Improve or face early exit

20/03/2003

MALAYSIA could be the first team to exit from the Azlan Shah Cup which
starts on Saturday in Ipoh, if they play like they did in the two Test
matches against Pakistan.
After India's withdrawal, there is no match for fifth-sixth placing on
March 30, and the team can pack their bags after playing Germany on March
27.
Even Malaysia's German coach Paul Lissek fails to understand why there
are so many ups-and-downs in the team in 70 minutes of play.
"Judging from the re-calls, we have a much better side than the one
which won the bronze medal at the Asian Games in Busan, but they have been
very erratic in their approach," said Lissek.
"The Malaysian team played like novices in the first half of the second
Test against Pakistan and were down 3-0 due to silly mistakes by
experienced goalkeepr Roslan Jamaluddin."
Roslan let in a shot from Kashif Jawad from an acute angle and was
promptly replaced by second choice S. Kumar.
Kumar was in better form and Paksitan could only score one goal in the
second half. He even saved a 65th minute penalty stroke taken by Sohail
Abbas to keep the score down.
"Roslan has not been attending training regularly and it can clearly be
seen that his form has dropped. But I can't overly rely on Kumar because
he still lacks experience and it could be fatal to use him for a full
seventy minutes," said Lissek.
Defenders Nor Azlan Bakar, S. Kuhan and K. Gobinathan were a big letdown
in the first half of the second Test but, amazingly, displayed 100 per
cent improvement after the half-time briefing, or was it a tongue lashing.
Malaysian skipper Kuhan, however, has been on target with his penalty
corner flicks and this might just save Malaysia the blushes as forwards
Tajol Rosli and Azlan Misron were also disappointing as they tried too
hard and lost the ball everytime they entered the semi-circle.
Lissek tried out all the reserves in the two Tests, even fielding
newcomer Wan Asyrizal for the first time on Tuesday, but the youngster
clearly lacked match experience.
It looks like beating Pakistan and Germany is out of the question, but
Malaysia must beat Champions Challenge teams South Korea and New Zealand
if they want the fans in Ipoh to cheer, and not jeer.
(END)