Keep temper in check, boys

19/10/2001

By Jugjet Singh in Tasmania

MALAYSIA played one of their best matches against New Zealand in the first
round of the Junior World Cup at the Tasmanian hockey centre.
There were fireworks as the burly Kiwi defenders tossed about our pint-
sized strikers, and in the end, Malaysian skipper Chua Boon Huat lost his
head and received a yellow card. Jiva Mohan received a knock on his head
and brother Jiwa received a yellow card too for getting into a shoving
match to `avenge' his brother.
Malaysia eventually lost the match 3-2 and on his way to the changing
room, Chua verbally abused the match umpire and was suspended for one
match against the Argentines.
The following day, Argentina hammered Malaysia 5-0 and Malaysia's
campaign in the Junior World Cup has since taken a beating.
Then, the Juniors were fighting for a spot in the top-eight bracket, but
today, they will meet New Zealand again in the bottom-eight bracket to
decide the 9th-10th spot.
The match is not expected to be easy because, just like the Malaysian
team, the Kiwis have been preparing for the past three years and even
trained at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in October last year to get used to
the unpredictable weather in Tasmania.
And just like Malaysia, they got whipped in the first round and will be
attempting to save the blushes against Malaysia today.
Since the local daily in Tasmania, The Mercury, wrote about Malaysia's
million-ringgit failure in the Junior World Cup, there has been a large
following in Tasmania, for the wrong reasons obviously, for the Malaysian
team.
And today, a large crowd can be expected at the stadium to watch the
grudge match.
After beating Malaysia, New Zealand coach Anthony Thornton duly declared
that the Kiwis have arrived and told others to look out for their advance
because they were serious about winning the title.
However, just like us, they too fell flat on their face.
On paper, we are a better team than New Zealand, who rely heavily on
their burly defenders Hayden Shaw and Dean Child, easily above six feet
four inches, to intimidate anyone who dares venture into their turf.
Against Argentina, Shaw was captured in a combo of pictures which made
headlines in Tasmania when he picked up Argentine striker Lucas Cammareri
like a sack of potatoes and tossed him over his shoulders.
Luckily, Cammareri landed on his back and was not seriously injured.
Both the burly defenders have been huffing and puffing, and occasionally
blowing away their opponents in the semicircle but have miraculously
escaped being punished by the umpires.
If Malaysia keep their temperament, and start playing like they did in
the first match against New Zealand, we have a good chance of finishing
ninth. But if they play like they did against Chile on Thursday, we are
doomed to occupy the 12th spot in the Junior World Cup. jugjet@nstp.com.my
(END)