`The Boss' is back, better than ever

18/01/2002

THE Boss is back, and he hopes to make a lasting impression in the Six-
Nation which begins today at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Bogged down by a muscle tear in the left calf during the Champions
Challenge last month, Mirnawan Nawawi was actually more of a burden than
his normal asset self to his team-mates. But that is history.
"I have recovered from the injury and do not fear making short sprints
anymore. The Six-Nation will be a good platform for myself and my
teammates to improve on any shortcomings in the team and by the time the
World Cup begins next month, we will be able to make a strong challenge
for a good finish," said Mirnawan who will skipper the team again.
He did not score a single goal in the Challenge and, for a good part of
the tournament, he was just making up the numbers.
But the sheer presence of the player, who has 310 caps to his name, was
enough to take out two players from the opposing team who circled around
him like hawks on the artificial pitch.
Mirnawan's hockey career spans 14 years and he has played in a string of
international tournaments where his flair and intelligent stickwork has
dazzled many.
Currently capped 310 times, Mirnawan is set to break the record held by
former national skipper Nor Saiful Zaini, who has been capped 327 times.
The Boss has the distinction of playing in three Olympics (Barcelona
1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000), three Asian Games (Beijing 1990,
Hiroshima 1994 and Bangkok 1998), the Champions Trophy (1993) and one
World Cup (Utrecht 1998).
He has been injured many times, from shoulder to muscle tears, but has
always managed to rally his teammates and bring out the best in them.
"For the Six-Nation, we will be concentrating on team building because
it is not going to be easy playing against some of the best teams in the
world (Holland and Australia).
"The main reason this tournament was organised was to give us (the
Malaysian team) a chance to rectify whatever mistakes we made during the
Champions Challenge. Everything we are doing today is for the World Cup,"
said Mirnawan.
(END)