Van Huizen: Youngsters should be given more time to mature

29/10/2002

THE National Juniors, with an average age of 17, have shown good character
in the on-going Razak Cup, but lack of experience has seen them throw away
two matches.
Against Armed Forces, they were down 2-0 but came back to pull off a
draw but Kedah taught them a lesson by coming back from 2-0 down to force
a draw.
The Juniors have the basics, their passing and stopping is excellent but
there seems to be no game plan in their attack, and they rely too much on
penalty corners for goals.
Juniors coach Stephen van Huizen, though reluctant to admit it, should
know by now that the Juniors lack experience and were afraid to win the
ball in 50-50 situations as their opponents were not only physically
stronger, but also robust to a certain extent.
"Experience was the main reason why we fielded them in the Razak Cup,
knowing very well that their opponents might not have the speed, but have
experience and physical strength with them," said van Huizen.
Van Huizen is handling a side which, with minimal changes, will be
playing in the 2005 Junior World Cup qualifiers, and are the future faces
of Malaysian hockey after the present batch of national players retire.
Several veteran hockey officials who watched them play feel that they
should be exposed to playing more matches against State sides.
When the idea of hosting State triangulars for the benefit of the
Juniors were put forward to Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary,
he was of the same opinion.
"The States have shown that they are capable of giving the National
Juniors stiff opposition, so the idea of hosting weekend triangles to
expose them further could be explored," said S. Satgunam.
Not only is the opposition capable, but it would also be more cost
effective to send the National Juniors to States, rather than overseas for
exposure.
By hosting the triangulars, not only the Juniors will benefit, but the
States would also have someting extra to look forward to in their hockey
calendar.
The Juniors are too young to be fielded as a team in the next Junior
League, because "they will get mauled," said van Huizen.
"It is too early to field them in the Junior League as the opposition
will gobble them up. They must be allowed to mature slowly, so that their
confidence is not battered," said van Huizen.
Eight players from the National Juniors have had the exposure of playing
in an FIH age-group tournament in Poland, Poznan, where they beat Germany
3-1 for the gold. And with a little push in the right direction, winning
medals in the Olympics and World Cup might become a reality in 10 years
time.
(END)