Future on parade in Four-Nation

04/01/2003

THE future of Malaysian hockey will be on parade from tomorrow when the
Four-Nation Invitational gets underway at the National Hockey Stadium in
Bukit Jalil.
Malaysia will be represented by two teams, the under-19 and the under-16
sides, with the under-16 playing just for exposure. Pakistan, India and
South Korea are the other teams.
The under-19 team, who have nine players who helped beat Germany for the
FIH International Youth Festival title in Poznan, Poland last year, look
good for the final.
Under-19 team manager Poon Fook Loke, who also managed the Poznan side,
is looking forward to let his players loose again, and play the Asian
brand of hockey.
"In Poznan, we did not restrict the players from holding onto the ball
and dribbling in the semi-circle. In the Four-Nation, the boys will be
encouraged to think themselves out of difficult situations, and if they
have to dribble, they have the greenlight," said Poon.
The team management will be trying out two `new faces' who do not have
any international exposure.
"Kelvinder Singh and S. Selvaraju have been doing very well in training
and I feel they should be given a chance to prove themselves at the
international level.
"Kelvinder was an asset to the Royal Military College (RMC) while
Selvaraju is a gem of a player who has yet to be tested."
"Bukit Jalil Sports School dropped Selvaraju from the team after he
picked up a red card in the Junior Hockey League last year, but he has
improved since and I feel he will perform well in the Four-Nation," said
Poon.
Although Poon did not want to commit himself, he has reserved Azli
Misron, who showed maturity in the recent Champions Schools in Klang, for
the semi-finals and the final.
"I am just going to let the boys play and enjoy themselves without any
targets. But I have placed Azli, who has just recovered from a groin
problem, on the reserve list and will utilise him in the final, if we go
that far," said Poon.
Goalkeeper Khairul Nizam has replaced Ahmad Bazli, who had a sterling
outing in Poznan, in the under-19 squad.
"Bazli would have just warmed the bench if we included him in the under-
19 squad, but in the under-16 team, he has been named as skipper. I
believe that the Four-Nation is the best place to expose the future of
Malaysian hockey, that is why everyone needs to be given an equal chance
to play," said Poon.
Malaysian Under-19 team:
Goalkeepers: Khairul Nizam Ibrahim, Mohamed Shah Ahmad
Defenders: Engku Abdul Malek (capt), S. Bubalan, Megat Azrafiq Termizi
Midfielders: Shukri Mutalib, Suffian Mohamed, Sallehin Ghani, Fikri
Bassar, Shahrun Nabil, Kelvinder Singh
Forwards: Fairus Hamsani, Izwan Hassan, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin,
Fakrulrazi Baharuddin, Redza Maadun, Azli Misron, S. Selvaraju.
Team Manager: Poon Fook Loke; Coach: Stephen van Huizen; Assistant
Coaches: Tai Beng Hai, Arul Selvaraj; Team Doctor: S.S. Cheema.
Malaysian Under-16 team:
Goalkeepers: Ahmad Bazli (capt), Che Nasai Ramli
Defenders: Baljit Singh, Zaidi Zainuddin, S. Yogeswaran, Fitri Abu Bakar
Midfielders: Fauzi Rahim, Razie Rahim, Herwan Pami, Hafiz Jami, Mohsin
Hamsani, Salwadi Mat Nor
Forwards: Amerullah Aziz, Fazreen Ehsan, Hafifi Hafiz, Razali Zulkifli,
Nabil Fiqri.
Team Manager: Kon Cheng Choong; Coach: Yahya Atan; Attachment coaches:
V. Muraleedharan, Izwan Suhardi.
Fixtures - Tomorrow: Pakistan v India (6pm), Malaysia v Korea (8pm);
Monday: Malaysia v India (6pm); Malaysia Under-16 v Korea (8pm); Tuesday:
Malaysia Under-16 v Pakistan (6pm); Wednesday: India v Korea (6pm),
Malaysia v Pakistan (8pm); Jan 10: Malaysia Under-16 v India (6pm),
Paksitan v Korea (8pm); Jan 11: Rest day; Jan 12: Final.
(END)