AIS will help shape up Yoges' boys

12/03/1999

THE national hockey team are still at a transitional stage and the match
against the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) team today at the
National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil will reveal many faults.
But team manager R. Yogeswaran sees it as a blessing in disguise.
"We will try out new combinations and a few Project 2001 players in the
five friendlies against the AIS team. The first three matches will be
uphill but there should be a shape in the final two friendlies," said
Yogeswaran.
Yesterday, S. Kuhan was seen training penalty corner variations with
junior Norazlan Rahim. Kuhan wore the skipper's armband during the recent Five-Nation in Cairo and is expected to play a major role in getting the goals.
"We have tried out many penalty corner variations which will be put to
test against the AIS team. Norazlan is slowly gaining momentum with his
direct hits and will be the one to watch during the friendlies."
Old hands Mirnawan Nawawi and Maninderjit Singh have not been excluded from the friendlies although their fitness level is still not known. Right now they are in the midst of sitting for their university examinations.
"Mirnawan will be available tomorrow (today) while Maninderjit will
finish his examinations on March 17. So both of them will be available for
at least one match but we will not push them if they are not physically
ready.
"They have been keeping fit but the long hours buring the midnight oil
might affect their play.
We do not want to lose them to injuries by pushing them for the
friendlies," said Yogeswaran.
Coach Colin sta Maria will only know his team after a meeting in the
morning but since the choice of players is limited, he will try out a few
Project 2001 players.
K. Keevan Raj, K. Logan Raj, Shuhaimi Ibrahim, Chua Boon Huat, Madzli Ikmar, M. Jiwa and Syarim Uda Karim are some of the juniors who have been wearing two hats, travelling between the senior and Project 2001 squads and sta Maria will definitely use them to strengthen his senior squad against the AIS.
Malaysia-AIS matches series - Today squad (4.0); Tomorrow (5pm); March 15 (8.0); March 17 (6.0); March 18 (6.0). - all matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
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