Unfit Malaysia a letdown

01/04/2003

MALAYSIA had the best players available for the 12th Edition of the Azlan
Shah Cup in Ipoh, but still could not win a single point from four
matches.
The Cup was incepted in 1983 for the sole purpose of giving Malaysia
more quality matches to play at their own turf, but the hosts have yet to
feel what it is like to be at the top of the podium.
In 1983, Malaysia lost to India 5-0 in the third-fourth playoff, and the
best achievement after being hosts for 12 times was in 1996 in Ipoh where
Malaysia finished third by beating England 6-5.
This year, more was expected from the team because they ended 2002 by
beating Pakistan to the Asian Games bronze, but nothing went right.
From the onset, when Malaysia lost three straight Test matches to
Pakistan and one Friendly against South Korea, the feeling was that the
boys were not physically fit for the Azlan Shah Cup. Coach Paul Liseek had
said many times that he did not have his full squad for training because
they had work and study commitments, but that's no longer a valid excuse.
Germany came out from winter hibernation and the only hockey they played
was indoors, where they became the men's and women's world champions, but
they only dropped one match - in the final against Pakistan.
Germany had four new faces, South Korea seven, Pakistan four and New
Zealand four, but still all these teams had a better outing then Malaysia
simply because their player were fitter.
The national players are a skillful lot and a little bit of polish can
turn them into gems. The fact that S. Kuhan failed to score a single
penalty corner goal must also be looked into. Have his opponents learnt to
read his game? Or is it that he was slower because he was not physically
fit?
Lissek needs to find out fast because the Champions Challenge in July is
the next big exposure before they try to qualify for the 2004 Athens
Olympics. If they play like they did last week Malaysia might not see
action in Athens next year.
On the organisational side, many felt that spending RM450,000 to play
four matches was a bit too much for exposure. The Malaysian Hockey
Federation had to fork out about RM110,000 for every Malaysia defeat. It
looks like the tournament, instead of benefiting the home side, is
becoming increasingly popular because foreign teams always go home in
better shape.
New Zealand coach Kevin Towns was very grateful to the MHF for inviting
them when Australia pulled out because: "This is among the best
invitational tournament in the world today. It's not easy to get a chance
to play against teams like Pakistan and Germany in friendlies, so every
year, we are the first to put up our hands, just in case any team pulls
out and we get a chance to play in this world class tournament," said
Kevin Towns.
The Kiwis were so grateful for the opportunity that they edged south
Korea 3-2 to finish third.
The probability is very high that the 13th edition will be held in Kuala
Lumpur simply because the Azlan Shah Stadium is no longer suitable to host
international class tournaments because the facilities cannot accommodate
the modern requests of the print and broadcast media.
Past Winners - 1983: Champions: Australia, runners-up Pakistan; 1985:
Champions India, runners-up Pakistan; 1987: Champions Germany, runners-up
Pakistan; 1991: Champions India, runners-up Pakistan; 1994: Champions
England, runners-up Pakistan; 1995: Champions India, runners-up Germany;
1996: Champions Korea, runners-up Australia; 1998: Champions Australia,
runners-up Germany; 1999: Champions Pakistan, runners-up South Korea;
2000: Champions Pakistan, runners-up Korea; 2001: Champions Germany,
runners-up South Korea; 2003: Champions Pakistan, runners-up Germany.
(END)