`Missing' Brian gets MHF attention

23/02/1999

THE Malaysia Hockey Federation (MHF) selected 24 national trainees to
prepare for the Azlan Shah Cup on April 2-11 but only 10 turned up for the
first day's training at the National Hockey Stadium at Bukit Jalil
yesterday.
No, there was no mutiny, only minor problems.
"Some of the players called to inform me that they will be delayed for
at least two days because they have problems to sort out," said national
coach Yahya Atan.
While 13 players have responded positively to the national call-up,
Brian Jayhan Siva is still missing.
"We would like to have him in the squad but his position is still
unclear. The MHF will have to decide whether they want to pursue the
matter of his posting with the medical Board," said Yahya.
"Morover, Brian, who has just become a doctor, recently got married and
we have been informed that he is on leave."
The MHF Management Committee will meet today to decide, among other
thing, whether to recall Brian.
The trainees were shortlisted after the recent stint in Perth and the
Cairo Five Nation where the senior squad finished fourth.
"Maninderjit Singh and Minarwan Nawawi are also doubtful," said Yahya.
"They have requested to be left out to prepare for their examinations.
"Junior player Razak Saidin is also keen to concentrate on his sports
science final exams at the end of the month.
"The squad are still in the early stages of preparation and we will only
decide later this month on the team to the Azlan Shah Cup."
On the poor showing in Cairo, Yahya said the team is still raw.
"I have prepared a report on Cairo and it reads that the team played
well but are still raw in midfield.
"We will have to polish up our defending to stop counter-attacking
goals. That was the department in which we lost out. Otherwise, I am happy
with the seniors."
Malaysia will open against New Zealand in the Azlan Shah Cup follow by
matches against Canada, Pakistan, Germany and South Korea.
"We had planned to hold a series of matches with Japan to prepare for
the Azlan Shah Cup but since Japan will be travelling to New Zealand at
that time, we might travel to New Zealand and compete in a 'triangular'.
"But this is still at the planning stage."
The trainees: Roslan Jamaluddin, asihin Nubli, Izwan Suhardi, K.
Gobinathan, Nor Azlan Bakar, Madzli Ikmar, Badrul Hisham, S. Kuhan, M.
Jiva, Chua Boon Huat, K. Logan Raj, Azlin Fairuz, Chairil Anwar, Saiful
Azli, M. Kaliswaran, Suhaimi Ibrahim, Razak Saidin, Syayrim Uda Karim,
Zaharin Zakaria, K. Keevan Raj, Maninderjit Singh, Minarwan Nawawi, Faizal
Daud, Brian Jayhan Siva.
(END)