No advantage for Malaysia..

MALAYSIA picked the toughest route in the Champions Challenge 1 when they were paired with New Zealand in the quarter-finals in Kuantan today.
   The Kiwis, who have also qualified for the World Cup at the Hague, are the highest ranked team here at number six in the world, while Malaysia are at a struggling 13th. The other team which has qualified for the World Cup and are in Kuantan are South Korea at world number seven.
   And if Malaysia believe that playing at 2.45pm in sweltering Kuantan heat, and dry sea breeze, is going to help their cause they might be proven wrong as the Kiwis have played two earlier matches at 3pm and beat Ireland 2-1 and hammered Japan 6-1.
   The Kiwis also have an advantage of having played four quarters of 17.5 minutes when playing at 3pm, while Malaysia who played at 9pm all their matches used the 35 minutes two halves format.
    "We will be playing the four quarters format for the first time in Kuantan, but we did experiment with it when we played China in a series of friendlies before coming here," said Malaysian coach K. Dharmaraj.
   Dharmaraj agreed that they pulled the short straw and it will be an uphill battle but not an impossible one.
   "Every team in Group B played to avoid the Kiwis, but two bad matches saw us end up with the world no six. However, they are not Australia, Netherlands and Germany who are out of our league.
   "With the right strategy and frame of mind of my players, we have an equal chance of beating them and then the route would become much more comfortable in the semis," said Dharmaraj.
   Losing to France 3-2 and South Korea 3-1 was somehow made up with the splendid display in the 4-3 win against Canada.
    "There was overall improvement against Canada and we were just plain unlucky as a penalty corner attempt hit the post, and also missed many sitters.
   "But there is improvement in the team, and that's what matters most leading into the New Zealand encounter," said Dharmaraj.
   Skipper Azlan Misron was also optimistic: "We have played New Zealand many times and know that they are a strong and hard working side, but I will rally my men to collect three points as we want to advance further and get a shot at playing in the Champions Trophy," said Azlan.
   New Zealand coach Colin Batch said: " We will be playing for the third time in the heat (3pm match) and if the previous encounters are anything to go by, it does not affect our performance much. However, Malaysia are in an upward trend as seen in the match against Canada and I believe it will be a tough quarters encounter for us.
   "Malaysia are also a World Cup side, even though in a different group with us, it would be an interesting match as both sides prepare for the Hague."
     As for Kiwi skipper Dean Couzins: "I watched Malaysia play against Canada for 25 minutes as after that we had to warm-down and do some conditioning. And I must say they have improved as compared to their last two matches and it will be a fast match where we hope to press early and get the goals.
   "I love the way the crowd cheers every time when Malaysia move up to attack, but it also works for us as well, as we like the atmosphere and makes us enjoy the game."

Malaysia-New Zealand quarter-finals

MALAYSIA won their first match when they beat Canada 4-3, but still ended last in Group B and will meet tournament favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the Champions Challenge 1 in Kuantan tomorrow.
   Malaysia needed three clear goals to avoid the Kiwis in the cross-over, and they started attacking Canada from the first whistle, but were instead hit by the Canadians.
   The clock only showed three minutes when Canada won their first penalty corner, which was turned into a penalty stroke when the ball hit a defender's leg.
   Canadian skipper Scott Tupper stepped up and beat goalkeeper S. Kumar from the spot in the fourth minute.
   The fans went silent, but only for a minute as a full charge in the fifth minute saw Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin slamming the ball to the roof of the Canadian goalmouth for the equaliser.
   Shahril Saabah provided the spark when he gave Malaysia the lead off their first penalty corner in the 19th minute with a powerful drive which looked like it was going to tear the netting apart.
    But the Canadians refuse to be broken and in the 30th minute, Gabriel Ho-Garcia slapped home the equaliser when there was momentary confusion among the Malaysian defenders, and the 2-2 score stood until the hooter.
    Shahril delivered again off a penalty corner attempt in the 40th minute, but Tupper again scored off a penalty stroke in the 54th minute to make it 3-3.
   Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin then makes it 4-3 with a reverse stick drive in the 55th minute.
  

FINAL STANDINGS

GROUP A
                             P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
N ZEALAND         3   3   0   0  16  5   9
IRELAND             3   1   0   2  3   4   3
POLAND              3   1   0   2  7   12  3
JAPAN                 3   1   0   2  4   9   3

GROUP B

                     P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
S KOREA      3   2   1   0  9   6   7
CANADA       3   1   1   1  9   9   4
FRANCE        3   1   0   2  7  8   3
MALAYSIA   3   1   0   2  7   9   3

   
    RESULTS -- Group A: Ireland 1 Japan 0, New Zealand 8 Poland 3.
    Group B: South Korea 3 France 2, Canada 3 Malaysia 4.
   TODAY -- REST DAY.
    MAY 1: Quarter-finals -- New Zealand v Malaysia (2.45pm); Canada v Poland (5pm); Ireland v France (7.15pm); South Korea v Japan (9.30pm).

Coach shoots down rumours...

NATIONAL chief coach K. Dharmaraj yesterday dispelled rumours that his players are playing badly in the Champions Challenge I in Kuantan because there is disunity caused by favouritism on his selection of the squad.
   Malaysia lost 3-2 to France and then 3-1 to South Korea and will play Canada today, where a defeat will see them play tournament favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
   "The agree the team has not been playing up to mark, and I have also heard from many people that the cause might be due to the selection of many Junior World Cup players (eight) and that I have favoured certain players over others who were dropped.
   "But there is no truth in it because I have selected the best available and I am trying out new positions for several players and that is why the team looks disjointed and not settled down after two matches.
   "I was also a player once, and I will never bring favouritism into selecting players as I know it causes pain to those who are not selected," said Dharmaraj.
     He also agreed that the midfield and defense is in disarray.
     "With regular defender Razie (Rahim) still nursing an injury and several former key players not selected because others have overtaken them, there is bound to be some miscommunication among the players. But it is not because they are not happy with my selection process."
    Midfielder-defender Shahrun Nabil and defender Baljit Singh were some of the players left out, and replaced with German-born Kevin Lim and a host of juniors.
   "We also tried some things that normally we don’t do. Playing Faiz Helmi in midfield instead as a sweeper and Kevin Lim at the back were choices I had to make given the situation we are in. If we had Razie (Rahim) I could have pushed Faiz up in midfield. This (against Canada) is the only chance we have of trying out players in the group stage before moving on to the quarterfinals.”
    “I am looking at sticking to our earlier game plan and positions. We have a problem at the back (defence) and are not settled yet. I have to see what the best line-up is as the matches go,” he lamented.
      Malaysia's hoped hinge on the France-South Korea match at 3pm, because if the French win, Malaysia will end at the bottom of Group B and the chances are high that they will meet tournament favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
    But if South Korea beat France and Malaysia beat Canada, Dharmaraj's side will not only avoid New Zealand in the quarters, but also the semis if they go that far in the tournament.
   “We also tried some things that normally we don’t do. Playing Faiz Helmi in midfield instead as a sweeper and Kevin Lim at the back were choices I had to make given the situation we are in. If we had Razie (Rahim) I could have pushed Faiz up in midfield. This is the only chance we have of trying out players in the group stage before moving on to the quarterfinals.”
   For the record, Malaysia defeated Canada 3-0 in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in March.

   
STANDINGS

GROUP A
                             P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
N ZEALAND         2   2   0   0  8   2   6
POLAND              2   1   0   1  4   4   3
JAPAN                 2   1   0   1  4   8   3
IRELAND             2   0   0   2  2   4   0


GROUP B

                     P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
CANADA       2   1   1   0  6   5   4
S KOREA      2   1   1   0  6   4   4
FRANCE        2   1   0   1  5  5   3
MALAYSIA   2   0   0   2  3   6   0

   
    April 28: REST DAY.
    April 29: Group A: Ireland v Japan (5pm), New Zealand v  Poland (7pm).
    Group B: South Korea v France (3pm), Canada v Malaysia  (9pm).

Malaysia might draw Kiwis in q-finals..

MALAYSIA were soundly beaten 3-1 by South Korea in Group B of the Champions Challenge I in Kuantan, Pahang yesterday.
    After a break today, they play Canada next and it will not be an easy match as yesterday, the Canadians beat France 3-2. For the record, Malaysia had lost to France on Friday by the same margin.
   However, the tournament format will see all eight teams from Group A and Group B play in the quarter-finals, and Malaysia might just draw the short straw and play against raging favourites New Zealand in the cross-over if they end at the bottom of the pool.
   Coach K. Dharmaraj's men went looking for an early lead but found the going tough as the forward-line lacked direction in the first 10 minutes of the match.
   However, 12 minutes into the match Malaysian won their first penalty corner and Ahmad Kazamirul sailed it over the top of the bar.
    The Koreans soaked in the pressure and relied on counters, and finally won their first penalty corner in the 18th minute and Nam Hyun Woo made it count with a low push to the board for the lead.
   Malaysia had two more penalty corners to draw level, but Shahril Saabah's mammoth drive hit the post and came rocketing out in the 21st, while Kazamirul's attempt in the 32nd minute was saved by goalkeeper Lee Myung Ho.
   Two minutes into the re-start, You Hyo Sik made it 2-0 with a reverse stick drive which went between the legs of goalkeeper S. Kumar.
    And by the 50th minute, Korea completed the rout with another penalty corner goal from Jang Jong Hyun. Ismail Abu scored the consolation in the 67th minute for Malaysia.
  
     
   
STANDINGS

GROUP A
                             P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
N ZEALAND         2   2   0   0  8   2   6
POLAND              2   1   0   1  4   4   3
JAPAN                 2   1   0   1  4   8   3
IRELAND             2   0   0   2  2   4   0


GROUP B

                     P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
CANADA       2   1   1   0  6   5   4
S KOREA      2   1   1   0  6   4   4
FRANCE        2   1   0   1  5  5   3
MALAYSIA   2   0   0   2  3   6   0

    RESULTS -- Group A: Japan 1 New Zealand 6, Ireland 1 Poland 2.
    Group B: Canada 3 France 2, Malaysia 1 South Korea  3.
    April 28: REST DAY.
    April 29: Group A: Ireland v Japan (5pm), New Zealand v  Poland (7pm).
    Group B: South Korea v France (3pm), Canada v Malaysia  (9pm).

Malaysia robbed...

THE National team were robbed of a penalty stroke as they went down 3-2 to France in the Champions Challenge 1 tournament in Kuantan, Pahang yesterday.
   The score stood at 3-2 in favour of France, when a clear infringement was made by the French defender in the 67th minute, but the umpire blew in the different dirrection to the chargin of the fans, as well as Malaysian players.
   Malaysia were in a hurry to claim an early lead but in the process made too many mistakes and by half-time, it was the French who held the lead off a counter-attack.
   There was a good build-up from midfield from Malaysia, but lacking was the finishing touch from the forward-line as the strikers were easily stopped by French defenders.
   Malaysia's No1 goalkeeper S. Kumar brought out two consecutive saves in the 25th minute to keep the match alive for coach K. Dharmaraj's men, as the French soaked in the attacks but never gave away a single penalty corner in the first half.
    France had one penalty corner, but shot wide in the 30th minute. However, a solo run from Oliver Sanchez in the 34th minute finally beat Kumar one-on-one and they trooped into the dressing room looking dangerous.
   But it was Malaysia who again went searching for the elusive penalty corner or goal, and were rewarded when Faizal Saari made a darting run in the 40th minute and sent in a cross for seasoned striker Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin to make a diving connection for the equaliser.
   Faizal then took it upon himself to score a classy back-stick flick which sailed high and went crashing into the net for the lead in the 50th minute but Victor Charlet drew level for France in the 53rd minute off their second penalty corner with a low push.
   Malaysia lost the match in the 63rd minute when Kumar tackled a French player outside the semi-circle and the umpire awarded a penalty stroke and also flashed Kumar with a yellow card.
    Second goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman came in but was beaten by Hugo Genestet from the spot to make it 3-2.
   
   World No 7 South Korea took a comfortable 3-1 lead yesterday but collapsed in the last 10 minutes of the match to
share the spoils at 3-3 with World No 16 Canada in Group B.
   And this was a worrying factor for their consultant Paul Lissek: "My players just failed to hold onto a comfortable lead, even though the pressure was not on them. And this is a worrying factor leading to the Malaysian match tomorrow (today) where we will face many young and speedy legs."
   Lissek, a former Malaysian coach, said Korea were looking for a winning start as they wanted too top the group and have a 'better' cross-over opponents in the quarter-finals.
   "Now we will have to work even harder against Malaysia, as we wanted a win against Canada and top the group, but it did not happen. I believe Malaysia are doing the right thing by mixing many young players into the squad as it did make them better in the Azlan Shah Cup.
   "I think Malaysia are looking for the best combination for the World Cup, and it is good that they are trying out players," said Lissek.
   The German, who took Malaysia to the 1998 Commonwealth Games silver medal, also believes that Korea will face a tough time against Malaysia who have showed good form for the last 12 months at the junior and senior level.
   "It will be our toughest match at the group stage, but then again, all eight teams play in the quarter-finals, and that one match will be the most important one in this tournament," said Lissek.

STANDINGS

GROUP A
                             P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
JAPAN                 1   1   0   0  3   2   3
N ZEALAND         1   1   0   0  2   1   3
POLAND              1   0   0   1  2   3   0
IRELAND             1   0   0   1  1   2   0


GROUP B

                     P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
FRANCE        1   1   0   0  3  2   3
S KOREA      1   0   1   0  3   3   1
CANADA       1   0   1   0  3   3   1
MALAYSIA   1   0   0   1  2   3   0

    RESULTS -- Group A: New Zealand 2 Ireland 1,  Japan 3 Poland 2.
    Group B: South Korea 3 Canada 3, Malaysia 2 France  3.
    TODAY: Group A: Japan v New Zealand (3pm), Ireland v  Poland (5pm)
    Group B: Canada v France (7pm), Malaysia v South Korea  (9pm).
    April 28: REST DAY.
    April 29: Group A: Ireland v Japan (3pm), New Zealand v  Poland (5pm).
    Group B: South Korea v France (7pm), Canada v Malaysia  (9pm).

Looking for CC1 medal in Kuantan...

MALAYSIA have no medals to show from the Champions Challenge 1, but will aim for the sky beginning today at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
    For the record, as hosts in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia finished fourth, and the other fourth was in Argentina in 2012.
    The target in Kuantan in to win and qualify for the 2016 Champions Trophy on merit, as Malaysia has only played at that level as hosts in 1993 and 2007.
    Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had said during a sponsors ceremony: “Lets go for the gold medal and qualify for the Champions Trophy, as a good performance in Kuantan will also boost the confidence of our players for the World Cup (in The Hague, Netherlands, on May 31-June 15).”
     In Kuantan the other teams which have qualified for the World Cup are New Zealand and South Korea.
    Malaysia played well to finish second behind Australia in the Azlan Shah Cup, but in the Champions Challenge, they might find the going tougher when they face South Korea or New Zealand in the knock-out stages.
   National coach K. Dharmaraj yesterday dropped three players after his side beat Poland 2-1 on Thursday.
  Ramadan Rosli, Shahrun Nabil and Razie Rahim were left out while defender Azlan Misron has been selected to wear the skipper’s band.
    In the absence of senior goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin who is nursing a knee injury, Dharmaraj picked Junior World Cup goalkeeper Hafizzudin Othman as back-up for No1 S. Kumar.
   Tournament favourites New Zealand, Ireland, Japan and Poland are in Group A while Malaysia, Canada, France and Korea are in Group B.
   "I have been cracking my head for the last 10 days to select the best side, as it is never easy to drop players who have about the same standards. It was a difficult choice but since only 18 are allowed, I had to drop Ramadan, Shahrun and Razie," said Dharmaraj.
   On the lofty targer: "We are here to keep the momentum running from the group stages to the knock-out, and of course, every team here wants the gold medal."
    MALAYSIA: S. Kumar (gk), Hafizuddin Othman (gk), Azlan  Misron, Kevin Lim, Izad Hakimi, Shukri Mutalib, Ahmad  Kazamirul, Faiz Helmi, Azri Hassan, Fitri Shaari, Marhan Jalil, Nabil Fiqri, Tengku  Ahmad Tajuddin, Faizal Saari, Shahril Saabah, Ismail Abu,  Rashid Baharom, Firhan Ashaari.
    SATURDAY -- Group A: New Zealand v Ireland (3pm),  Japan v Poland (5pm).
    Group B: South Korea v Canada (7pm), Malaysia v France  (9pm).
    SUNDAY: Group A: Japan v New Zealand (3pm), Ireland v  Poland (5pm)
    Group B: Canada v France (7pm), Malaysia v South Korea  (9pm).
    April 28: REST DAY.
    April 29: Group A: Ireland v Japan (3pm), New Zealand v  Poland (5pm).
    Group B: South Korea v France (7pm), Canada v Malaysia  (9pm).

Razie Rahim to be tested...

NOTE: To those who were offended when I posted the Malaysian team list from the FIH CC1 website, here is shit on your ugly face...It was a public document, and after years of experience I know there will be a few changes right up to the managers meeeting, and that is why I did not write a story in the NST but just posted the FIH website Malaysian name list.
   Also George Koshy was a Korean on the website, I tweeted to FIH to change it, not officials from MHC.

MALAYSIA'S No 1 penalty corner flicker Razie Rahim was named among the 21 players for the Champions Challenge 1 in Kuantan from April 26-May 4.
   Razie, 26, who underwent surgery on Feb 18 after dislocating his left shoulder while playing for Mumbai Magicians in the Hockey India League on Feb 4, will be tested in the two friendlies against France on Tuesday and Poland on Thursday before confirming his place in the squad.
    "We have shortlisted 21 players, and Razie is among them. He will play in the two friendlies against France and Poalnd, and if he feels he is ready, and we get the green-light from the medical side, he will feature in the Champions Challenge," said team manager George Koshy.
   Missing from the list were defender Baljit Singh and No 2 goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin, who are both still nursing injuries.
   Roslan will be replaced by juniors goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman, who had a good game in the Azlan Shah Cup where Malaysia finished second behind Australia.
    Baljit will be replaced by Kevin Lim, 27, who will make his debut for Malaysia after playing in Germany, while Ismail Abu has also been included after being on the sidelines for years.
   The final 18 will only be named in Kuantan.
   Malaysia are in Group B and play France on May 26, followed by South Korea (May 27) and Canada (May 29).
   In Group A are New Zealand, Poland, Japan and Ireland.
   SHORLISTED: S. Kumar (gk), Hafizuddin Othman (gk), Azlan Misron, Kevin Lim, Izad Hakimi, Shukri Mutalib, Ahmad Kazamirul, Faiz Helmi, Azri Hassan, Fitri Shaari, Marhan Jalil, Ramadan Rosli, Nabil Fiqri, Shahrun Nabil, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Faizal Saari, Shahril Saabah, Ismail Abu, Rashid Baharom, Firhan Ashaari, Razie Rahim.

MALAYSIA: Champions Challenge 1 team