Malaysia eye top-six bracket

17/07/2003

THE Malaysian hockey team got a cold reception when they arrived at
Johannesburg's airport in the wee hours of yesterday morning for the nine-
day Champions Challenge which starts on Saturday.
The temperature was six degrees Celsius and the biting wind did not help
either as the 18 players and eight officials did their best to squeeze
their luggage and themselves into a tiny 22-seater bus.
If all that was not bad enough, on reaching the hotel South Korea's Jeon
Jae Hong had more bad news for them.
"The artificial pitch at the Randburg Sports Complex is too slippery for
good hockey. We had a friendly match against the New Zealand team on
Tuesday and my boys suffered to find their footing," said Jeon.
The Korean also said that workers were still busy trying to wash dirt
from the artificial pitch.
"They are trying to wash away the dirt with high pressure pumps. But
still, the pitch is not suitable for good hockey," said Jeon.
The Koreans were held 2-2 by the Kiwis in the friendly and it looks like
Jeon has his work cut out.
"I have brought the same team which played in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh
with three changes. I expect a tough fight in this tournament," said Jeon.
Korea are more interested in the Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur in September,
because the top finisher is assure of an automatic berth in the 2006 World
Cup, while teams finishing second to fourth will earn call-ups to the
World Cup Qualifiers.
"That (Asia Cup) is our priority. We will be using the Champions
Challenge to expose some young players and groom a strong team for the
Asia Cup," said Jeon.
The Malaysians, after a restless 10-hour and 45-minute flight, went to
bed straight after checking into their hotel in Randburg.
"The boys need a few hours rest after which we will go for some light
training. Maybe we will also watch the South Africa-South Korea friendly
in the evening," said Malaysia's chief coach Paul Lissek.
The last time Malaysia played in the Champions Trophy was in 1993 when
we hosted it. Malaysia has never made the top six in the world since their
fourth-placing in the 1975 World Cup, also on home soil.
So, the Challenge in Randburg will be for the Malaysians to beat South
Korea, South Africa, Spain, New Zealand and England to break into the top
six bracket for the first time since 1975.
(END)