MHF finalise Hobart-bound team

26/09/2001

THE National Juniors put up a 30-minute show against the senior side atthe National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday, and at the standswere the members of the Malaysia Hockey Federation (MHF) SelectionCommittee. Ho Koh Chye, Roy Rajasingam, Poon Fook Loke and Datuk R. Yogeswaran kepta keen eye on the boys but everyone knew that they had already made theirpick much earlier. And the juniors also knew that their 30-minute performance made littledifference to sway 11th-hour votes in their favour, because the selectionprocess started in 1999 and yesterday was only a formality. So, when the team for the Junior World Cup in Hobart, Australia, wasnamed, there were no surprises as Chua Boon Huat was handed the skipper'sarmband while regulars in the senior side S. Shankar, Jiwa Mohan and K.Logan Raj made up the core side which will try and improve their fourthplacing finish in 1982 in Kuala Lumpur. "After failing to qualify for the last World Cup in Milton Keynes(1997), we started scouting for talent in 1999 and today, we have namedthe best 18 available in the country to lead the Malaysian charge," saidMHF deputy president Tan Sri P. Alagendra yesterday. And while MHF refused to set targets for the team, citing unneccessarypresure on the youngsters, skipper Chua was confident that the boys willmake the semifinals. "We have trained hard and played many matches against some good hockeyplaying countries since January and I can safely say that the team is goodfor the semifinals," said Chua. For those who saw, and read the report, on the playing Tour of India onSept 8-17, vouch that this junior side is the best they have ever seenassembled. And chief coach Yahya Atan, who normally does not comment on suchmatters, agreed wholeheartedly. "We have good defenders, a solid midfield and forwards who have proventhemselves. In short, this is a well balanced side and the best I haveseen so far. Barring any serious injuries, we will do well in Hobart,"said Yahya, who stopped short of setting a target for his boys. The team head for Port Dickson today and after a motivational session,they head back to Kuala Lumpur the next day where a series of matchesagainst the seniors have been arranged before they depart for Hobart onOct 3. In Hobart, Malaysia meet New Zealand on Oct 10 and should have noproblems overcoming the Kiwis. Argentina are next on the menu and not muchis known about the side but the juniors should come out tops. The final Group D match is against Germany on Oct 13 and it will decideour fate in the group heading into the second round. The early indications are that the juniors will definitely improve ontheir fourth finishing in 1982. Junior World Cup Team: Saiful Azhar Afandi (gk), Mohamed Firdaus Razali(gk), Reduan Ponirin, S. Shankar, Mohamed Amin Rahim, Norhanafpe Omar,Norazlan Rahim, Chua Boon Huat (skipper), P. Prabahkaran, Jiwa Mohan,Jivan Mohan, Tajol Rosli Mohamed, K. Logan Raj, Azlan Misron, MohamedFairuz Ramli, Zaharin Zakariah, V. Vhinodhan, Maswadi Shaharudin.