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JUNIOR WORLD CUP FIXTURES DEC 6-15 NEW DELHI
(Malaysian time)
GROUP A: Germany, Belgium, Pakistan, Egypt.
GROUP B: Argentina, Australia, Spain, France.
GROUP C: Canada, India, South Korea, Netherlands.
GROUP D: Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, England.
Dec 6:
Group A: Germany v Belgium (5pm), Pakistan v Egypt (8.30pm).
Group B: Australia v Argentina (4.30pm), Spain v France (7.30pm).
Group C: South Korea v Canada (2.30pm), netherlands v India (10.30pm).
Group D: New Zealand v Malaysia (6.30pm), England v South Africa (10pm).
Dec 7:
Group A: Belgium v Egypt (4.30pm), Pakistan v Germany (6.30pm).
Group C: South Korea v Netherlands (8.30pm), India v Canada (10.30pm).
Dec 8:
Group B: Australia v Spain (4.30pm), Argentina v France (6.30pm).
Group D: South Africa v Malaysia (8.30pm), New Zealand v England (10.30pm).
Dec 9:
Group B: Argentina v Spain (4.30pm), Australia v France (6.30pm).
Group D: England v Malaysia (8.30pm), South Africa v New Zealand (10.30pm).
Dec 10:
Group A: Germany v Egypt (4.30pm), belgium v Pakistan (6.30pm).
Group C: Netherlands v Canada (8.30pm), India v South Korea (8.30pm).
THE Malaysian juniors will head for New Delhi today (Dec 1) morning, at the back of a stern warning from Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) senior vice president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad for them to behave, on and off the pitch.
The Junior World Cup will be from Dec 6-15, with Malaysia opening accounts against New Zealand on day-one of the tournament.
“The MHC and its coaching staff have been preparing all of you to face this moment in new Delhi for the last five years, and my warning before all of you depart, is that behave on and off the pitch as you will be carrying the Malaysian flag on your shoulders,” said Nur Azmi.
The warning has its merit, as the national Juniors lost the Sultan of Johor Cup gold medal to India 3-0 when some players started fighting, not for the ball, but with their opponents and also the umpires for assumed wrong calls.
“Always remember, that the umpire is also human and he can make mistakes but that does not mean that you need to charge at him in a threatening manner and question his decision.
“As this will not only see you receive a card, but also put your team-mates in trouble when you are sent out, even for a few minutes.
“So, behave on and off the pitch, and there is always the video referral to fall-back to when you think the umpire has made a wrong call,” said Azmi, who was a former national player.
Yesterday, coach K. Dharmaraj’s boys were feted to a lunch, by one of their sponsors Grays, at the Olympic Sports Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
“We have been supporting the juniors for the last four years to the region of RM100,000.
“I believe we have a good mix of players with lots of experience playing together over the years. And after their performance in the Sultan of Johor Cup, I am confident that they will rise to the occasion in the Junior World Cup as well,” said Grays rights holder Kuckreja & Co managing Director Mohanji Singh Kuckreja.
After playing New Zealand on Dec 6, the juniors meet South Africa (Dec 8) and England (Dec 9) to wrap-up their group D fixtures.
New Zealand played two friendlies with Australia before heading for New Delhi, and lost 6-1 and 5-2.
Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin (right)
PIC: Hafiz Zainol(left)
FELDA boys Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin and Hafiz Zainol are two examples
of true grit and determination, which is what Malaysia need to qualify
for the quarter-finals of the Junior World Cup in New Delhi.
Izad, 21, grew up in a Felda settlement in Trolak, Perak, while Hafiz, 20, is from Jengka in Pahang.
Since the Project 2013 squad were formed five years ago, coach K.
Dharmaraj has picked, trained and booted out some 200 players. And for
the two Felda boys to remain standing in the final 18 for the World Cup,
is a remarkable achievement in itself.
Both were truly delighted, when Felda came in with an RM500,000 sponsorship to help the team in New Delhi from Dec 6-15.
"Growing up in a Felda settlement, life can be tough sometimes but it
made me much more determined to make my mark when I was given a chance
to join juniors training a few years ago," said Izad.
"And with Felda coming in as a major sponsor to help us, my gut feeling
is that we are going to have a wonderful World Cup," said Hafiz.
Izad's main inspiration was his elder brother Roslan, a goalkeeper with the national senior side for the last decade.
"I have eight other siblings, and I am the youngest. Roslan is 14 years
older than me, and I have always admired his ability in hockey.
"He (Roslan) is one of the driving factors in me giving my best in every match I play," said the lanky defender.
Izad is also the first runner when defending penalty corners, and has many a time stopped the ball with his body without fear.
The most recent was when he performed well against India's penalty corner flickers during the Sultan of Johor Cup.
"I don't fear the flickers, and my main focus is to stop them from
scoring. If I get hurt in the process, it is not a problem, as I hate
letting down the team," said Izad.
As for Hafiz, a midfielder, he feels the top-six target set by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is achievable.
"Our first match (against New Zealand) is the most important in my
career as a hockey player. I believe, if we beat the Kiwis, the
quarter-finals door will open wide for Malaysia," said Hafiz.
Malaysia are in Group D and the other opponents in their path to the quarter-finals are England and South Africa.
