Prove your worth, Malaysia

12/01/2003

MALAYSIA were not very impressive, but since they are in today's final of
the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) Under-19 Four-Nation International
Invitation, they should grab the bull by the horns.
Under-19 coach Stephen van Huizen, on his `swan song' assignment,
admitted yesterday that it wil not be easy to beat India at the National
Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, but the boys will play their hearts out,
and go for an upset.
Stephen will be back to his desk job with a bank after the Four-Nation,
as he has reached a stalemete in negotiating his contract with MHF, which
expired on Dec 31.
"India are clearly the better side. They are more matured as compared to
our boys and it will be a tough match," said Stephen.
"But although India will start as favourites tomorrow (today) Malaysia
will give them a run for the money and if our plan works, we might just
end up as the best juniors in Asia."
By emerging tops in a junior tournament where the best in Asia - India,
Pakistan and South Korea - are also involved, will be a big boost to the
national side. The psychological effect will carry through to when these
players grow up and face the same opposing players in the near future.
Malaysia, with clearly some of the best juniors assembled for a long
time, have shown themselves to be very shaky and easily rattled in the
last 10 minutes of play.
In all three matches in the Four-Nation, Malaysia had to come from a
goal down and played badly in the last 10 minutes.
"There is a plus side in their comebacks, because it shows they are not
easily broken. But the minus side is that if they fail to score the
equaliser and the clock keeps ticking away, they might end up losing with
a bigger margin because the defence will be compromised as everyone pushes
forward," said Stephen.
The penalty corners are still not working while India have a specialist
in the making - Gurucharn Singh.
"India have a few variations and they have been working well but the
same can't be said about my players. Maybe they need more time to learn
some of the new set-pieces," said Stephen.
India attack and defend in numbers and their dangermen are skipper
Prabodh Tirkey and Vinay.
Prabodh and Vinay have an excellent one-two understanding and in the
end, they usually find Gurucharn to take the final crack at goal.
"We have been watching India's matches on video and have identified
their strong as well as weak points. If the boys follow instructions, we
have a fighting chance of denying India the title."
In the preliminary match, Malaysia held India 1-1. Tushar Khandekar
scored in the 44th minute but Malaysia equalised four minutes later
through a Izwan Hassan penalty corner goal.
So, with the odds stacked against Malaysia, they might as well attack
without fear as they have nothing to lose.
(END)