WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Duncan Cole, who played for New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup, has died. He was 55.
Football New Zealand said Cole died suddenly at his Auckland home on Wednesday night, the cause of death is not immediately known.
A solidly-built midfielder known to his teammates as “Dependable Dunc,” Cole played in all 15 matches of New Zealand’s qualifying campaign and in its three pool matches at the World Cup in Spain. The 1982 tournament was New Zealand’s first appearance at a World Cup.
Cole played 92 matches for New Zealand between 1978 and 1988.
Steve Sumner, who captained the 1982 New Zealand team, said “Duncan was dependable, he never let you down and he never had a bad game.”
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