Win, for King and country!

26/02/2002

THE toughest match in Group B is over for the hosts, and there are no more
avenues for Paul Lissek and his men to make excuses anymore.
If Malaysia lose to Japan today, the only honourable thing for the
Malaysian Hockey Federation to do will be to withdraw the team from the
World Cup, and just concentrate on being good hosts.
It will be pointless to limp along in the remaining matches, so Malaysia
had better throw in the towel if they lose against the men from the Rising
Sun.
Nobody expected them to beat the Australians, but then, nobody expected
them to go into the match looking for a draw either. For that is what they
did in the entire match and the Australians, who read the game well,
waited for the second half before pouncing on the opportunities as the
Malaysian players became tired defending.
If there is one thing that has not changed, it's the fact that this
bunch of Malaysians have too much respect for their caucasian
counterparts.
They probably have forgotten that we had shed the last vestiges of our
colonial past 44 years ago.
Today, they come up against Japan, an opponent who know of no such
respect for their Western foes in the battle fields. The Russo-Japanese
war is testimony of this Asian nation's temerity to take on the West and
win.
On Sunday, the Japanese for whom hockey is as relatively alien to them
as sushi is to India, yet almost shocked the Indians - a world hockey
power - to a 2-2 draw. Japan led 2-0 before the Indians clawed back in.
With such a combative nature, Malaysia can expect nothing less than a
tough and gruelling battle against the Japanese.
But whatever said and done, Malaysia must win this match. It may not be
their divine right to, but a win for the hosts is imperative to not only
keep them in the race, but also to lift the Malaysian spirit in this world
cup.
And after training for more than two years and clocking 50 matches on
the run-up to the World Cup, one would expect the team to play better and
with more confidence than they did against the Australians in the opening
match.
Hesitancy to make intelligent moves in the semicircle, or for that
matter, even mount a serious attack, left everyone bracing themselves for
the worst.
On Sunday, the fans turned out in droves to watch the opening match
against the Aussies, and they will come again to watch Malaysia beat
Japan.
But if the Japanese turn the tables on the gracious hosts, don't be
shocked if only a handful of fans turn up to watch the remaining matches
involving Malaysia.
Chua Boon Huat, Jiwa Mohan, K. Logan Raj and the rest of the juniors who
played in the Junior World Cup in Hobart were in a daze and lost in the
haze that enveloped the National Hockey Stadium on Sunday. Their half-
hearted attempts to break into the Australian semicircle made no sense as
it only made the job of the defenders tougher.
Mirnawan Nawawi did receive a handful of good passes, which would have
been converted into goals three years ago, but age has caught up with the
`Boss' and he should no longer be looked up to defend as well as attack.
Maybe Lissek should utilise him like how the Pakistan coaches use
Shahbaz Ahmad - keep him in the opponents' semicircle so that he can
pounce on loose balls and forget about defending.
As for the other players, the only advice is to buck up and play like
they did in the first three matches in the Champions Challenge, and if
they can't sustain the form, retire from hockey after the World Cup so
that a fresh bunch can be trained to carry the Malaysian flag in the Asian
Games in Pusan.
A bunch who have the courage and the self-belief to take on the best in
the world and still come out looking good.
From today Malaysia must start making the push for the top spots. A win
against Japan will be a good start.
It doesn't make sense bringing the World Cup to your backyard, and end
up being spectators even before the hockey masters have flexed their
muscles.
RESULTS
GROUP A
PAKISTAN 3 BELGIUM 2
Sohail Abbas (10th, 41st) Vitaly Kholopov (5th)
Khalid Saleem (50th) Xavier Brooke (36th)
GERMANY 3 SOUTH AFRICA 0
Oliver Domke (16th, 65th)
Sascha Reinelt (21st)
SPAIN 3 NEW ZEALAND 1
Xavier Ribas (35th) Umesh Parag (10th)
Xavier Arnau (53rd)
Juan Escarre (67th)
NETHERLANDS 2 ARGENTINA 1
Ronald Brouwer (16th) Jorge Lombi (11th)
Teun de Nooijer (69th)
(END)