Tough fight ahead in SA

26/03/2003

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) has received the fixtures for the
Second Champions Challenge in Randburg, South Africa on July 19-27 and
going by their current form, Malaysia could find themselves fighting for a
berth in the third edition.
The team which finishes sixth will lose their spot in the Challenge and
that is troubling Malaysia's chief coach Paul Lissek.
New Zealand, South Korea, England, Spain and South Africa are the
opponents, and there is a good chance the Kiwis and Malaysia will be
playing in the fifth-sixth play-off.
The hosts set Malaysia as their opponents in the July 19 opener. This
match, against the weakest team in the Challenge, should ensure they get
off with a bang.
"New Zealand and South Korea, by beating Malaysia in the Azlan Shah Cup,
will have a psychological advantage and I am afraid that the boys, if they
continue playing like this, will be fighting relegation," said Lissek.
The Malaysian players are very skilful and at times, take calculated
risks - but alas, their level of fitness is a shame.
"That (fitness) is the area I will be working on and maybe I will use a
new method where they play hockey for two weeks, and undergo physical
fitness for the next two weeks," said Lissek.
In the First Champions Challenge at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit
Jalil, Malaysia won three straight matches and only needed one more point
against either South Africa or Argentina to reach the final, but failed
miserably.
South Africa is expected to be another hockey nightmare for Malaysia.
The fixtures - July 19: South Korea v New Zealand, England v Spain,
Malaysia v South Africa; July 20: Spain v South Korea, South Africa v
England, New Zealand v Malaysia; July 22: Malaysia v England, New Zealand
v Spain, South Korea v South Africa; July 23: Spain v Malaysia, South
Korea v England, South Africa v New Zealand; July 25: England v New
Zealand, Malaysia v South Korea, South Africa v Spain.
July 27: Final & placing matches.
(END)