Stranded without The Boss

04/12/2001

MIRNAWAN Nawawi's (pic) calf injury and his subsequent exclusion from the
Champions Challenge squad must have made the National Sports Council
(NSC), the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF), and the Malaysian Schools
Sports Council (MSSM), look inadequate.
For without Mirnawan, popularly known as The Boss, the team wasn't just
left without a leader in the friendly against Argentina, but also a
striker with his silky skills to terrorise opponents.
They may have K. Logan Raj, Razak Saidin, Tajol Rosli and Rodhanizam
Radzi, but none with the flashes of brilliance to split defences.
Which brings us to that all-important question that has been on the
minds of observers of Malaysian sport for more than a decade now: Why
wasn't there a sound plan to develop back-up players?
What will happen if say, steady hands like Mirnawan, S. Kuhan and Nor
Azlan Bakar, for one reason or another are not able to play in the 2002
Kuala Lumpur World Cup in February?
The mere thought is frightening because selectors do not have the depth
on the bench or in the under-18 squad who can take over at the snap of a
finger.
Speaking of fingers, you could point them at anyone right now, but it
won't make a difference. It's too late to think about the 2002 World Cup.
Even Argentina coach Jorge Ruiz, who saw Malaysia play for the first
time on Saturday, was perplexed because he did not see any good forwards
in the national side.
National chief coach Paul Lissek is trying to groom Tajol and Rodhanizam
to fill the shoes of Mirnawan but it will not happen overnight because
both the young forwards are very shaky when presented with an opportunity
to score in the semicircle.
The true picture of what the forwards can do under presssure will be on
display in the Champions Challenge on Friday.
The young forward-line will either evolve into gems under the intense
pressure or forever remain as rocks that weigh the team down.
The country will know for sure if the NSC-MHF-MSSM strategy to groom
players for the future is really working because right now we have good
defenders and a midfield, marshalled by Kuhan, which does not easily crack
under pressure, but the forwards are a huge cause for concern.
Mirnawan can be considered a one-man-machine, but the national squad
will fare much better with a machinery that works like clockwork.
* jugjet@nstp.com.my
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