Ismail and Shahrum picked for Champions Challenge

10/04/2003

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) named a 25-man training squad for
the Champions Challenge in South Africa on July 19-27 with two national
discards getting lifelines.
Ismail Abu and Shahrum Nabil were named to the squad despite their
earlier decisions to withdraw due to study commitments which led the MHF
to bar them from playing in the ongoing Junior Hockey League.
Sallehin Ghani was also named as one of the five reserves should there
be a withdrawal.
But the trio's selection comes with a condition - they must provide
written assurances to the MHF that they will make themselves available for
national duty until the Champions Challenge in Randburg, South Africa.
Brothers Jiwa and Jivan Mohan and K. Logan Raj were also required to
give written assurances they too have study commitments and withdrew from
the recent Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh.
"The six players will be asked to give written assurances that they will
be available until the Champions Challenge," said MHF secretary S.
Satgunam.
Three players - Madzli Ikmar, Rodhanizam Radzi and Redzuan Ponirin -
will undergo medical tests to determine their fitness as they are
recovering from injuries.
Youngster Wan Asryzal Wan Mustapha, who had a good outing in the Azlan
Shah Cup, was omitted as was another youngster Fakhrulrazi Baharuddin.
Both made way for experienced players.
K. Gobinathan, who picked up an injury on the eve of the Azlan Shah Cup,
has also been included to beef up the defence.
The squad will undergo training until April 25 when the squad will be
trimmed to 18 players who will go on a Tour of Europe starting on May 2.
The national team will play two matches against the Belgium national
side (May 5-7) in Brussels and then head for England where they will play
two Test matches against the hosts on May 9-10.
Malaysia will then set up base in the German town of Limburg (May 11-15)
where matches have been lined up with club sides as well as a Test against
the German national side.
From Limburg they go to Worms where they will play in a Four-Nation on
May 16-19 involving two German sides and Egypt.
National trainees: Roslan Jamaluddin, S. Kumar, S. Kuhan, K. Gobinathan,
Chua Boon Huat, Saiful Azli, Fairuz Ramli, Azlan Misron, Amin Rahim, Nor
Azlan Rahim, Megat Azrafiq, Nor Azlan Bakar, Ridhuan Nasir, P.
Prabhakaran, Tajol Rosli, Chairil Anwar, Hanafi Hassan, Madzli Ikmar,
Rodhanizam Radzi, Redzuan Ponirin, Jiwa Mohan, Jivan Mohan, K. Logan Raj,
Ismail Abu, Shahrun Nabil.
Reserves: Engku Malek, Mohamed Fakrulrazi, Wan Asryzal Wan Mustapha,
Ikmal Jabar, Anwar Ali, Sallehin Ghani.
(END)