Air New Zealand and Ansett Australia were signed up by Star Alliance in Sydney for its world challenging squad in traditional football style.
Ansett executive chairman Rod Eddington and ANZ managing director Jim McCrea were paraded before new team mates amid a media frenzy forphotos.
Both were resplendent in ‘Star’ tracksuit tops and looked ready to face the competition and also the tough match that faced them.
Rod and Jim gave the waiting hacks all the old talk of being in it to win, of being great new team mates and of a feeling of having made the right move into the squad.
Captain Jurgen Weber, of European champions Lufthansa, welcomed the battling southern hemisphere players and spoke lovingly of their gifts.
With ANZ and Ansett on board, Team Star Alliance needs just three more members to complete its world challenging squad of 11 top players.
Rumours at the Sydney unveiling of the new Kiwi and Aussie stars were of Asian powerhouses Singapore Airlines, African maestros South African Airways and tricky Japanese outfit All Nippon Airways. The big day was signed off with an impromptu kick around by the eight-strong ‘Stars’ under the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Your reporter can reveal the team looks sure to give arch rivals Oneworld Wanderers a run for their money. Surprising really, you’d have thought the players all want a game on the wing!