DPM: Bury the ghosts of '75

23/02/2002

DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday visited
the national hockey players to lend an encouraging hand as the moment of
truth edged closer.
The team has been training for the past two years and tomorrow, they
will meet their biggest hurdle in Australia.
The Deputy Prime Minister took time to meet the players, one at a time,
and later handed them their official attire for the big event.
"I told them to play hard and make the nation proud of them. They have
had the necessary training and now is the time to bury the ghosts of
1975," said Abdullah.
Malaysia's best finishing in the World Cup was their fourth place in
1975 which has been haunting all national teams after that.
Sports Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein Onn also visited the team and
when asked if there will be any incentives for the team if they do well,
said: "Let's wait for the opening match against Australia to be over first
before making a decision.
"And since the players themselves have not approached me asking for
anything, I will let the matter rest for the moment.
"But I would like to make a call to all hockey fans in Malaysia to come
out in full force and support their team. Because crowd support can make a
big difference."
National coach Stephen van Huizen briefed the DPM on the team in the
absence of Paul Lissek who will return to Malaysia today.
Lissek left for Germany to attend his mother's funeraly and will be
arriving in the morning. He will hold a briefing session with the players
before attending the managers meeting in the evening.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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