INDIA are not keen to play Test matches against Malaysia, nor are they
ready to share Germany's schedule.
That leaves the National team with 10 matches to prepare for the 9th
Men's World Cup in Utrecht, Holland, on May 21-June 1.
"We wanted to expose the team to at least 15 quality matches before the
World Cup but New Zealand declined our request for Test matches while
India are not keen to share Germany's schedule or even host Malaysia,"
said Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary S. Satgunam after the
executive committee meeting yesterday.
Germany are scheduled to tour India on Jan 2-12, and since the Malaysian
team are also scheduled for three Test matches against India from Jan 11,
the MHF wrote to the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) requesting for Test
matches against Germany on Jan 9 and 10.
"We were prepared to go early. We even wrote to the Germans, and they
agreed to play Malaysia if India can make changes in their schedule. But
sadly India not only refused to accommodate Malaysia, but also stated that
they are not keen to play against the Malaysian side."
New Zealand were invited to extend their stay in Kuala Lumpur after the
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Feb 28-March 8. The MHF wanted to play three Test
matches on March 10-13 but the Kiwis declined the invitation as their
players must be back in New Zealand on March 9.
"That leaves us with six matches in the Azlan Shah Cup, two Test matches
against Holland on April 25 and 26, and two Tests against Germany on May 2
and 3."
Meanwhile, the MHF have selected 24 players to undergo national training
and they will not be allowed to take part in the Junior Hockey League,
Malaysia Games, the Razak Cup, and all other sanctioned tournaments except
the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
"The MHF decided that the team for the 1998 World Cup and the
Commonwealth Games will be their top priority so the players must be kept
as a team. During the MHL, each team can register four national players
unlike the open ruling lasy year.
"But clubs that employ more than four national players can field all,"
said Satgunam.
THE national squad - Goalkeepers: Izuan Suhardi Selamat, Roslan
Jamaluddin, Paul Lopez, Mohamed Nasihin Nubli;
Defenders: Maninderjit Singh, Lailin Abu Hassan, A. Arul Selvaraj,
Kerpal Singh, Brian Jayhan Siva, K. Gobinathan, Calvin Fernandez, Nor
Azlan Bakar, R. Shankar.
Midfielders: Chairil Anwar, S. Kuhan, K. Keevan Raj, S. Nishel Kumar,
Aphtar Singh, M. Kaliswaran.
Forwards: Nor Saiful Zaini, Mirnawan Nawawi, K Logan Raj, Mahinder
Singh, Lam Mun Fatt.
Reserves: Muhamed Nizam Nordin, I. Vikneswaran.
(END)
ready to share Germany's schedule.
That leaves the National team with 10 matches to prepare for the 9th
Men's World Cup in Utrecht, Holland, on May 21-June 1.
"We wanted to expose the team to at least 15 quality matches before the
World Cup but New Zealand declined our request for Test matches while
India are not keen to share Germany's schedule or even host Malaysia,"
said Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary S. Satgunam after the
executive committee meeting yesterday.
Germany are scheduled to tour India on Jan 2-12, and since the Malaysian
team are also scheduled for three Test matches against India from Jan 11,
the MHF wrote to the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) requesting for Test
matches against Germany on Jan 9 and 10.
"We were prepared to go early. We even wrote to the Germans, and they
agreed to play Malaysia if India can make changes in their schedule. But
sadly India not only refused to accommodate Malaysia, but also stated that
they are not keen to play against the Malaysian side."
New Zealand were invited to extend their stay in Kuala Lumpur after the
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Feb 28-March 8. The MHF wanted to play three Test
matches on March 10-13 but the Kiwis declined the invitation as their
players must be back in New Zealand on March 9.
"That leaves us with six matches in the Azlan Shah Cup, two Test matches
against Holland on April 25 and 26, and two Tests against Germany on May 2
and 3."
Meanwhile, the MHF have selected 24 players to undergo national training
and they will not be allowed to take part in the Junior Hockey League,
Malaysia Games, the Razak Cup, and all other sanctioned tournaments except
the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
"The MHF decided that the team for the 1998 World Cup and the
Commonwealth Games will be their top priority so the players must be kept
as a team. During the MHL, each team can register four national players
unlike the open ruling lasy year.
"But clubs that employ more than four national players can field all,"
said Satgunam.
THE national squad - Goalkeepers: Izuan Suhardi Selamat, Roslan
Jamaluddin, Paul Lopez, Mohamed Nasihin Nubli;
Defenders: Maninderjit Singh, Lailin Abu Hassan, A. Arul Selvaraj,
Kerpal Singh, Brian Jayhan Siva, K. Gobinathan, Calvin Fernandez, Nor
Azlan Bakar, R. Shankar.
Midfielders: Chairil Anwar, S. Kuhan, K. Keevan Raj, S. Nishel Kumar,
Aphtar Singh, M. Kaliswaran.
Forwards: Nor Saiful Zaini, Mirnawan Nawawi, K Logan Raj, Mahinder
Singh, Lam Mun Fatt.
Reserves: Muhamed Nizam Nordin, I. Vikneswaran.
(END)
