Chua, among others, in line for German stint

26/11/2001

NATIONAL hockey chief coach Paul Lissek wants to send several players to
Germany for attachments with clubsides, but only if the players are
interested.
The German has received the approval from the National Sports Council
(NSC) and Malaysia Hockey Federation (MHF) but has yet to approach the
players as they are training for the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup.
Lissek, understandably, does not want to disrupt their rhythm at the
moment
"Malaysia has benefitted greatly by sending players to Germany before
and it will be good for their Asian Games preparation.
"I have a few players - one of whom is Chua Boon Huat, in mind for the
German stint - but it all depends on the players because some of them will
have to sacrifice their studies and family life if they take up the
offer," said Lissek.
In 1997, Lissek sent five national players to Germany for a two-month
training stint and it proved to be effective. They were Kerpal Singh, Nor
Azlan Bakar, Chairil Anwar, S. Kuhan and R. Shanker and all were attached
to German First Division side Lubs.
Then in 1999, after winning the silver medal in the Kuala Lumpur
Commonwealth Games, six players from the Project 2001 squad were sent for
a three-month stint in Germany as part of the preparations for the Asian
Junior championship last year. The tournament also doubled up as the
qualifiers for the 2001 Junior World Cup in Hobart.
The six players, sent by NSC based on Lissek's recommendation were Raj
brothers, Keevan and Logan, Suhaimi Ibrahim, Chua, Madzli Ikmar and
Syayrim Uda Karim.
"It is a practice all over the world right now and the players who agree
to go will definitely come back as better players. They need to play with
some `mischievious' players from Europe to gain confidence.
"Right now, I notice that some of the juniors, although very skillful,
are timid and shy of going on their own. By playing in the German League,
they will return home to a brighter future."
"We will not send players who are too young, like the under-16 age
group, because they will not get a chance to play in Germany and will end
up warming the bench instead.
"So, if we send those who are in the early 20s and with some experience
at the international level, I am sure the German clubs will utilise them
to gain promotion.
"I have spoken to clubs like Red and White Munich (the German Indoor
champions) and they have agreed to host Malaysian players. If all goes
well, they will head for Germany at the end of March and return in June."
While the selected will head for Germany after the World Cup, the rest
will continue playing in the domestic league and Lissek, not wanting to
lose his grip on the players, will suggest to the MHF to hold training
sessions at least twice a week when the league takes a break.
"I do not want to rob clubs of their players, but at the same time I
need to keep the national players under some sort of a programme so that
they do not forget whatever I have taught them.
"In this way, most of the groundwork for the Asian Games will be done
when they check into camp again."
(END)