`Did you field the B team?'

03/12/2001

AFTER Saturday's first friendly match against Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur
Hockey Stadium, Argentina coach Jorge Ruiz asked a question which caught
everyone within hearing distance by surprise.
"Is this the first team or did we play against a Malaysia `B' team?"
asked a baffled Ruiz while his players were unwinding after the match
which finished 1-1.
Everyone thought he was being sarcastic but he was serious and believed
that Malaysia had fielded their second stringers against his team.
Ruiz can be excused for thinking that the hosts, not wanting to reveal
too much about the team, had fielded their `B' side.
But the 80-odd fans that turned up at the stadium were equally amazed at how fickle-minded the Malaysian players were on Saturday.
"I have been following Malaysian hockey for a long time and they always
had one good forward who would send shivers down the opponents' spines whenever he made a move at goal.
"But today (Saturday) I did not see any forward of that calibre," said
Ruiz.
When national chief coach Paul Lissek was told what the Argentina coach
had said, the German gave a cynical smile and said: "Wait and see, wait
and see for yourself when the Champions Challenge begins."
If one were to really look for an excuse as to why the Malaysian players
looked uncomfortable on the ball, especially when presented with goal-
scoring opportunities, the only answer would be that they have not played
against decent opposition for more than three months.
"I think they were shaky as this is their first match after the Azlan
Shah Cup in August. It is a little late to be playing friendlies but not
too late and I am very happy I got an opportunity to watch them as a team before the Challenge starts," said Lissek.
Goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin and defenders Nor Azlan Bakar, Maninderjit Singh and Madzli Ikmar had good control of the ball and at times even looked like they were ready for the Challenge.
But a handful of silly schoolboy mistakes, which against world class
opposition would spell doom, were made at the back especially by
Maninderjit who is a strong candidate for the skipper's armband in the
absence of Mirnawan Nawawi.
Malaysia sorely missed Mirnawan upfront, but since he is definately out
of the Champions Challenge due to a muscle tear in his left calf, the
Malaysians must start getting used to the idea of playing without him.
Lissek fielded S. Kuhan in midfield and it worked at times when the
burly penalty corner specialist made some piercing passes which found Chua Boon Huat, K. Logan Raj and K. Keevan Raj.
But the forwards were a letdown with their hesitant play whenever they
received the ball and failed to drop back fast enough to their own 25-yard
line to defend when under attack.
"The second friendly against Argentina (today at the National Hockey
Stadium, Bukit Jalil at 8pm) will be a better avenue for me to get the
team working together in every department," said Lissek.
"The team has good players, and if only Malaysian hockey fans would be a
little more patient, the results will start coming."
* SOUTH Africa, who were supposed to arrive at 2.30pm yesterday, failed
to do so leaving Malaysia Hockey Federation officials (MHF) high-and-dry
at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
"The South Africans did not show up at KLIA today (yesterday) and we do
not have any information on their wherebouts," said MHF secretary S.
Satgunam.
"I have tried calling the South Africa Hockey Federation but nobody
picked up the phone."
South Africa are to play a friendly against Malaysia on Wednesday. The
match will double-up as a testimonial for Nor Saiful Zaini who has won 328 caps.
The other teams in the Champions Challenge on Dec 7-15 are India, Japan and Belgium.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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