Cruel blow for Vhinodhan

03/10/2001

V. VHINODHAN, 21, was dealt a cruel blow yesterday when he was droppedfrom the national juniors squad who will head for Hobart, Tasmania, todayfor the World Cup. No, not that coach Yahya Atan found out in the 11th hour that he was notgood enough for the team, just that fate was not on Vhinodhan's side whenhe came down with chicken pox. The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have named Mohamed Redzuan Nasir,18, to take his spot. "He was not feeling well for the past few days and when he went for acheck-up on Monday, the doctor told him that he had chickenpox and willnot be able to heal in time for the Junior World Cup. "After consulting with Tan Sri P. Alagendra, chief coach Paul Lissek andother MHF officials we decided on Redzuan," said Yahya after the juniorsplayed their final friendly against the senior side at the National HockeyStadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. The match ended 3-3. Vhinodhan was one of the borderline cases when MHF named the squad andhis absence will not be sorely felt by the team. "He was one of our capable substitutes and he played in the midfieldposition. But since we already have capable defenders in the team, wedecided on Redzuan who is a striker," said Yahya. Redzuan was dropped exactly a week ago and he was told to report backfor training on Monday with the senior squad preparing for the 2002 WorldCup in Kuala Lumpur because MHF did not want to lose the player. "I went back home to Ipoh to dwell on my future in hockey after beingdropped last week and was about to return to Kuala Lumpur on Monday when Ireceived the call from Yahya saying that I have been included in thejunior squad because Vhinodhan was down with chicken pox. "Although I sympathise with Vhinodhan, I will take this opportunity torepay the faith the coaches have in me by going all out in Hobart," saidRedzuan. Redzuan was in the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games team which won the gold medaland has seen some action in the Korea Tour in June. He was named as the2001 Junior League man-of-the-tournament. Yesterday, the juniors held back a little during their friendly matchbecause most of them were afraid of getting injured. But even then, theymanaged to hold the senior squad to a 3-3 draw and impressed senior K.Keevan Raj in the process. "They have started playing well as a team, and I notice that they arebetter than the junior squad (which is now the senior side) which I usedto play in. I wish them all the luck in Hobart," said Keevan. Keevan was in the junior squad which failed to qualify for the 1997World Cup in Milton Keynes when they were piped on goal difference byBangladesh, so, he should know. In Hobart Malaysia are in Group D with with Argentina, Germany and NewZealand. Malaysia meet Germany on Oct 13, their toughest match in thegroup, with some heartening news. Lissek, who is in Germany now, has made arrangements to be in Hobart onOct 12 to give Yahya a tactical hand. And news in the grapewine is that"Lissek is going to go all out to make sure Malaysia emerge as winners inthe encounter."