Juniors looking for that right lift

07/11/2001

THE mood at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil was in two shades
as the national seniors and juniors trained for the 2002 Kuala Lumpur
World Cup on Feb 24-March 9.
The seniors, who have been training since the Azlan Shah Cup in August,
looked a bit tired but were in high spirits as opposed to the 15 juniors
who were still trying to get over their disastrous outing on the Junior
World Cup in Hobart last month.
"The juniors are still feling a litle down after the World Cup in Hobart
but they have been atending training regularly and that is a good sign. It
means that they are still fighting for a place in the 2002 squad," said
national coach Stephen van Huizen yesterday.
They are a little behind as far as physical training is concerned but
van Huizen is not worried because they have just returned from a hectic
tournament in Hobart and should be match fit.
"All we need to do is push them in the right direction and they will
come out of the shell that they went in after Hobart. It is not a big
problem," said van Huizen.
S. Kuhan, a prolific defender and on whose shoulders rest our penalty
corner hopes, feels that `all training and no play' has started to get
into their nerves but the situation is under control.
"After the Azlan Shah Cup in August all we have been doing is training,
and there has not been any matches to see how far we have improved. But
now that Malaysia have secured the Champions Challenge in December, we
have someting to look forward to.
"The Challenge will do us all good because it will break the monotony of
training all the time. Overall, I get a feeling that the team has improved
much since the Azlan Shah Cup," said Kuhan.
Van Huizen said Kuhan is among the top penalty corner specialists in the
world and he has been scooping about 100 balls a day and is geting
stronger and more confident by the day.
"The team is slowly shaping up and by the Champions Challenge on Dec 8,
they should be ready to put up a good display," said van Huizen.
The teams for the Champions Challenge, especially Argentina, Japan and
India will give Malaysia the much needed practice before the World Cup.
There are plans to hold a series of matches with Argentina beore the
Challenge.
"MHF are trying to secure a few matches with Argentina before the
Challenge so that the team can have more practice matches to prepare for
the World Cup. I hope everything is in place because we do need the extra
matches," said van Huizen.
Meanwhile, national skipper Mirnawan Nawawi was the notable absentee at
the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
No, he has not been skipping training, but went home to welcome a new
family member. Mirnawan became a father to a baby girl yesterday.
2002 World Cup training squad: Mohamed Nasihin Nubli, Roslan Jamaludin,
S. Kumar, Maninderjit Singh, S. Kuhan, Nor Azalan Bakar,K. Gobinathan,
Jiwa Mohan, S. Shanker, K. Keevan Raj, Chua Boon Huat, Mohamed Mazli
Ikmar, K. Logan Raj, Shaiful Azli, Mohamed Rodhanizam, Mirnawan Nawawi,
Abdul RAzak Saidin, Chairil Anwar, Mohamed Firdaus Razali, Redzuan
Ponirin, Mohamed Amin Rahim, Jivan Mohan, V. Vinodhan, Nor Azlan Rahim,
Azlan Misron, Tajol Rosli, Zaharin Zakaria, Mohamed Fairuz Ramli, Mohamed
Riduan Nasir.
* jugjet@nstp.com.my
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