Lissek targets Olympics semis

01/12/2002

NATIONAL chief coach Paul Lissek has drawn up a comprehensive training programme leading up to what he hopes will be a semi-final appearance in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The qualifier for Athens is on March 2-13, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. The
Olympics are from Aug 13-29.
"Everything that is being done right now is aimed towards preparing a
strong team for the 2004 Athens Olympics. My personal target is to take
the team into the semi-finals," said Lissek yesterday.
The 2003 calendar is void of tournaments so a plan was devised to keep
them busy with international friendlies.
"After the Azlan Shah Cup in March, the seniors and juniors will head
for Europe in May where matches against England, Belgium, Holland and Germany have been arranged," said Lissek.
The Tour is from May 1-20 and at the tail end of it, a training camp
with the German players has been arranged.
"After that we have invited China for several Test matches on Aug 25-31.
Test matches have also been arranged against Spain in Madrid at the end of 2003."
The Spain Tests are meant to get the team used to the conditions and
venue of the Olympics qualifier.
"And for 2004, the Azlan Shah Cup has been brought forward to Jan 8-18 so that the team can get maximum exposure before the qualifiers in March," said Lissek.
But a problem that has arose is the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF)
agreeing to test three new rules in next year's Azlan Shah Cup.
The three rules are:
* Having only eight defenders in the 25-yard line at any one time.
* Increasing the goalscoring area from the semi-circle to the 25-
yardline.
* During long corners, the defending team will have eight defenders
behind the goal-line.
"I am in two minds right now. If I train the players to play according
to the new rules and it is only used for the Azlan Shah Cup but not
implemented in other tournaments, I will have to re-train them for the
Olympics qualifiers.
"I do not understand the FIH. Why can't they implement the rule at the
Champions Trophy and then see whether it works or not. They should just
leave the Azlan Shah Cup alone," said Lissek.
Lissek called the first rule stupid and detrimental to the sport.
"FIH tried out the first rule at the Hamburg Masters in Germany in June
and I found it very ridiculous to make sure that three players stay out of
the 25-yard line when being attacked.
"My opinion is shared by the rest of the coaches from Germany, South
Korea and Argentina as they found the ruling a handicap during the German Masters.
"Is a defender, who is trying to stop an attacker, supposed to stop at
the 25-yard line and count his teammates before deciding what to do next?
The umpires had an equally tough time at the Hamburg Masters, trying to keep count during 70 minutes of play."
But he was quite surprised with the ruling which allowed a player to
score from any point inside the 25-yard line.
"This is an interesting rule and the goalkeeper will have to be alert at
all times and not just when the ball enters the semicircle. I will have to
try it out before commenting," said Lissek.
(END)