Lissek sings a different tune

20/11/2001

AFTER one month travelling around the globe, national chief coach Paul
Lissek is now singing a different tune on Malaysia's chances at the 2002
Kuala Lumpur World Cup on Feb 24 to March 9.
Before he left to watch the Champions's Trophy in Rotterdam, and the
Junior World Cup in Hobart before that, the German said that, at best,
Malaysia will finish 10th in the 16-team tournamant.
But after watching the national players train at the National Hockey
Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday, he now feels that Malaysia are good for
a top-six finish.
"It is simply amazing, most of the players have improved tremendously
and are looking better than a month ago. I now see that they have built
the right muscles in gym training and are much more confident of
themselves," said Lissek.
Lissek was shouting at the top of his voice at the hockey stadium
yesterday, guiding the World Cup trainees in their set-pieces, and his
charges seem to be enjoying themselves and were more comfortable with the
ball.
"You can see for yourself that they are no longer shy of receiving the
ball and actually enjoy training eventhough most of them have yet to break
their fast.
"And at the gym this morning (yesterday) I saw for myself how they have
developed physically and are much faster on the pitch as a result," said
Lissek.
Some former internationals who played a big role in helping Malaysia
finish fourth in the 1975 World Cup in Malaysia like N. Srishanmuganathan
and K. Balasingam had taken the German to task in the last few days
because he said that Malaysia are only good for No 10 in the World Cup.
They felt that if that was the target, why hire a foreigner because a
local coach would be able to reach that target too.
"I will not comment on that because I have yet to read the reports.
Maybe later I will be able to comment on that issue," said Lissek.
However, he feels that the top spot in the world cup belongs to Germany,
and it will take a mammoth task to deny them the trophy.
"I watched them play at the Champions Trophy last month and they have
the best team in the world right now. They are good in every department
and it will be hard to deny them the 2002 glory.
"German captain Florian Kunz and Oliver Domke are at the top of the
world and if any team harbours hope of winning the World Cup, these two
players must be stopped at any cost, but it will not be easy."
On South Korea, who are in Group B with Malaysia in the World Cup,
Lissek feels that something is bothering the team.
"At the Champions Trophy, they played like they did not have the will
anymore. They were jaded and lost for ideas. It looked like they are no
longer interested in hockey.
"But with the Korean's, you never know. They bounce back very easily and
might recover in time to put up a fight in the World Cup," said Lissek.
He feels that the absence of Suhaimi Ibrahim did deal his plans an early
blow, but the team is recovering and players like Redzuan Ponirin are
benifitting from his absence.
"I treated him like my child because I was the one who selected and
groomed him after a nation-wide scouting programme. Now that he is `lost
in the woods', I feel sad for him but life goes on.
"It looks like some of the younger players like Ponz (Redzuan) have
taken up the challenge to fill his vacuum and that is good for the team."
* jugjet@nstp.com.my
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