Early start for under-18 squad

27/11/2001

THE under-18 team which was hastily assembled for the Asian Youth Hockey
Cup in June and was bundled out in the semifinals by Uzbekistan, has
started the ball rolling for a seven-nation tournament.
After the humiliating experience in Ipoh, there are plans to invite the
champions and runners-up of the Asian Youth Cup and three other countries
for a seven-team tournament at the end of next year and then make it into
an annual tournament.
The defeat to Uzbekistan was hard to swallow for the hockey lovers in
the country because the Uzbeks, made up entirely of the Republic of
Uzbekistan Sports College students from the State of Andijon, were more
accustomed to playing on an 18-year-old bumpy and grassless pitch at their
college but hit the ground running, eventhough they only came with the
bare necesseties of one set of jersies.
Malaysia, after being held 2-2, lost 4-2 on penalties in the semis but
if national chief coach's plans are realised, the under-18 side can expect
better times.
"Our under-18 team which took part in the Asian Youth Cup in Ipoh was a
strong side but hastily assembled and did not have enough match
experience. So, the Malaysia Hockey Federation has agreed to start a
monthly camp for that age group to keep them busy and fit all the time,"
said Lissek.
The monthly camps will begin in March next year where the under-18
players will assemble for a week to train and play friendly matches.
"After the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup, I will have more time for the
under-18 and will start another round of talent scouting in April for a
larger pool for that age-group.
"The National Sports Council and the MHF have agreed in principle to
hold the seven-nation tournament on a regular basis in Malaysia. The idea
is to have two Malaysian sides in the tournament and invite three other
teams plus champions India and runners-up Uzbekistan.
"One Malaysian side will be entirely made up of under-18 players while
the second team will have a mixture of under-18 and under-16 players so
that there will be a continuity of talent in the country.
"Right now, it looks like the under-18 age-group is where we lose some
good players to studies and work commitment because there is no solid
programme to hold them together for long periods," said Lissek.
In the Asian Youth Cup, Malaysia were even beaten by Singapore (1-0) and
then lost to Uzbekistan on penalty flicks in the semis.
"There are some promising players in the under-18 pool today but they
need more international matches to mature so the proposal to have an
annual tournament for them will be a big boost towards the development of
hockey in the country," said Lissek.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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