Malaysia seek gold in Germny

03/05/08

THE National Under-16 hockey team will leave for Ger many today, and their mission is to return with a gold medal form the Four-Nation.
Coach K. Rajan put forward the challenge to his young charges, and they gallantly took it up.
"Its not me, but the players themselves who set the gold target. This is a good sign, as they have started on a positive note," said Rajan.
The juniors will be up against Germany, Belgium and Netherlands in the Four-Nation. For the record, Malaysia were the wooden spoonist last year.
"We only had a few days of training, which was interrupted by the MSSM (Malaysian Schools Sports Council) carnival.
"And from the training sessions held, I noticed that the defense is a little weak, but the midfield and forward-line is promising," said Rajan.
Malaysia will only pay for the flight tickets, while food and lodging is provided by the hosts: "We play a friendly with a German club side, and two friendlies against the German juniors as warm-up before the tournament proper," said Rajan.
FIXTURES -- May 10: Malaysia v Netherlands; May 11: Malaysia v Germany; May 12: Belgium v Malaysia.
MALAYSIA -- Shahrul Azaddin (goalkeeper), Hafizuddin Othman (goalkeeper), Kavin Kartik (captain), Shazrul Imran, Mohamed Nor Aqmal, Zulhairi Hashim, Zahirul Faez.
Firhan Ashari, R. Ramesh, Taufik Hamid, Faiz Helmi, Faridzul Afiq, Shazril Irwan, Haniff Saidin, Fahmi Faiz, Azri Hassan, Fitri Saari, Arief Iskandar.
Coach: K. Rajan; Assistant coaches: Wan Noor Zuhairi, S. Prakash; Manager: Ahmadi Yusoff.