available for selection.
The under-24 men’s football tournament is set to clash with the start of the upcoming Belgian Pro League season but Cacace said his club Sint-Truiden have agreed to release him, as well as another player who is in the frame for Japan selection.
Clubs are not obligated to release players for the Olympics so Cacace’s availability will be welcomed by New Zealand coach Danny Hay given the former Wellington Phoenix star is a regular starter in the Belgian top-flight and the most high-profile member of the under-24 cohort.
“They’re more than happy for me to go. I’ve had long discussions with them about it,” Cacace said.
“There’s another player in my team, [who is likely to go], a Japanese boy. We were hoping to clash, both fullbacks, a left-back and right-back, but the club has been really good to me about this whole situation.”
