Lissek wants MHF to introduce indoor league

22/10/2001

By Jugjet Singh in Hobart

NATIONAL coach Paul Lissek feels there is an urgent need to set up anIndoor League if Malaysia are serious about lifting the standard ofhockey. And if the National Sports Council and the Malaysia Hockey Federationaccept Lissek's proposal, which will be forwarded soon, Malaysia might seeaction in the first FIH sanctioned indoor tournament in Germany in 2003. FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman said on Friday the only criteriafor a team to take part in the indoor tournament is to have an activeleague for at least one year. "In Hobart, I watched with horror as the Juniors made unforced errorsbecause they just did not have the basic skills. Indoor hockey, which isplayed on cement and is a fast and skillful game, can teach them thebasics. "The indoor game can also improve dribbling and stamina. I feel thatMalaysia need to have an indoor league if they want to keep up with therest of the world," said Lissek. The National Juniors went into the World Cup full of confidence because,either they did not know or were fooled, into believing they were goodenough for a top-four place. After struggling against Scotland, Chile and South Africa in theclassification matches, the standard of the Juniors was exposed. It is back to the drawing board for now and the next horror might justbe the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup because, according to Lissek, he has nochoice but to draft some of the Juniors into the senior side as thenational team is experiencing numerous problems. "Stephen van Huizen (assistant national coach) e-mailed me saying thatSuhaimi Ibrahim, who got married three months ago, wants to quit hockey. "Suhaimi is one of our better forwards and if he quits, I will have tofind a replacement fast and we only have the junior side to pick from." The German also feels that Malaysia should start investing in six-year-olds instead of the current practise of scouting for 15 and 16-year-olds. "Just look at the National Juniors. I have told them a million times toplay on the right side of the field but 20 minutes into a match, theystart attacking from the middle and the left. At their age, it is verydifficult to teach them any new tricks in hockey."
RESULTS
FINAL
INDIA 6 ARGENTINA 1
(3rd-4th Placing)
GERMANY 5 ENGLAND 1
(5th-6th placing)
SPAIN 2 AUSTRALIA 0
(7th-8th placing)
SOUTH KOREA 3 HOLLAND 2
jugjet@nstp.com.my
(END