National team to play four Test matches

20/02/2003

FOUR Test matches have been arranged to beef up the national team
preparing for the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh on March 22-30.
Three of the Tests will be played at the National Hockey Stadium in
Bukit Jalil, while the other at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh.
"Pakistan have requested for three Test matches, while South Korea one,
just before the Azlan Shah Cup. The Malaysian Hockey Federation have
agreed to the requests," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam.
The three Tests against Pakistan will be on March 17-18 in Kuala Lumpur
and March 20 in Ipoh. The Korean Test will be on March 19 in Kuala Lumpur.
Fans are also in for a treat at the end of March when the United States
will be down to play friendlies against the national juniors during the
Azlan Shah tournament. The senior team will play the Americans after the
tournament.
"The United States wrote to us asking for matches and we have agreed to
play them on March 24, 26 and 29 in Ipoh. The first three matches will be
against the Juniors but after the Azlan Shah, the US team will play the
seniors on April 3, 6, 8 and 10 in Kuala Lumpur," said Satgunam.
Azlan Shah Cup defending champions Germany, India, Pakistan, New Zealand
and South Korea will also be coming for the tournament.
"The response during training has been great, in fact, it is better than
when Malaysia were preparing for the Asian Games last year. Back in the
fold, we have Logan Raj, Jivan Mohan, Tajol Rosli and Nor Azlan Bakar, who
were all on study leave during the Busan Games," said National coach Paul
Lissek.
"We must do well against the Champions Challenge teams (Korea and New
Zealand) so that the boys will be better prepared when they travel to
South Africa in the middle of the year," said Lissek.
The MHF has also agreed to allow fans free entry for the 12th edition of
the Azlan Shah Cup.
The match that is expected to pull in the crowd is the clash between
India and Pakistan on March 26. In their last meeting in the semi-finals
of the Busan Asian Games, India won 4-3.
(END)