Feeling the World Cup jitters

02/10/2001

THE Malaysian Juniors have started feeling pre-match jitters as the Oct 9-21 Junior World Cup in Hobart draws nearer, and joining them is coachYahya Atan. Yahya, as a player, never saw action in the Junior World Cup, butstarted with a bang in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. "After returning from their two-day break, I noticed that they are alittle nervous about playing in the World Cup, but that is normal for anyplayer who is facing a big challenge in their career." Fancy this, except for team manager Arrifin Ghani who played in the 1979Junior World Cup in Versailles, none of the juniors have seen action atthat level including their coach because Malaysia failed to qualify in thelast edition held in Milton Keynes in 1997. Yahya started his coaching carer by assisting Australian master TerryWalsh in the Hiroshima Asian Games in 1994 and has been playing secondfiddle all along. Hobart will be his first major assignment as chiefcoach. "But I take it as a challenge and together with assistant Zulkifli Abbasand team manager Arrifin, we hope to bring out the best in the boys," saidYahya at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil after the juniorsfinished their friendly match against the senior side. The seniors won 2-1. After a two-day break, the juniors did look a little slow in picking uploose balls and making a dash for the goalmouth, but that is to beexpected because in Yahya's words, "it's embeded in the Malaysianculture." "National coach Paul Lisek asked me why was I only giving them a two-daybreak when it would be better to release them for two weeks prior to theWorld Cup with instructions on how to train and what to eat. "He said, in Germany he gives his charges a two-week break and theyregroup two days before the tournament and normally do well. "I told him I can't do the same here because the players will take theword `rest' literaly and after they return it will be back to basics,"said Yahya. This dilemma is faced by every coach in Malaysia and it is not somethingnew. "The Germans, Koreans and Australians can be left alone for long periodswith a programme to follow, but I have to be on top of my players all thetime to see results, and I am not complaining because that is what I dowell." The Malaysian culture aside, the juniors are expected to pick up steamafter another friendly against the seniors at the Bukit Jalil Stadiumtoday. And in Hobart, to keep them on their toes, a friendly match againstCanada has been arranged on Oct 6. Leaving no stone unturned, the Malaysia Hockey Federation have evenengaged the services of a Malaysian cook to make sure the juniors have abalanced diet. Malaysia meet New Zealand first on Oct 10 and on Oct 11 they play anunknown Argentinian side. On Oct 13 they wrap up the first round fixtures against Germany.