11/09/1997
BALBIR Singh, who coached Thailand to the Chiangmai Sea Games silver
medal, played down their chances in Division Two in the 35th Razak Cup
which will start tomorrow in Seremban.
"In Chiangmai, hockey was played on grass and we had the upper hand.
Most other teams found it difficult to switch from artificial pitch to
grass and we won the silver medal," said Balbir.
"At the Razak Cup, we will be at a disadvantage because the team have
been training on grass."
Thailand do not have an artificial pitch but one is under construction
for the Asian Games next year.
Balbir is also in charge of the women's team which he led to the gold
medal in Chiangmai as well.
Thailand, who made their debut in the Razak Cup last year, have
virtually brought down their entire Chiangmai Sea Games squad.
"Hockey is still at an infant stage in Thailand, we don't have a large
pool to select from. Most of them are from the Police or Armed Forces," he
added.
"There is also no local League or tournaments for us to select fresh
players."
With an average age of 28, the Thais arrived a month ago and played a
few friendlies in Alor Star before coming down to Kuala Lumpur.
"We needed to get used to the turf, also, it is the monsoon season in
Thailand now and we cannot train fulltime."
In the Sea Games final, Malaysia beat Thailand 4-0 for the gold and the
former Kilat Club and Johor Razak Cup coach said it will be uphill task in
Seremban.
"After the Razak Cup, we will select the final 16 for the Jakarta Sea
Games, so the Razak Cup will be crucial for us."
Men's Groupings - Div 1: Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Armed Forces, Johor,
Pahang, Perak; Div 2: Indonesia, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Thailand,
Terengganu.
Sept 13 - 8.0am: Indonesia v Penang (Pitch B) 8.30am: Armed Forces v
Pahang (Pitch A) 3.0: Perak v Selangor (A) 3.30: Thailand v Terengganu (B)
5.0: Johor v Kuala Lumpur (A) 5.30: Negri Sembilan v Kedah (B)
Sept 14 - 3.0: Kedah v Thailand (B) 3.30: Indonesia v Negri Sembilan (A)
5.0: Armed Forces v Perak (B) 5.30: Kuala Lumpur v Selangor (A)
Sept 15 - 3.30: Penang v Terengganu (A) 5.30: Pahang v Johor (A)
Sept 16 - 8.0am: Thailand v Negri Sembilan (B) 8.30am: Perak v Kuala
Lumpur (A) 3.0: Indonesia v Terengganu (B) 3.30: Johor v Armed Forces (A)
5.0: Penang v Kedah (B) 5.30: Selangor v Pahang (A)
Sept 17 - 3.30: Kedah v Indonesia (A) 5.30: Armed Forces v Selangor (A)
Sept 18 -3.0: Pahang v Kuala Lumpur (B) 3.30: Perak v Johor (A) 5.0:
Negri Sembilan v Terengganu (B) 5.30: Thailand v Penang (A)
Sept 19 - 8.0am: Johor v Selangor (B) 8.30am: Terengganu v Kedah (A)
3.0: Indonesia v Thailand (B) 3.30: Negri Sembilan v Penang (A) 5.0: Perak
v Pahang (B) 5.30: Armed Forces v Kuala Lumpur (A)
Sept 21 - 8.0am: 3rd & 4th Placing Div 2 (B) 8.30am: 3rd & 4th Placing
Div 1 (A) 3.0: Final Div 2 (A) 5.0: Final Div 1 (A). - all matches at the
Seremban Hockey Stadium in Seremban 2.
(END)
medal, played down their chances in Division Two in the 35th Razak Cup
which will start tomorrow in Seremban.
"In Chiangmai, hockey was played on grass and we had the upper hand.
Most other teams found it difficult to switch from artificial pitch to
grass and we won the silver medal," said Balbir.
"At the Razak Cup, we will be at a disadvantage because the team have
been training on grass."
Thailand do not have an artificial pitch but one is under construction
for the Asian Games next year.
Balbir is also in charge of the women's team which he led to the gold
medal in Chiangmai as well.
Thailand, who made their debut in the Razak Cup last year, have
virtually brought down their entire Chiangmai Sea Games squad.
"Hockey is still at an infant stage in Thailand, we don't have a large
pool to select from. Most of them are from the Police or Armed Forces," he
added.
"There is also no local League or tournaments for us to select fresh
players."
With an average age of 28, the Thais arrived a month ago and played a
few friendlies in Alor Star before coming down to Kuala Lumpur.
"We needed to get used to the turf, also, it is the monsoon season in
Thailand now and we cannot train fulltime."
In the Sea Games final, Malaysia beat Thailand 4-0 for the gold and the
former Kilat Club and Johor Razak Cup coach said it will be uphill task in
Seremban.
"After the Razak Cup, we will select the final 16 for the Jakarta Sea
Games, so the Razak Cup will be crucial for us."
Men's Groupings - Div 1: Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Armed Forces, Johor,
Pahang, Perak; Div 2: Indonesia, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Thailand,
Terengganu.
Sept 13 - 8.0am: Indonesia v Penang (Pitch B) 8.30am: Armed Forces v
Pahang (Pitch A) 3.0: Perak v Selangor (A) 3.30: Thailand v Terengganu (B)
5.0: Johor v Kuala Lumpur (A) 5.30: Negri Sembilan v Kedah (B)
Sept 14 - 3.0: Kedah v Thailand (B) 3.30: Indonesia v Negri Sembilan (A)
5.0: Armed Forces v Perak (B) 5.30: Kuala Lumpur v Selangor (A)
Sept 15 - 3.30: Penang v Terengganu (A) 5.30: Pahang v Johor (A)
Sept 16 - 8.0am: Thailand v Negri Sembilan (B) 8.30am: Perak v Kuala
Lumpur (A) 3.0: Indonesia v Terengganu (B) 3.30: Johor v Armed Forces (A)
5.0: Penang v Kedah (B) 5.30: Selangor v Pahang (A)
Sept 17 - 3.30: Kedah v Indonesia (A) 5.30: Armed Forces v Selangor (A)
Sept 18 -3.0: Pahang v Kuala Lumpur (B) 3.30: Perak v Johor (A) 5.0:
Negri Sembilan v Terengganu (B) 5.30: Thailand v Penang (A)
Sept 19 - 8.0am: Johor v Selangor (B) 8.30am: Terengganu v Kedah (A)
3.0: Indonesia v Thailand (B) 3.30: Negri Sembilan v Penang (A) 5.0: Perak
v Pahang (B) 5.30: Armed Forces v Kuala Lumpur (A)
Sept 21 - 8.0am: 3rd & 4th Placing Div 2 (B) 8.30am: 3rd & 4th Placing
Div 1 (A) 3.0: Final Div 2 (A) 5.0: Final Div 1 (A). - all matches at the
Seremban Hockey Stadium in Seremban 2.
(END)
