MHF decides not to risk Kuhan

18/01/2002

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) Selection Committee decided
yesterday not to risk S. Kuhan for the Six-Nation which begins at the
National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Kuhan suffered a hamstring strain during training last week and has been
advised to rest so that he can recover in time for the 2002 Kuala Lumpur
World Cup on Feb 24 to March 9.
"Dr Ramlan Aziz (chairman of the medical committee) has recommended that
Kuhan should not play in the Six-Nation because he needs at least three
weeks to fully recover. The Selection Commitee backs his stand because we
want him to be ready when the World Cup begins next month," said MHF
deputy president Tan Sri P. Alagendra after naming the 18 players for the
Six-Nation yesterday.
Mohamed Fairuz Ramli will replace Kuhan and it will be a chance for the
22-year-old striker to impress the selectors for the World Cup.
"While Kuhan recovers, K. Keevan Raj will replace him in midfield and I
am confident that he will do a good job because he has been improving with
every match," said chief coach Paul Lissek.
Malaysia open their campaign against Japan today and it will be their
easiest match of the tournament because the rest of the teams are far
ahead in terms of skills.
But going by the score in last month's Champions Challenge where
Malaysia only managed to beat Japan by a one-goal margin, the opening
match might go to the wire again.
Matches against Olympic bronze medallists Australia, World Cup holders
Holland, Pakistan and New Zealand will be uphill battles but Malaysia are
capable of pulling off an upset or two in the tournament, which is seen as
a warm-up for the World Cup.
The feeling of the team management and players is that "results do not
count in the Six-Nation."
"We will be trying out new techniques and approaches in the Six-Nation
and hope the results will follow. Otherwise, the Six-Nation wil be treated
as a warm-up and the expectations should not be too high," said team
manager Datuk R. Yogeswaran.
THE MALAYSIAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Roslan Jamaluddin, Nasihin Nubli; Defenders: Maninderjit
Singh, Chua Boon Huat, K. Gobinathan, Nor Azlan Bakar, Mohamed Madzli
Ikmar; Midfield: M. Jiwa, Mohamed Rodhanizam, K. Keevan Raj, Shaiful Azli,
S. Shanker; Strikers: Mohamed Fairuz Ramli, Chairil Anwar, Tajol Rosli,
Mirnawan Nawawi, K. Logan Raj, Azlan Misron.
(END)