China bare fangs

03/07/2003

MALAYSIAN hockey officials are in two minds and still can't string a
decent side, as China prepare themselves to beat Malaysia for the third
time in 21 years.
The last time China beat Malaysia in a tournament was at the inaugural
Asia Cup in Karachi in 1982. The score then was 2-1, and at the Busan
Asian Games, the Chinese came close but lost 1-2.
But during the last Five Test series held in Beijing in September last
year, the gap looked very thin as Malaysia won two, drew two and lost one.
China won 3-2 in the last Test and are looking for at least one win in
this series.
The Malaysian team list was supposed to be ready yesterday, but
according to team manager Zulkifli Abbas: "We have two injured players
(Azlan Misron and Saiful Azli) who will undergo a final test tomorrow
(today) before we can name players for the China Tests."
While Malaysia are still finding it hard to name a side, China played a
friendly against Malaysia Hockey League side Bank Simpanan Nasional at the
Tun Razak Stadium yesterday.
BSN coach C. Paramalingam, after the match, said while not much could be
read from the friendly as China arrived on Tuesday and still looked tired,
there was no noticeable shape in their attack.
"Even after giving them the benefit of adapting to the surroundings and
jet-lag, I notice that they do not have a system of play. But I may be
proven wrong tomorrow (today)," said Paramalingam.
Although China did not have shape yesterday, their players have mastered
the proper basics and were dangerous in deflections in the semicircle.
China have hired Pakistan coach Khawaja Junaid and his test will be the
Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur in September.
Khawaja, who has yet to handle the team as he only arrived in Malaysia
yesterday and could not make it to the stadium, will be retained by the
Chinese if he can guide them to a top-four finish.
"Khawajaa will handle the team for the first time in Malaysia and his
target is to take us to a top-four finish in the Asia Cup. His contract
extension depends on it," said China team manager Wang Tong.
China Tests - Today: Tun Razak Stadium; Tomorrow: Kuala Lumpur Hockey
Stadium; Sunday: Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium; Monday: Tun Razak Stadium.
* Note: All matches start at 6pm.
(END)