Midnight date with the Poles...

THE Champions Challenge I starts in Buenos Aires, Argentina today, with Malaysia hoping to make the grade to the Champions Trophy next by snatching the gold medal.
    The tournament also provides valuable ranking points for the taking, as the format is very accommodating as all eight teams move into the quarter-finals stage irrespective of their outcome in the group stages.
   In the fray against World No 13 Malaysia in Group A are South Korea (No 7), Canada (14), and Poland (19).
   In Group B Argentina (10), South Africa (12), Ireland (15) and Japan (16).
    And three of the teams have the London Olympic pedigree to back on with Korea finishing eighth in London, while Argentina and South Africa claiming 10th and 11th respectively.
    Malaysian coach Paul Revington, a South African, has said many times and reiterated during the final selection that he only has gold on his mind.
    “I want to inculcate a winning attitude among the players by changing their mind-set. Instead of thinking we are 13th in the world, we must start to think that we can win the Champions Challenge and move into the Champions Trophy bracket,” he had said.  
   And the South African selected a squad packed with international experience in a bid to capture the title in Quilmes.
   Defender Amin Rahim (32-years-old, 277 caps), striker Chua Boon Huat (32, 306 caps), goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin (34, 174 caps) and Azlan Misron (29, 277 caps) are among the experienced hands.
   While the exciting young talent in the group are teenagers Fitri Saari (14 caps) and his brother Faizal (21, 87 caps) and debutant Faiz Helmi Jali (18, 0 caps) also gaining selection.  
     Malaysia will open their campaign against Poland today at 12 midnight, as Argentina are 11 hours behind.
    Their next opponents are South Korea also at midnight on Sunday, while their final Group A opponents are Canada on Tuesday at 11pm.
    Poland, the 2011 World indoor silver medallists, will be  coming into this tournament as the lowest ranked team, but their talented squad must not be under-estimated.
    Team captain Dariusz Rachwalski is one of the most skilful and creative players in the game, while the experience of Miroslaw Juszczak (173 caps), Tomasz Gorny (108 caps) and outstanding goalkeeper Arkadiusz Matuszak (97 caps) ensures that they are certainly not in Argentina just to make up the numbers.
    Poland coach Karol Sniezek has named 14 players under the age of 25 including two 20 year olds who will make their international debuts at the tournament – Adrian Krokosz and Mateusz Stotko.