Saturday, December 19, 2015

MHC prepare to bounce back...

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are on full throttle to make amends on two major disappointments, by formulating a comprehensive programme to take Malaysia back into the international arena.
  Missing out on the Olympics and Junior World Cup by a hair's margin, the MHC is ready to rise from ashes by naming a flurry of coaches to helm the men's and women's as well as development coaches.
  "We have placed the disappointments of sitting out of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the Junior World Cup at the back of our minds and will be looking forward positively to make sure we are not in the same boat again," said MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.
  The list of coaches were drawn out by the Coaching Committee chaired by Datuk Ow Soon Kooi, and endorsed by the MHC Executive Board yesterday.
  The senior team will be helmed by Stephen van Huizen, while the notable changes were K. Dharmaraj named as women's coach while Arul Selvaraj will assist Wallace Tan in the development side.
  "Financially we have almost met our target of erasing our RM2.9 million debt (from eight months ago) to RM500,000 and hopefully in the next few months we will settle that amount as well.
  "And with our new development blueprint, I am confident that Malaysia will be back in the world cups (junior and senior) and 2020 Olympics.
  "I had said that I will resign as MHC president if Malaysia does not qualify for the 2020 Olympics, but after looking at the development print, I am confident I will not have to call it a day," said Subahan.
  The 'easiest' path to the Olympics would be to win gold at the Asian Games: "That would be our target from today, as even Technical Director Terry Walsh is confident we have the players to play in the Asian Games final, and hopefully lay our hands on the gold."
  Former national goalkeepers Nasihin Nubli, Roslan Jamaluddin and M. Nadarajan also have specific duties lined up.
  "The goalkeeping department was one of the reasons we failed at the World League Semi-finals and Junior Asia Cup and I believe with a concerted effort from our goalkeeping staff, we will be able to have a bigger pool soon to rectify that department," said Subahan.
  Malaysia lost 3-2 to India after leading 2-1 in the World League quarter-finals and missed out on the Olympics, while in the Junior Asia Cup quarter-finals, Malaysia were leading South Korea 3-1 but lost wind in the last three minutes to be held 3-3 and then lose 4-1 in the shoot-out.
  Coaching chairman Soon Kooi said coaches reports on both the tournaments attributed the defeats to players not being of sound tactical minds to hold the ball and play in a wider area of the field after taking a lead. This area will, again, be emphasised by the present batch of coaches.
  COACHING STAFF: Men -- Senior: Chief Coach: Stephen van Huizen; Assistant: Lim Chiow Chuan; Goalkeeper Coach Overall: Nasihin Nubli; Attachment: Madzli Ikmar.
  Development Squad: Chief Coach: Wallace Tan; Assistant: Arul Selvaraj; Attachment: Amin Rahim.
  Project 2020: Manager: Nor Saiful Zaini; Attachment: Mohamed Sufian.
  1Mas: Chief Coach: S. Velappan; Assistants: Nor Harmezi Omar, Shahzan Amir.
  Junior Goalkeeper Development Coach: M. Nadarajan.
  Women: Chief Coach: K. Dharmaraj; Assistants: Lailin Abu Hassan, A. Kannagi; Goalkeepers Coach: Roslan Jamaluddin.
  Development Squad: Chief Coach: K. Gobinathan; Assistant: Leo Vincey; Attachment: Nor Saliza Ahmad.
  Project 2020: Manager: Lailin Abu Hassan; Attachment: Catherine Lambok.
  1Mas: Chief Coach: Yahya Atan; Assistant: Nuriza Sulaiman.

New MHC Coaching Set-up

  MHC COACHING STAFF: Men -- Senior: Chief Coach: Stephen van Huizen; Assistant: Lim Chiow Chuan; Goalkeeper Coach Overall: Nasihin Nubli; Attachment: Madzli Ikmar.
  Development Squad: Chief Coach: Wallace Tan; Ass: Arul Selvaraj; Attachment: Amin Rahim.
  Project 2020: Manager: Nor Saiful Zaini; Attachment: Mohamed Sufian.
  1Mas: Chief Coach: S. Velappan; Assistants: Nor Harmezi Omar, Shahzan Amir.
  Junior Goalkeeper Development Coach: M. Nadarajan.
  Women: Chief Coach: K. Dharmaraj; Assistants: Lailin Abu Hassan, A. Kannagi; Goalkeepers Coach: Roslan Jamaluddin.
  Development Squad: Chief Coach: K. Gobinathan; Assistant: Leo Vincey; Attachment: Nor Saliza Ahmad.
  Project 2020: Manager: Lailin Abu Hassab; Attachment: Catherine Lambok.
  1Mas: Chief Coach: Yahya Atan; Assistant: Nuriza Sulaiman.

Faizal and Syamim banned six months

PIC: Faizal (right) and Syamim.

THE Disciplinary Board only gave a stern warning to Faizal Shaari and Syamim Yusof for not attending national training with valid reasons, but the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) Executive board were hell-bent on sending out a message to laggards.
  The MHC EB, which met yesterday, immediately endorsed a code of conduct which bars players referred to the DB for six months from national training.
  "I was taken aback by the DB's decision to only hand a stern warning to Faizal and Syamin for skipping national training since October. The EB was of the same opinion and endorsed a proposal to ban players who are referred to the DB for six months.
  "With this, the players code of conduct will see both the players out of national training for six months. We also took into consideration feed back from coaches Stephen van Huizen and Technical Director Terry Walsh that both the players will not be able to come back into the training squad at this juncture, because the other trainees are far ahead in their fitness training," said MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.
  Faizal and Syamin failed to answer national training call-up and will not be considered for the Azlan Shah Cup in April, but can still play with their clubs.
  The MHC DB is chaired by Assistant Commissioner Datuk Adnan Abdullah, and its members are Datuk Arthur Edmonds, Datuk G. Vijayanathan and former national players Awtar Singh Grewal and R. Shanker.
  Even though the senior and junior national teams do not have any major FIH international assignments next year, they will be playing in the Azlan Shah Cup, the Sultan of Johor Cup and the Asian Champions Trophy which Malaysia have placed a bid to host at the end of 2016.

Olak-PKT offers complete package

OLD La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak)-PKT Tigers have attracted 10 players from Sabah for their Junior Hockey League selections on Dec 21 in Kuala Kumpur.
  Even though Olak finished eight out of nine teams in in Division One of the JHL last season, their benefits are took good to turn away.
  "We have had many enquiries from around Malaysia to play for Olak, including 10 players who will arrive from Saban for the trials. I have seen five of them before and invited them for the trials, but the other five are footing their own bill to attend trials," said Olak team manager Joseph de Silva.
  Among the benefits of turning up for the club, which has been around since the JHL was incepted in 1995, are allownaces, scholarships and job opportunities.
  "Our sponsors, PKT Logistics have offices located in Klang, Penang, Sungai Petani and Kuantan and can provide employment to players who need it. We also offer scholarships to study as we care for our players future well being," said De Silva.
  Olak were in deep cash problems a few years back, but the club was saved when PKT Logistics chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Michael Tio came in with the cash.
  The Olak one day trials will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium on Dec 21 from 5pm-8pm to select players for the Under-19 league.
  The JHL is slated to start at the end of January, with team registrations closing on Monday.
  However, even though the new season is just around the corner, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have yet to give out the RM3,000 subsidy per team promised before the start of last season.
  "Yes, teams have yet to receive the RM3,000 promised subsidy from last season but I was told that we will receive it when we send in our entries on Monday," said De Silva.
  For details, contact Joseph (019-6491927) or D. Pandian (016-9960421).