Time to eat humble pie

12/04/1999

IF we want to see results at the 2002 World Cup, which will be played on
home soil, preparations must begin today.
And what better way than to arrange a 10-Test series against the vastly
improved South Korean hockey team.
National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad was
initially sceptical when this suggestion was put to him at the Malaysian
Hockey Federation dinner last Friday.
"Of course, we would like to have the series but the question is whether
the Koreans would want to play against a lower-ranked team. If they agree,
NSC will work with MHF to make it a reality," said Mazlan.
It did not take much to convince Korean coach Kim Sang Ryul on the need
for the series.
"It would be an honour for South Korea to play against Malaysia and
improve together. But first, MHF must write to the Korean Hockey
Federatian for approval and then look for suitable dates for the series.
Preferably, five matches in Malaysia and five in Korea," said the coach
who took a rookie side to the final against all odds.
The path has been paved, only paperwork remains. Mazlan has agreed that
NSC will handle the financial aspect if the series materialises.
The nine-Test series between Pakistan and India brought out the best in
Shahnaz Sheikh's team as was evident in the Azlan Shah Cup.
Thus, national team manager R. Yogeswaran was agreeable when asked for
his views on the Test series.
"It's the best proposal I have heard so far. In our quest to build a
strong team for the Sydney Olympics and the 2002 World Cup, we can learn
much from the Koreans. I hope it works out," said Yogeswaran.
The Asian Games silver medallists made a drastic change after Bangkok
and the result is stunning, even with seven newcomers on their side.
Change is the in-word today as almost all the world-class teams have
stopped relying on tested seniors and are grooming their youth instead.
Although Pakistan, India and Australia are in a transitional stage, they
are doing well while the German side found out the hard way at the Azlan
Shah Cup that they are no longer a feared side.
In January, Indian hockey was in turmoil when the coach, captain and
five senior players of the triumphant Asian Games squad were axed for a
tour of Pakistan.
Skipper Dhanraj Pillay, coach Maharaj Kaushik and goalkeeper Ashish
Ballal, key members of the squad who won India their first Asian Games
gold in 32 years, were not spared in the name of progress.
It was the same with Pakistan, who named five newcomers for the series
and are now making heads turn.
But it looks like change in Malaysia is at a snail's pace.
The national team need exposure from now until the Olympic qualifiers in
Osaka next March if young players like Shaiful Azli, who proved his worth
by clinching the only win for Malaysia at the Azlan Shah Cup, were to
bloom.
Shaiful scored off a rebound six minutes into sudden-death play, his
first international goal, and it won't be his last if he has picked up a
tip or two from the Koreans.
South Korea, Pakistan and Japan will lead the Asian challenge to make
the Olympics while the top European teams expected to be in Osaka are
Germany (unless they emerge champions in the European Nations tournament),
Spain, England and Poland.
Canada or Argentina could be the Pan-American representatives while New
Zealand will provide the Oceania challenge as Australia, as Olympic hosts,
are automatic qualifiers.
Right now, Malaysia are ranked the lowest among all the teams who will
fight for a Sydney 2000 ticket.
(END)