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).
Saturday, April 26, 2014
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).
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).
Sunday, April 20, 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Endless possibilities with Dharmaraj..
THE coach with a Midas touch.
K. Dharmaraj's brave-heart attitude has seen his charges win the Sultan of Johor Cup, the Junior Asia Cup and finally the national juniors graduated to finish fourth in the Junior World Cup in New Delhi last December.
And when he was promoted to the position of senior coach after Paul Revington gave up, he found himself plagued with injury problems and a host of other problems from outside which made his task of selecting a squad for the Azlan Shah Cup almost a nightmare.
Some quarters had questioned his choice of naming seven uncapped players from the Junior World Cup side for the Azlan Shah Cup, as they claimed it might just flush the millions spent to organise the tournament down the drain.
But in reality, Dharmaraj never had a choice, as regular goalkeepers S. Kumar and Roslan Jamaluddin are injured.
So he had to name Junior World Cup goalkeepers Hafizuddin Othman and Faiz Hazrul.
Also on the injury list are regular defenders Baljit Singh and Razie Rahim, who is also Malaysia's best penalty corner flicker, and with another handful of experienced players showing fatigue and aging legs, Dharmaraj brought in another five uncapped players who helped Malaysia finish fourth in New Delhi.
The five who deserve a standing ovation are Azri Hassan, Meor Azuan Hasan, Rashid Baharom, Shahril Saabah, Shazril Irwan.
"I had no choice but to take a gamble and field a big number of youth in my first assignment with the senior side, and the boys showed they have guts, and together with the regulars, they only lost to Australia.
"Now I have a bigger pool to choose from for the Champions Challenge, World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games," said Dharmaraj.
Australia are Malaysia's opening match opponents in the World Cup.
"Playing them twice in Ipoh was a chance of a lifetime as we prepare for the World Cup, where (No 13) Malaysia must strive to finish in the top-10 bracket to improve our world ranking."
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) had set a quarter-final target for the Junior World Cup last year, yet the team made the semis and finished fourth. For the Azlan Shah Cup, the MHC target was bronze but the team won silver.
And nobody would be surprised if Malaysia finish No 10 in the World Cup as the major difference between Dharmaraj and his predecessors is the word 'attack' as compared to 'defend'.
In the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup, this scribe had interviewed German coach Bernhard Peters and asked him how did he change the fortunes of his team from finishing fifth in the 2000 Olympics, to world champions two years later and the answer was 'attack'.
Peters had then said: "I have the same players who played in the Sydney Olympics. The previous coach told them to defend and they finished fifth, and when I told them to play attacking hockey, they won the World Cup."
This is what Dharmaraj is striving to do.
K. Dharmaraj's brave-heart attitude has seen his charges win the Sultan of Johor Cup, the Junior Asia Cup and finally the national juniors graduated to finish fourth in the Junior World Cup in New Delhi last December.
And when he was promoted to the position of senior coach after Paul Revington gave up, he found himself plagued with injury problems and a host of other problems from outside which made his task of selecting a squad for the Azlan Shah Cup almost a nightmare.
Some quarters had questioned his choice of naming seven uncapped players from the Junior World Cup side for the Azlan Shah Cup, as they claimed it might just flush the millions spent to organise the tournament down the drain.
But in reality, Dharmaraj never had a choice, as regular goalkeepers S. Kumar and Roslan Jamaluddin are injured.
So he had to name Junior World Cup goalkeepers Hafizuddin Othman and Faiz Hazrul.
Also on the injury list are regular defenders Baljit Singh and Razie Rahim, who is also Malaysia's best penalty corner flicker, and with another handful of experienced players showing fatigue and aging legs, Dharmaraj brought in another five uncapped players who helped Malaysia finish fourth in New Delhi.
The five who deserve a standing ovation are Azri Hassan, Meor Azuan Hasan, Rashid Baharom, Shahril Saabah, Shazril Irwan.
"I had no choice but to take a gamble and field a big number of youth in my first assignment with the senior side, and the boys showed they have guts, and together with the regulars, they only lost to Australia.
"Now I have a bigger pool to choose from for the Champions Challenge, World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games," said Dharmaraj.
Australia are Malaysia's opening match opponents in the World Cup.
"Playing them twice in Ipoh was a chance of a lifetime as we prepare for the World Cup, where (No 13) Malaysia must strive to finish in the top-10 bracket to improve our world ranking."
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) had set a quarter-final target for the Junior World Cup last year, yet the team made the semis and finished fourth. For the Azlan Shah Cup, the MHC target was bronze but the team won silver.
And nobody would be surprised if Malaysia finish No 10 in the World Cup as the major difference between Dharmaraj and his predecessors is the word 'attack' as compared to 'defend'.
In the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup, this scribe had interviewed German coach Bernhard Peters and asked him how did he change the fortunes of his team from finishing fifth in the 2000 Olympics, to world champions two years later and the answer was 'attack'.
Peters had then said: "I have the same players who played in the Sydney Olympics. The previous coach told them to defend and they finished fifth, and when I told them to play attacking hockey, they won the World Cup."
This is what Dharmaraj is striving to do.
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