There's still hope, Malaysia

17/12/2001

THE signs are, if the Champions Challenge is taken as a preview, ominous
for Malaysia going into the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup on Feb 24 to March
9.
By now, even the staunchest of fans will agree that a top-six finish is
not possible for Malaysia but the question now, after the team's exploits
in the Champions Challenge, is how low will they finish in the 16-team
tournament.
The Malaysia Hockey Federation will, privately off course, be happy if
the team finish anywhere between seventh and 12th place but if the
performance of the other five teams in the Champions Challenge is any
indication, then the national team are definitely in trouble.
All six of the Challenge teams will play in the World Cup with
Argentina, Belgium and South Africa in Group A and India, Japan and
Malaysia in Group B.
But it would be unfair, even unkind, if all doors are shut on a team who
did show glimpses of their potential in the Champions Challenge.
Before the Champions Challenge started, not many had faith in the team
to do well but after scoring wins over Japan, Belgium and eventual
champions India, people started to take notice.
But the tempo, largely due to inexperience in the squad, changed after
that as pressure got to the team.
Many will feel that it is inexcusable that Malaysia, despite needing
only one point to make the final, failed as they fell to Argentina and
South Africa but there is hope if the squad learn from their Champions
Challenge experience.
That they eventually finished fourth is not the problem but the fact
that history was allowed to repeat itself is a problem Paul Lissek and his
men have to rectify before the World Cup.
In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Malaysia held Holland to a 0-0 draw and
they threw away three points when they conceded a late equaliser to
Pakistan for a 2-2 draw.
Holland went on to win the gold, Pakistan finished fourth while Malaysia
slid to 11th after a good start.
And in the Challenge, Malaysia were the only ones to beat eventual
champions India 2-1 but still finished fourth.
What does it say about our team?
The clear signal is that Malaysia are very poor at handling pressure, and
the team management need to arrest that fast if they want to see any
results in the World Cup.
Overall, the team has mastered the basics and even though there were
times when they forgot how to play hockey, they have what it takes to
challenge the rest in the World Cup.
But that is only if the players want it bad enough.
"It is a pity that the boys were not exposed to the basics at a very
young age. Now, all I can do is hammer, hammer and hammer the basics into
their heads. But when they are down, they easily forget what I have taught
them because the basics of hockey is not naturally ingrown but forced in.
"I have two more months to work on this team and by the time I am
finished with them, they will be in a better shape than now," said chief
coach Lissek.
This is something the players, given a two-week break, must ponder on
even as they celebrate the festivities prior to leaving on Dec 30 for a
four-nation tournament in Spain.
The early promise showed in the Champions Challenge indicates that
Malaysia can, again if they want it badly, do well in the World Cup and
this is something only the players can do.
A very thin line separates the best from the rest, and it is up to the
national players to decide which side of the line they want to be on.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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