Malaysia on `kamikaze' mission

18/12/2001

MALAYSIA'S preparation for the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup looks like a
`kamikaze' mission but in truth the team needs all the international
exposure they can get.
The Malaysians kick off their busy schedule with the Four-Nation
tournament in Spain on Jan 3-5 and this is then followed by the Six-Nation
in Kuala Lumpur which starts on Jan 19.
England, Poland, Malaysia and hosts Spain make up the teams playing in
the Four-Nation while the Six-Nation has an impressive lineup of
Australia, India, Holland, New Zealand, Pakistan and hosts Malaysia.
With the World Cup scheduled for Feb 24-March 9, one would think that
the close proximity of the two tournaments, not to mention flying halfway
across the world and back again, can be deemed "sheer madness" as this
could cause the players to burn out before the World Cup.
But national chief coach Paul Lissek thinks otherwise.
"We need more top level matches before the World Cup begins in February
because right now, they are still weak in certain departments. The Four-
Nation and the Six-Nation will do more good than harm," said Lissek.
All the teams playing in the two tournaments have qualified for the
World Cup and it will be interesting to see how Malaysia fare, especially
Australia in the Six-Nation as the Malaysians open the World Cup
tournament with a match against the Aussies.
Only India have shown some reluctance to play in the Six-Nation.
"India have indicated that they might not field a team for the Six-
Nation because they feel it is too close to the World Cup but we are still
working on it with the Indian Hockey Federation," said Malaysia Hockey
Federation secretary S. Satgunam yesterday.
It is learnt that India want to field their second team for the Six-
Nation but the MHF insists they field their full side. If this problem can
be solved over the next two weeks, Malaysia will get another chance to
test their skills against the Champions Challenge winners.
The matches against Holland (World Cup champions), Pakistan and New
Zealand will do the Malaysians a world of good as they still lack
confidence but there still is the worry of burn out.
For the Four-Nation in Spain, the MHF have selected the same team that
played in the Champions Chalenge with the exception of Shaiful Azli who
was dropped. He is replaced by Junior World Cup player Mohamed Amin Rahim.
The team, after a two-week break for the festival season, will leave for
Spain on Dec 31.Their first match is against the hosts on Jan 3. They take
on England the following day and Poland the day after.
Squad for the Four-Nation: Roslan Jamaluddin (gk), Nasihin Nubli (gk),
Maninderjit Singh, Chua Boon Huat, K. Gobinathan, S. Kuhan, Nor Azlan
Bakar, Chairil Anwar, Jiwa Mohan, Mohamed Madzli Ikmar, Tajol Rosli,
Mohamed Rodhanizam Radzi, K. Keevan Raj, Mirnawan Nawawi, K. Logan Raj,
Azlan Misron, S. Shanker, Mohamed Amin Rahim.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
(END)