Malaysia in for bashing

14/06/2002

MALAYSIA, after a good bashing experience in the Australian Four-Nation,
are now in Germany for the Hamburg Masters beginning today for another
round of hammering.
Coach Paul Lissek made four changes from the team which played in
Australia but not much can be expected from the fresh legs.
Chua Boon Huat, who played in the German League this season, will be on
the starting line-up, but he cannot be expected to perform miracles
against World Cup and Hamburg Masters champions Germany, Spain and
Argentina.
Last year, Germany beat Holland 4-2 and the other invited teams were
Pakistan and South Korea. But this year, both the Asian teams were not
invited.
Argentina almost declined theirs for not having enough money but
sponsors in Germany came to their aid by financing flight tickets.
Other new players from the Australian Four-Nation squad are Shaiful
Azli, Azrul Effendy and Fairuz Ramli, who replaced Megat Azrafiq Termizi,
Mohamed Fikri Bassar, Riduan Nasir.
Chua substituted Rodhanizam Radzi, who had a good outing in Australia
but was medically boarded out because of injury.
Chua did well in the German League having saved his Red & White Munich
team twice.
The Malaysian turned saviour when he converted a penalty corner in the
45th minute before scoring the equaliser in the 58th minute to steal a
point against favourites Durkheim for his team to the fourth spot in the
League.
In an earlier match, Chua played a big role when his team defeated
Stuttgart 4-2.
But in the Hamburg Masters, the national team will face three uphill
battles and nothing is expected from them - other than a sound bashing
experience.
After the Masters, the national team will play two Test matches against
Germany on June 18 and 19, before their friendly against the Dutch juniors
in Belgium on the 20th.
Malaysia will play two matches against Belgium on June 22 and 23.
Squad - Goalkeepers: S. Kumar, Roslan Jamaluddin; Defenders: K.
Gobinathan, Ismail Abu, S. Kuhan, Mohamed Amin Rahim, Redzuan Ponirin,
Chua Boon Huat; Midfielders: Azlan Misron, K. Keevan Raj, Mohamed
Fakhrulrazi, Mohamed Madzli Ikmar, Norazlan Rahim, V. Vinodhan; Forwards:
Chairil Anwar, Shaiful Azli, Azrul Effendy, Fairuz Ramli.
Coach: Paul Lissek; Asst coaches: Stephen van Huizen and V.
Muraleedharan; Manager; Zulkifli Abas; Umpire: Mohamed Faithal Hassan.
German Masters Fixtures - Today: Spain v Argentina; Germany v Malaysia;
Tomorrow: Malaysia v Spain; Germany v Argentina; Sunday: Argentina v
Malaysia, Germany v Spain.
(END)