Thursday, July 31, 2014
Malaysia 1 New Zealand 6..
COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEN'S HOCKEY ... Razie Rahim scores the consolation.. Lost 8-1 to England, lost 4-2 to Trinidad and Tobago.
Enter the Panic Room...
By Vijesh Rai
THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is in panic mode and rightly so. Losing to Trinidad & Tobago is a shocker but were it a case of one of those days, it would be acceptable.
But if the grapevine is to be believed, there are more serious reasons for the national hockey team's struggles, both here in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and in the recent World Cup in the Netherlands.
MHC, it is said, is already investigating with a committee even having interviewed players for feedback.
Coach K. Dharmaraj's position could be shaky as the MHC, based on the national team's recent form, is not going to win the Asian Games gold which would mean automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics.
There is no doubt that the MHC has to do something, simply because Malaysia must play in the Olympics after having missed out on the last three editions.
This, however, is a short term target as MHC must also concentrate on the long term and that involves a revamp of its entire structure.
Blaming coaches and players every time there is a failure is not going to help develop Malaysian hockey and the MHC must understand this.
There is certainly no excuse for Malaysia losing to Trinidad but MHC was very much party to the decision to send a mixed squad of seniors and juniors to the World Cup.
The reason for this was mainly because the juniors, following the Junior World Cup campaign in New Delhi last year, have been starved of competitive action as Malaysia played in the Azlan Shah Cup, Champions Challenge and World Cup prior to the Commonwealth Games.
This meant the Malaysian Hockey League, the nation’s premier' hockey tournament, being pushed to until after the Asian Games.
When then will the juniors, who are the reason why Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said hockey will continue to be among the core sports despite the huge cost of funding, going to play competitively?
Certain sections also feel that Dharmaraj shouldn't have been elevated to the national coach’s job as he isn’t ready.
Again, whose decision was this?
It is an undeniable fact that MHC settled for Dharmaraj out of desperation following Paul Revington’s abrupt resignation.
MHC also cannot deny that the Malaysian coaching job is not a plum position and the only way it can attract a foreigner is by paying big bucks.
That, however, will have no effect if the talent that the foreign coach has to work with is of, at best, mediocre standard.
And who is to blame for this? The MHC as it is the guardian of the sport, and the coaches and players are its products.
The bottom line is MHC cannot absolve itself of blame here but the good thing is, the defeat to Trinidad could well be the catalyst for the administration of hockey to improve.
What Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is told by his fellow office bearers may not necessarily reflect the actual scenario, and the only way out is for the MHC president to go directly to the ground, not only to unearth what is ailing hockey but to find out the cure.
If not, not only can we expect failure at the Asian Games and missing the 2016 Olympics but more shockers akin to the one that Trinidad delivered in Glasgow on Tuesday.
THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is in panic mode and rightly so. Losing to Trinidad & Tobago is a shocker but were it a case of one of those days, it would be acceptable.
But if the grapevine is to be believed, there are more serious reasons for the national hockey team's struggles, both here in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and in the recent World Cup in the Netherlands.
MHC, it is said, is already investigating with a committee even having interviewed players for feedback.
Coach K. Dharmaraj's position could be shaky as the MHC, based on the national team's recent form, is not going to win the Asian Games gold which would mean automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics.
There is no doubt that the MHC has to do something, simply because Malaysia must play in the Olympics after having missed out on the last three editions.
This, however, is a short term target as MHC must also concentrate on the long term and that involves a revamp of its entire structure.
Blaming coaches and players every time there is a failure is not going to help develop Malaysian hockey and the MHC must understand this.
There is certainly no excuse for Malaysia losing to Trinidad but MHC was very much party to the decision to send a mixed squad of seniors and juniors to the World Cup.
The reason for this was mainly because the juniors, following the Junior World Cup campaign in New Delhi last year, have been starved of competitive action as Malaysia played in the Azlan Shah Cup, Champions Challenge and World Cup prior to the Commonwealth Games.
This meant the Malaysian Hockey League, the nation’s premier' hockey tournament, being pushed to until after the Asian Games.
When then will the juniors, who are the reason why Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said hockey will continue to be among the core sports despite the huge cost of funding, going to play competitively?
Certain sections also feel that Dharmaraj shouldn't have been elevated to the national coach’s job as he isn’t ready.
Again, whose decision was this?
It is an undeniable fact that MHC settled for Dharmaraj out of desperation following Paul Revington’s abrupt resignation.
MHC also cannot deny that the Malaysian coaching job is not a plum position and the only way it can attract a foreigner is by paying big bucks.
That, however, will have no effect if the talent that the foreign coach has to work with is of, at best, mediocre standard.
And who is to blame for this? The MHC as it is the guardian of the sport, and the coaches and players are its products.
The bottom line is MHC cannot absolve itself of blame here but the good thing is, the defeat to Trinidad could well be the catalyst for the administration of hockey to improve.
What Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is told by his fellow office bearers may not necessarily reflect the actual scenario, and the only way out is for the MHC president to go directly to the ground, not only to unearth what is ailing hockey but to find out the cure.
If not, not only can we expect failure at the Asian Games and missing the 2016 Olympics but more shockers akin to the one that Trinidad delivered in Glasgow on Tuesday.
Simply unacceptable
By Vijesh Rai
WITH the Asian Games looming and the national hockey squad showing no signs of being capable of winning gold in Incheon, South Korea, the National Sports Council (NSC) may ask the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to take drastic action.
Tuesday’s shocking 4-2 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago in a Commonwealth Games Group B match has the NSC alarmed and director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said steps must be taken to ensure the team are up to the mark in the Asian Games.
If not, Zolkples said the result will be the same as the World Cup and Commonwealth Games - failure.
“There seems to be something wrong in the squad. The first liners failed to impress in the World Cup while the squad in Glasgow have fared even worse.
“Defeat to Trinidad is unacceptable, considering our world ranking and the support hockey enjoys in Malaysia," said a shocked Zolkples.
While the Commonwealth Games semi-final was always considered a stretched target for K. Dharmaraj’s second liners, defeat to an unheralded nation was never in the script.
Assistant coach M. Gobinathan, in trying to explain the defeat, said luck had been on Trinidad’s side as they scored four times from six chances in the first half.
“Trinidad are also a rising team as several of their players are playing in the English league. In fact, Kwandwane (Browne - Trinidad’s hat-trick hero in the win) has been playing in England for eight years.
“I agree that we shouldn’t have lost to Trinidad but defeat was caused by several factors, one of which was we started very slowly and couldn’t recover after Trinidad had taken the 4-1 lead,” said Gobinathan.
While the team officials may have their reasons, the MHC must be in panic mode, especially as the defeat to Trinidad comes after a hugely unimpressive World Cup where Malaysia finished last in the 12-team competition.
“Tengku Abdullah (Sultan Ahmad Shah - MHC president) contacted me and asked me for my opinion on the defeat.
“What I said was that the Asian Games are our priority as a gold will mean automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics.
“NSC is of the opinion that if something is wrong in the national squad, then drastic action must be taken.”
Zolkples did not elaborate on what drastic action should be taken but it is learnt that a committee had been tasked with finding out what was ailing the national squad.
Dharmaraj, elevated to national coach after the Junior World Cup side he coached finished fourth in New Delhi last year, could be in danger as certain players are said to be unhappy with him.
Zolkples, when asked, declined to comment, only saying: “We can’t be losing to Trinidad but we have. This is an alarming result and the team have to be sorted out.”
It will be interesting to see just how the MHC plans on doing that.
WITH the Asian Games looming and the national hockey squad showing no signs of being capable of winning gold in Incheon, South Korea, the National Sports Council (NSC) may ask the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to take drastic action.
Tuesday’s shocking 4-2 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago in a Commonwealth Games Group B match has the NSC alarmed and director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said steps must be taken to ensure the team are up to the mark in the Asian Games.
If not, Zolkples said the result will be the same as the World Cup and Commonwealth Games - failure.
“There seems to be something wrong in the squad. The first liners failed to impress in the World Cup while the squad in Glasgow have fared even worse.
“Defeat to Trinidad is unacceptable, considering our world ranking and the support hockey enjoys in Malaysia," said a shocked Zolkples.
While the Commonwealth Games semi-final was always considered a stretched target for K. Dharmaraj’s second liners, defeat to an unheralded nation was never in the script.
Assistant coach M. Gobinathan, in trying to explain the defeat, said luck had been on Trinidad’s side as they scored four times from six chances in the first half.
“Trinidad are also a rising team as several of their players are playing in the English league. In fact, Kwandwane (Browne - Trinidad’s hat-trick hero in the win) has been playing in England for eight years.
“I agree that we shouldn’t have lost to Trinidad but defeat was caused by several factors, one of which was we started very slowly and couldn’t recover after Trinidad had taken the 4-1 lead,” said Gobinathan.
While the team officials may have their reasons, the MHC must be in panic mode, especially as the defeat to Trinidad comes after a hugely unimpressive World Cup where Malaysia finished last in the 12-team competition.
“Tengku Abdullah (Sultan Ahmad Shah - MHC president) contacted me and asked me for my opinion on the defeat.
“What I said was that the Asian Games are our priority as a gold will mean automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics.
“NSC is of the opinion that if something is wrong in the national squad, then drastic action must be taken.”
Zolkples did not elaborate on what drastic action should be taken but it is learnt that a committee had been tasked with finding out what was ailing the national squad.
Dharmaraj, elevated to national coach after the Junior World Cup side he coached finished fourth in New Delhi last year, could be in danger as certain players are said to be unhappy with him.
Zolkples, when asked, declined to comment, only saying: “We can’t be losing to Trinidad but we have. This is an alarming result and the team have to be sorted out.”
It will be interesting to see just how the MHC plans on doing that.
Embarassing 2-4 Defeat to TnT..
From NURSYABIHA SUKRI
GLASGOW, July 29 (Bernama) -- The National men's hockey squad suffered an embarrassing 2-4 defeat to hockey minnows Trinidad and Tobago in a Commonwealth Games Group B match at the National Hockey Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland today.
The defeat, Malaysia's second in a row, after having lost 1-8 to England two days ago, has virtually 'killed off' Malaysia's chances of moving into the next stage.
Trinidad and Tobago, virtually an unknown hockey playing nation, took the lead in the 8th minute through a penalty corner strike by Mickell Peirre before Kwandwane Browne made it 2-0 three minutes later.
Browne continued to pile on the misery for the Malaysians with his second of the night and his country's third in the 15th minute.
Malaysia managed to reduce the deficit through Norhizzat Sumatri in the 24th minute but Browne was again on target to complete his hat-trick and score Trinidad and Tobago's fourth in the 35th minute.
Leading 4-1 by half-time, the Trinidad and Tobago players seemed to have lifted their legs off the pedal in the second half to allow Malaysia to reduce the deficit through Muhammad Ramadan Rosli's 69th minute strike.
Speaking of the shocking result, National assistant coach K. Gobinathan admitted that the team accepted responsibility for the defeat.
"It was clear that Trinidad and Tobago had their own quality and were certainly the better side although they are not ranked among the world hockey powers.
"We had a slow start and the defeat was a shocking result. Trinidad and Tobago cannot be underestimated since most of the players are playing in the English league," he said.
Malaysia will next face New Zealand in their final group match on Thursday and based on current results, the National squad's campaign in Glasgow is as good as over as chances of making it to the next stage looks remote.
-- BERNAMA
GLASGOW, July 29 (Bernama) -- The National men's hockey squad suffered an embarrassing 2-4 defeat to hockey minnows Trinidad and Tobago in a Commonwealth Games Group B match at the National Hockey Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland today.
The defeat, Malaysia's second in a row, after having lost 1-8 to England two days ago, has virtually 'killed off' Malaysia's chances of moving into the next stage.
Trinidad and Tobago, virtually an unknown hockey playing nation, took the lead in the 8th minute through a penalty corner strike by Mickell Peirre before Kwandwane Browne made it 2-0 three minutes later.
Browne continued to pile on the misery for the Malaysians with his second of the night and his country's third in the 15th minute.
Malaysia managed to reduce the deficit through Norhizzat Sumatri in the 24th minute but Browne was again on target to complete his hat-trick and score Trinidad and Tobago's fourth in the 35th minute.
Leading 4-1 by half-time, the Trinidad and Tobago players seemed to have lifted their legs off the pedal in the second half to allow Malaysia to reduce the deficit through Muhammad Ramadan Rosli's 69th minute strike.
Speaking of the shocking result, National assistant coach K. Gobinathan admitted that the team accepted responsibility for the defeat.
"It was clear that Trinidad and Tobago had their own quality and were certainly the better side although they are not ranked among the world hockey powers.
"We had a slow start and the defeat was a shocking result. Trinidad and Tobago cannot be underestimated since most of the players are playing in the English league," he said.
Malaysia will next face New Zealand in their final group match on Thursday and based on current results, the National squad's campaign in Glasgow is as good as over as chances of making it to the next stage looks remote.
-- BERNAMA
Humiliation for men's hockey team
By Vijesh Rai
GLASGOW: The national hockey team fell to a shock defeat to Trinidad & Tobago as Malaysia's high of two gold medals on Monday was replaced by gloom in the Commonwealth Games today.
Malaysia, who were thrashed 8-1 by England after beating Canada 2-0 in their earlier group B matches, were expected to cruise to victory against a team with no known hockey pedigree.
Instead, the team suffered what must rank as among the worst defeats in the history of Malaysian hockey.
Kwandwane Browne scored a hat-trick of penalty corner goals while Mickell Pierre hit the other with Malaysia replying through Norhizzat Sumantri and Muhamad Ramadan Rosli.
The match was lost after just 15 minutes as Trinidad raced into a 3-0 lead, and when the hooter was sounded for half-time, Malaysia were down 4-1.
There was not to be a comeback as Malaysia's second goal was scored by Ramadan in the dying seconds of the match and fans must be fearful of what is to come next as the national team's final group match is against New Zealand on Thursday.
The Kiwis showed their class by shocking England 2-1 in an earlier match and despite having sealed their semi-final spot, will be out to confirm their status as group winners to avoid Australia in the crossover semi-finals.
GLASGOW: The national hockey team fell to a shock defeat to Trinidad & Tobago as Malaysia's high of two gold medals on Monday was replaced by gloom in the Commonwealth Games today.
Malaysia, who were thrashed 8-1 by England after beating Canada 2-0 in their earlier group B matches, were expected to cruise to victory against a team with no known hockey pedigree.
Instead, the team suffered what must rank as among the worst defeats in the history of Malaysian hockey.
Kwandwane Browne scored a hat-trick of penalty corner goals while Mickell Pierre hit the other with Malaysia replying through Norhizzat Sumantri and Muhamad Ramadan Rosli.
The match was lost after just 15 minutes as Trinidad raced into a 3-0 lead, and when the hooter was sounded for half-time, Malaysia were down 4-1.
There was not to be a comeback as Malaysia's second goal was scored by Ramadan in the dying seconds of the match and fans must be fearful of what is to come next as the national team's final group match is against New Zealand on Thursday.
The Kiwis showed their class by shocking England 2-1 in an earlier match and despite having sealed their semi-final spot, will be out to confirm their status as group winners to avoid Australia in the crossover semi-finals.
Trinidad beat ‘world-class’ Malaysia in hockey ..
By Aftar Singh
GLASGOW: Are the national hockey team going the way of the national football team?
On Tuesday, the men’s hockey team went down to a shocking 4-2 loss to Trinidad and Tobago in a Group B match of the Commonwealth Games at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
It was the most embarrassing defeat for Malaysia in the history of the sport. Malaysia are ranked 13th in the world while Trinidad are ranked 29th.
The signs have been there, though.
The team went to the World Cup in The Hague, Holland, last month and came back with their tails between their legs – finishing last in the 12-team field and failing to win any of the six matches.
Here, at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, they began promisingly – beating Canada 2-0 in their opening group match.
After that, it has been downhill all the way – getting hammered 8-1 by England and then the shocking disgraceful capitulation against the Trinidadians.
National coach K. Dharmaraj and the players must take the blame for bringing shame to the country.
Trinidad, who hardly compete in any tournaments, stunned Dharmaraj’s team by going 3-0 up after just 16 minutes.
Mickell Pierre gave the Caribbean team the lead in the eighth minute before Kwadwane Browne scored two penalty corner goals in the 12th and 16th minutes.
Although Norhizzat Sumantri narrowed the deficit with a field goal in the 25nd minute, Browne was on target again for his hat-trick 10 minutes later through yet another penalty corner goal.
Malaysia reduced the deficit through Mohd Ramadan Rosli in the 70th minute.
Trinidad coach Francis Glenn said that it felt great to beat a strong team like Malaysia.
“Ours is a small country and we are happy to win our first-ever hockey match in four appearances in the Games. We are preparing the team for the Olympics and this win over Malaysia has boosted our confidence,” said Glenn.
Trinidad skipper Cowie Darren acknowledged that “we hardly get to play against world-class teams”.
“We came into the Glasgow Games to gain experience for next year’s Pan American Games … so it’s a huge boost for us to win our first-ever match in the Commonwealth Games,” said Darren.
The humiliation may not be over yet for Malaysia. They still have to face New Zealand on Thursday.
GLASGOW: Are the national hockey team going the way of the national football team?
On Tuesday, the men’s hockey team went down to a shocking 4-2 loss to Trinidad and Tobago in a Group B match of the Commonwealth Games at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
It was the most embarrassing defeat for Malaysia in the history of the sport. Malaysia are ranked 13th in the world while Trinidad are ranked 29th.
The signs have been there, though.
The team went to the World Cup in The Hague, Holland, last month and came back with their tails between their legs – finishing last in the 12-team field and failing to win any of the six matches.
Here, at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, they began promisingly – beating Canada 2-0 in their opening group match.
After that, it has been downhill all the way – getting hammered 8-1 by England and then the shocking disgraceful capitulation against the Trinidadians.
National coach K. Dharmaraj and the players must take the blame for bringing shame to the country.
Trinidad, who hardly compete in any tournaments, stunned Dharmaraj’s team by going 3-0 up after just 16 minutes.
Mickell Pierre gave the Caribbean team the lead in the eighth minute before Kwadwane Browne scored two penalty corner goals in the 12th and 16th minutes.
Although Norhizzat Sumantri narrowed the deficit with a field goal in the 25nd minute, Browne was on target again for his hat-trick 10 minutes later through yet another penalty corner goal.
Malaysia reduced the deficit through Mohd Ramadan Rosli in the 70th minute.
Trinidad coach Francis Glenn said that it felt great to beat a strong team like Malaysia.
“Ours is a small country and we are happy to win our first-ever hockey match in four appearances in the Games. We are preparing the team for the Olympics and this win over Malaysia has boosted our confidence,” said Glenn.
Trinidad skipper Cowie Darren acknowledged that “we hardly get to play against world-class teams”.
“We came into the Glasgow Games to gain experience for next year’s Pan American Games … so it’s a huge boost for us to win our first-ever match in the Commonwealth Games,” said Darren.
The humiliation may not be over yet for Malaysia. They still have to face New Zealand on Thursday.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Malaysia 2 Canada 0
COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEN'S HOCKEY: Ahmad Kazamirul, Izwan Firdaus score for |Malaysia -- nxt Malaysia play -- England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Well done girls...
COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOCKEY: Malaysian women's hockey team lost 4-0 to Australia, Num 2, and it was a super achievement as the Aussies had 20 shots at goal...
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Women not worried about Australia cracker...
WOMEN’S hockey coach Nasihin Nubli knows the score when they open accounts against Australia on July 24 in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
For it was 8-0 when the two teams last met at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
“We know it is going to be uphill all the way in our opening match against Australia, no denying that, but my girls are not overly worried as I have told them to be ready for all-weather, and there is no need to be demoralised.
“My team will just go in and enjoy the game, the there will be no pressure, during or after the match, as we need to focus on the other win-able fixtures,” said Nasihin.
Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
In Group B are Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.
The women’s best outing was sixth at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2006 Melbourne Games, while in New Delhi four years ago, they finished last in the 10-team competition.
“Australia have brought their best and our focus will be to try and minimise the damage, and I have been working on our defense.
“I will be placing my best players in midfield for a fast counter, and hopefully we surprise them a few times for a morale booster ahead of playing the hosts,” said Nasihin.
They ladies will play a match against Trinidad and Tobago as a warm-up in chilly Scotland ahead for their fiery match against raging favourites Australia.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Dharmaraj: Its scary to fly now...
Sachin Nadarajan with Arul Anthoni and 9 others
We flew back after World Cup in that flight Mh17 from Amtersdam on June 13th. Very sad for this pepole
THE were anxious moments at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) around midnight Thursday, as national hockey players prepared to board their flight to Scotland for the Commonwealth Games.
That was when they received the tragic news of MH17 being shot down over Ukraine airspace.
Coach K. Dharmaraj, when contacted was shell shocked.
“It is really true.. seriously, a MAS plane was shot down?,” reacted Dharmaraj when he received my sms.
“It is really scary to fly now, I am now worried for my players safety as well as we are heading for that direction in an hours time,” said Dharmaraj.
Some hockey players posted on FB that it was really eerie as the Malaysian hockey team were on MH17 when they returned from the World Cup at the Hague, Netherlands.
Goalkeepers coach S. Nadarajan posted a picture of an old MH17 baggage tag on FaceBook and wrote: “We flew back after World Cup in that flight MH17 from Amsterdam on June 13th. Very sad for these people...”
The news rattled many players as they started to contact their family members before heading for Scotland.
Coach Dharmaraj’s men will open their Group B campaign against Canada on July 26 followed by England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
Defending champions Australia, India, Wales, South Africa and Scotland are in Group A.
At best, the men will advance to the semi-finals but a medal is out of their reach.
A total of 10 women’s teams are confirmed, and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against defending champions Australia on July 24.
Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
In Group B are Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Making up the numbers...
HOCKEY: 23 July- 3 August
VENUE: Glasgow National Hockey Centre
MEN -- 2010 HAUL: Eighth
2014 TARGET: No Target
SQUAD: Baljit Singh, Izwan Firdaus, Firhan Ashaari, Rashid Baharom, Razie Rahim, Ahmad Kazamirul, Faiz Helmi, Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Fitri Saari, Ramadhan Rosli, S. Selvaraju, Kevin Lim, Meor Azuan, Azri Hassan, Shazril Irwan Nazli, Shahril Saabah.
WOMEN -- 2010 HAUL: 10th
2014 TARGET: No Target
SQUAD: Nadia Abdul Rahman, Nuraini Rashid, Surizan Awang Noh, Norbaini Hashim, Fatin Shafika, Nurul Nabihah, Noor Hasliza Ali, Juliani Din, Robiatul Adawiyah, Raja Norsharina, Siti Noor Amarina, Siti Shahida, Norazlin Sumantri, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Farah Ayuni, Siti Noor Hafiza.
AUSTRALIA have a perfect record, winning the men’s hockey gold since the sport was introduced in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, and the Glasgow title is also theirs for the taking.
Malaysia, who finished 12th in the recent World Cup, will be represented by a motley crew of juniors and a handful of seniors who will be out to re-claim their spot in the Asian Games squad.
Players like Baljit Singh and S. Selvaraju will have to give their best if they want to impress coach K. Dharmaraj in his Asian Games selection.
Dharmaraj will be resting No 1 goalkeeper S. Kumar and only fielding one goalkeeper in Junior World Cup player Hafizuddin Othman.
The Games only allow 16 players to be registered, so the choices were limited: “We have selected a big number from the training pool to give them a chance t o show that they are capable of playing in the Asian Games.
“The Commonwealth Games does not offer ranking points, and all the other teams will also be fielding youth for the future,” said Dharmaraj.
The men will open their Group B campaign against Canada on July 26 followed by England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
Defending champions Australia, India, Wales, South Africa and Scotland are in Group A.
At best, the men will advance to the semi-finals but a medal is out of their reach.
As for the women, they are more confident after winning the gold medal at the Hockey World League Round One after beating Kazakhstan 5-0.
Two goals from Hasliza Ali Noor and a goal apiece by Nuraini Rashid, Nadia Rahman and Adawiyah Mohamed saw the Malaysians emerge as unbeaten champions — but the other teams who will be in Scotland are way above coach Nasihin Nubli’s players.
“We have selected experienced players for the Games, and hope to use it as a platform to improve our status in the Asian Games,” said Nasihin.
A total of 10 women’s teams are confirmed, and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against defending champions Australia on July 24.
Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
In Group B are Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.
The women’s best outing was sixth at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2006 Melbourne Games, while in New Delhi four years ago, they finished last in the 10-team competition.
VENUE: Glasgow National Hockey Centre
MEN -- 2010 HAUL: Eighth
2014 TARGET: No Target
SQUAD: Baljit Singh, Izwan Firdaus, Firhan Ashaari, Rashid Baharom, Razie Rahim, Ahmad Kazamirul, Faiz Helmi, Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Fitri Saari, Ramadhan Rosli, S. Selvaraju, Kevin Lim, Meor Azuan, Azri Hassan, Shazril Irwan Nazli, Shahril Saabah.
WOMEN -- 2010 HAUL: 10th
2014 TARGET: No Target
SQUAD: Nadia Abdul Rahman, Nuraini Rashid, Surizan Awang Noh, Norbaini Hashim, Fatin Shafika, Nurul Nabihah, Noor Hasliza Ali, Juliani Din, Robiatul Adawiyah, Raja Norsharina, Siti Noor Amarina, Siti Shahida, Norazlin Sumantri, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Farah Ayuni, Siti Noor Hafiza.
AUSTRALIA have a perfect record, winning the men’s hockey gold since the sport was introduced in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, and the Glasgow title is also theirs for the taking.
Malaysia, who finished 12th in the recent World Cup, will be represented by a motley crew of juniors and a handful of seniors who will be out to re-claim their spot in the Asian Games squad.
Players like Baljit Singh and S. Selvaraju will have to give their best if they want to impress coach K. Dharmaraj in his Asian Games selection.
Dharmaraj will be resting No 1 goalkeeper S. Kumar and only fielding one goalkeeper in Junior World Cup player Hafizuddin Othman.
The Games only allow 16 players to be registered, so the choices were limited: “We have selected a big number from the training pool to give them a chance t o show that they are capable of playing in the Asian Games.
“The Commonwealth Games does not offer ranking points, and all the other teams will also be fielding youth for the future,” said Dharmaraj.
The men will open their Group B campaign against Canada on July 26 followed by England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
Defending champions Australia, India, Wales, South Africa and Scotland are in Group A.
At best, the men will advance to the semi-finals but a medal is out of their reach.
As for the women, they are more confident after winning the gold medal at the Hockey World League Round One after beating Kazakhstan 5-0.
Two goals from Hasliza Ali Noor and a goal apiece by Nuraini Rashid, Nadia Rahman and Adawiyah Mohamed saw the Malaysians emerge as unbeaten champions — but the other teams who will be in Scotland are way above coach Nasihin Nubli’s players.
“We have selected experienced players for the Games, and hope to use it as a platform to improve our status in the Asian Games,” said Nasihin.
A total of 10 women’s teams are confirmed, and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against defending champions Australia on July 24.
Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
In Group B are Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.
The women’s best outing was sixth at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2006 Melbourne Games, while in New Delhi four years ago, they finished last in the 10-team competition.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Dharmaraj: If team a flop, sack me..
NATIONAL chief coach K. Dharmaraj believes his charges were not a total flop in the World Cup, and is ready to step down if the ongoing enquiries find them to be ‘a disaster’.
Malaysia finished at the bottom of the 12-team tournament without a win or a draw to show at the Hague, Netherlands.
“If the enquiry (headed by R. Yogeswaran) finds that Malaysia were a total disaster in the World Cup, they should also recommend to remove the chief coach, and I will gladly step down,” said Dharmaraj after naming a raw side for the Commonwealth Games.
Dharmaraj came about the conclusion because: “We qualified after 12 years (last played in 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup) and that itself was an achievement. And the players found it very tough, as after two matches they realised that the rest of the world has left them far behind.
“Yes we struggled, and did set a 10th finish target, but in reality, qualifying itself was a big milestone and now we should think about playing regularly in the World Cup, and move up the ranks slowly.
“Don’t demoralise the players further, as many of them are very young and after losing six matches (and letting in 26 goals) I am finding it very difficult to motivate them for the next two tournaments,” said Dharmaraj.
Sixteen players were named for the Commonwealth Games, with Baljit Singh and S. Selvaraju making a comeback.
Baljit did not play in the Azlan Shah Cup, the Champions Challenge 1 and also the World Cup this year.
“I have left out regulars as they are tired (while skipper Azlan Misron has quit) after playing in the World Cup, and fielded many from the training pool for the Commonwealth Games to test them ahead of the Asian Games selection.
“Scotland does not offer and ranking points, but the Asian Games does and there is also the ticket to the Olympics if we win it.”
The women’s team, who became champions in the World League Round 1 in Singapore by fielding youth, have picked their best for the Commonwealth Games with an eye to prepare for the Asian Games.
German-born Kevin Lim, who pulled a hamstring in a friendly match at the Hague before the World Cup, has not fully recovered yet but was also given the nod for the Commonwealth Games.
“We need to test him and see if he will be ready for the Asian Games,” said Dharmaraj.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHF) are still pondering over the selection of the assistant coach as well as manager.
At the Commonwealth Games, Malaysia will open their Group B campaign against Canada on July 26 followed by England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
Defending champions Australia, India, Wales, South Africa and Scotland are in Group A.
MEN: Baljit Singh, Izwan Firdaus, Firhan Ashaari, Rashid Baharom, Razie Rahim, Ahmad Kazamirul, Faiz Helmi, Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Fitri Saari, Ramadhan Rosli, S. Selvaraju, Kevin Lim, Meor Azuan, Azri Hassan, Shazril Irwan Nazli, Shahril Saabah.
WOMEN: Nadia Abdul Rahman, Nuraini Rashid, Surizan Awang Noh, Norbaini Hashim, Fatin Shafika, Nurul Nabihah, Noor Hasliza Ali, Juliani Din, Robiatul Adawiyah, Raja Norsharina, Siti Noor Amarina, Siti Shahida, Norazlin Sumantri, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Farah Ayuni, Siti Noor Hafiza.
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