MHF wants to win World Cup

09/02/2002

THE final 18 for the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup were named yesterday and
as expected, Mohamed Fairuz Ramli made the squad in place of Azlan Misron.
The rest of the 17 are seasoned players who have seen action in the
Champions Challenge and the recent Six-Nation.
The only bombshell dropped yesterday was when team manager Datuk R.
Yogeswaran announced that the national team's target in the World Cup is
to lift the Trophy itself.
"It is no use just making up the numbers so the boys have decided that
they will be going all out to lift the Trophy. Although it is a huge
target to fulfill, I am sure they will give their best on the pitch," said
Yogeswaran.
Coach Paul Lissek has targeted a 10th placing while the Malaysian Hockey
Federation has always maintained a low profile on the issue and hesitantly
said that their target is to finish sixth. So the revelation by Yogeswaran
is very refreshing.
Lissek was more realistic yesterday when he said that although the team
must dare to dream, they must keep their feet firmly rooted to the ground.
"We can all dream but it must be realistic because in the World Cup, all
16 teams will be vying for the Trophy and the fittest of the day will
succeed," said Lissek.
S. Kuhan, bogged down with a hamstring injury and did not see action in
the Champions Challenge, was included in the squad. The other injured
player, Nor Azlan Bakar, was also on the list as expected.
"I will not say that I am 100 per cent fit, but the injury has healed
and I am no longer troubled by it," said Kuhan who is among the six
players in the squad who will be playing in their second World Cup.
Mirnawan Nawawi was named as skipper while Maninderjit Singh is the
vice-captain.
"I wish to make it clear that although the final 18 have been selected,
it does not mean that they can take it easy because we still have until
the managers meeting (a day before the World Cup) to submit our final
list.
"If the performance of some of the players drop or they are injured, we
will not hesitate to drop the players and include the reserves.
The three reserves named yesterday are goalkeeper S. Kumar, Mohamed Amin
Rahim and Azlan Misron.
2002 World Cup Players - Goalkeeper: Mohamed Nasihin Nubli (caps 111),
Roslan Jamaluddin (72); Defenders: Maninderjit Singh (243), Nor Azlan
Bakar (168), Mohamed Madzli Ikmar (82), Chua Boon Huat (124), K.
Gobinathan (110); Midfield: S. Shanker (58), K. Keevan Raj (118), M. Jiwa
(76), S. Kuhan (194), Shaiful Azli (73), Mirnawan Nawawi (316), Mohamed
Rodhanizam (35), Mohamed Tajol Rosli (18), K. Logan Raj (88), Chairil
Anwar (215), Mohamed Fairus Ramli (29).
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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