Lessons from Cikgu Shukri...

CIKGU Shukri Mutalib has set his mind to lead Malaysia into another promising battle against India on Wednesday in the Asian Champions Trophy at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
  A teacher by profession, the national hockey skipper and his men have so far scored three 'As' by beating Pakistan 4-2, China 5-1 and Japan 7-2 to check into the semi-finals.
  With two more matches in hand, which could turn out to be the most difficult, Shukri is confident he can lead his men to victories.
  "We still have to face India and then South Korea to complete our pool matches and I believe my team-mates can overcome whatever obstacles that come their way," said Shukri.
  Interestingly, Shukri treats his mates as 'students' when it comes to handling them on the pitch.
  "I am used to handling a large number of students with many more issues and problems in school. In hockey I only have 17 players to take charge and it is much easier as they are a disciplined lot."
  Even though Malaysia have scored a total of 16 goals in three matches, but they have also let in five silly goals and look especially vulnerable in the last five minutes of every match.
  "Against Japan, we were leading 7-0 and I felt that it was a moment to utilise my substitutes and I replaced goalkeeper S. Kumar and all the first choice defenders and fielded my reserves.
  "Well, it was a good chance to give them some match practice ahead of the India and Korea matches. Even though it resulted in two goals in two minutes, I believe we have a strong bench to rely upon," insisted coach Stephen van Huizen.
  Just like planning for lessons and motivating his students in class, Shukri has also been encouraging his mates, and parting information he picks up from watching other teams play.
  "The most encouraging sign in this present team is that all the players are not selfish, especially the strikers. They are playing for the glory of Malaysia and not self pride. This can be seen in the passing done in the semi-circle, before goals are scored.
  "One example is the three passes that led to Fazal Shaari blasting the ball to the top of the Japan net. It took real good understanding and unselfishness to achieve that goal.
  Things are looking up for Malaysia, and now they must play two more pool to make the country proud, by finishing tops in the pool and play the fourth-placed team in the semi-finals.
  RESULTS: South Korea 5 China 3.
  TUESDAY: Pakistan v Japan (6.30pm), India v China (8.30pm).
  WEDNESDAY: South Korea v Japan (6.30pm), Malaysia v India (8.30pm).

STANDINGS


         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
MALAYSIA 3  3  0  0  16 5  9
INDIA    3  2  1  0  14 5  7
S. KOREA 3  1  1  1  6  5  4
PAKISTAN 3  1  0  2  5  7  3
CHINA    3  1  0  2  6  11 3
JAPAN    3  0  0  3  5  19 0

Malaysia hammer Japan 7-2 for semis slot...

MALAYSIA qualified for the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy with two matches in hand when they beat Japan 7-2 at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium Sunday.
  It was a third straight victory for coach Stephen van Huizen's men as they had beaten defending champions Pakistan 4-2 and China 5-1 earlier.
  In another match yesterday, India beat Pakistan 3-2 in a close encounter and with seven points after three matches, India are also mathematically in the semi-finals in this six-team tournament.
  "We have achieved out first target which was to qualify for the semi-finals of the ACT. Japan defended well in the first quarter, but after Aiman cracked open their goalmouth, they had to move forward and that was when we got our chances to score more goals," said van Huizen.
  And after this Malaysia will rest for two days before playing India on Wednesday and South Korea on Thursday.
  "The rest will be used for recovery as well as tactical purposes. Both India and South Korea look like the teams to beat in this tournament and we need to play much better than we did in the previous three matches to win points," said van Huizen.
  After making the semi-finals, Malaysia's next target should be topping the table at the end of the pool matches, as the No 1 team plays No 4, while the No 2 team plays No 3 in the semi-finals.
  The crowd came by droves to watch Malaysia maul Japan, but the first quarter ended uneventful as the hosts failed to find a single penalty corner, and the goal which they scored was disallowed.
  Japan, who had lost to India 10-2 and China 2-1, played a defensive game by camping in their own half and only opening up for counter attacks.
  But they finally cracked in the 23rd minute, when Aiman Nik Rosemi shot home from close range.
  The goal opened up the match, and with Japan chasing for the equaliser, they were hit with another world class deflection from Rashid Baharom in the 27th minute.
  A long shot from Najmi Farizal, from the 25-yard line, saw Rashid deflecting it past goalkeeper Kunitomo Masahito for a 2-0 lead entering into the dressing room.
  The other goals came easy with super efforts from Nabil Fiqri (33rd), Faizal Shaari (37th, 59th), Firhan Ashaari (44th) and Fitri Shaari (58th).
  The Japan goals were scored by Kenji Kitazato (59th) and Kentaro Fukuda (60th).
  RESULTS: India 3 Pakistan 2, Malaysia 7 Japan 2.
  MONDAY: South Korea v China (6.30pm).
  TUESDAY: Pakistan v Japan (6.30pm), India v China (8.30pm).

STANDINGS


         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
MALAYSIA 3  3  0  0  16 5  9
INDIA    3  2  1  0  14 5  7
PAKISTAN 3  1  0  2  5  7  3
CHINA    2  1  0  1  3  6  3
S. KOREA 2  0  1  1  1  2  1
JAPAN    3  0  0  3  5  19 0

Everything points to a Malaysian victory...

RESULTS: India 1 South Korea 1, China 2 Japan 1.

THE last time Malaysia played Japan in a four-match Test series in Kakamigahara in June, coach Stephen van Huizen's men were whipped beyond recognition.
  Both the teams will meet again in the Asian Champions Trophy Saturday at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
  Malaysia are on a high after beating defending champions Pakistan 4-2 and China 5-1, and a win against Japan will place them in the ACT semi-finals.
  Coach Stephen van Huizen has his full squad in Kuantan, unlike in Kakamigahara where seven regulars could not make the trip and they lost 5-1, 3-1, 4-3 and drew 1-1 in the Test.
  Japan, on the other hand, were whipped 10-2 by India in their opening ACT match.
  The seven regulars who did not make the trip to Kakamigahara but are in Kuantan are goalkeeper S. Kumar, Faiz Helmi, Shahril Saabah, Fitri Shaari, Faizal Shaari, Razie Rahim and Nabil Fiqri.
  "We know the stakes are high against Japan as a win will see us in the semi-finals with two matches (South Korea and India) in hand. We have had two good matches, and even though Japan did not start off well, we can't take them lightly," said Van Huizen.
  Skipper Shukri Mutalib was also realistic.
  "There were moments in both the matches when we almost lost the script after taking leads and we will need to improve in that department. We took the lead against Pakistan but let them claw back, and I am particularly not happy with the way we played in the last five minutes against China," said Shukri, who made his debut as in the 2005 Rotterdam Junior World Cup.
  There was no rest for the players yesterday, as they plotted Japan's defeat.
  "Video's of Japan's matches as well as other information will be passed to the players so that they know what to expect tomorrow (today). And taking them lightly just because they lost 10-2 to India would be disastrous," said Van Huizen.
  Japan coach Yamabori Takahiko is down without four players, and knows Malaysia has a full battery for the ACT.
  "Yes, we won comfortably in Kakamigahara, but then, Malaysia did not have seven regulars. And in Kuantan, we do not have four of our senior players and it would be a different game. However, we have our plans to rise from the heavy defeat in the hands of India," said Yamabori.  Malaysia have been doing just enough for full points, but they need to improve on their semi-circle shooting to beat Japan comfortably, and they go for maximum points against South Korea and tournament favourites India.
  RESULTS: India 1 South Korea 1, China 2 Japan 1.
  SATURDAY: India v Pakistan (6.30pm), Malaysia v Japan (8.30pm).
  SUNDAY: South Korea v China (6.30pm).
  

STANDINGS


         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
MALAYSIA 2  2  0  0  9  3  6
INDIA    2  1  1  0  11 3  4
PAKISTAN 2  1  0  1  3  4  3
CHINA    2  1  0  1  3  6  3
S. KOREA 2  0  1  1  1  2  1
JAPAN    2  0  0  2  3  12 0

Malaysia beat China 5-1

MALAYSIA, wearing an all-white outfit, were not clinical but still beat China 5-1 to move closer to the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan Friday.
  Coach Stephen van Huizen, elated with the three points, agreed that there are areas that need improvement.
  "We got the three points, and even though the team has been scoring more from penalty corner rebounds in two matches, I'm happy cos they are still goals.
  "I understand that China are a young team, but the pressure was not on them and so they played calmly," said van Huizen.
  China coach Song Yi is looking at the next four years to groom his side.
 "We played in the national championships two weeks before the ACT and selected a young side because we are looking for results in four years time. The scoreline was big, but my players can play better but did not perform against Malaysia," said Song.
  Razie Rahim, the No 1 penalty corner flicker could not execute powerful flicks, but they were on target and Haziq Samsul made the rebounds count.
  Haziq scored off penalty corner rebounds in the sixth and 20th minutes, while Fitri Shaari's world class field goal in the 22nd minute gave coach Stephen van Huizen's men some breathing space going into the half-time break.
  China pulled one back off Wang Bowen in the 33rd minute, but Shahril Saabah scored off a penalty corner attempt in the 37th minute to take a three-goal lead again.
  Goalkeeper S. Kumar played one of his beat game yet, as he pulled off stunning saves to deny China.
  Firhan Ashaari made it 5-1 with a penalty corner rebound in the 54th minute.
  After a days rest, Malaysia play Japan and a win would ensure their semi-finals slot.
  In another match, Pakistan edged South Korea 1-0 with a last minute penalty corner goal scored by Abdul Khan.
  RESULTS: Pakistan 1 South Korea 0, Malaysia 5 China 1.
  SATURDAY: India v South Korea (6.30pm), China v Japan (8.30pm).
  SUNDAY: India v Pakistan (6.30pm), Malaysia v Japan (8.30pm).


STANDINGS


         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
MALAYSIA 2  2  0  0  9  3  6
INDIA    1  1  0  0  10 2  3
PAKISTAN 2  1  0  1  3  4  3
S. KOREA 1  0  0  1  0  1  0
CHINA    1  0  0  1  1  5  0
JAPAN    1  0  0  1  2  10 0

Good start for Malaysia...

MALAYSIA sang in the rain, when they beat defending champions Pakistan 4-2 in the Asian Champions Trophy at the Kuantan Stadium Thursday.

  Faizal Shaari, who returned to the national squad after serving his six-month ban and service with the back-up squad, scored a penalty stroke and a field goal to hand Malaysia the crucial win.

  The first quarter was shaky, as Malaysia and Pakistan both played bad hockey and the crowd were almost put to sleep,

  However, when the rain came pouring and stopped the match for 10 minutes, Malaysia regrouped and came out looking fresh in attack -- winning three crucial points in their attempt to finish higher than three consecutive bronze medals in the ACT.

 Coach Stephen van Huizen's men lived dangerously, and three goals after the second half breather is what separated them from Pakistan.

  They face China today, in what is expected to be another three points in the bag.

  "The rain came at the right moment and my players regrouped and put up a good fight in the opening match even though Pakistan are never easy to beat," said Van Huizen.

  "Penalty corners are our strongest in this tournament, and we utilised those that came our way. As for Faizal his goals made the difference but there is still much work to be done form him before he becomes what he was in previous years," said Van Huizen.

  And China?: "We expect another good match, and even though they are a new side, nothing can be taken for granted tomorrow (today)."

  Malaysia, with six penalty corner flickers in their fold, won their first in the 12th minute but Razie Rahim's flick was blocked by the first runner and they were awarded a consecutive second.

  This time, Razie was on target but the ball was deflected out for pusher Firhan Ashaari to knock in from close range for a 13th minute lead.

  However Aleem Bilal, 23, and into his first International with the seniors, scored two penalty corner goals in the 18th and 34th minutes to put the pressure on the hosts.

  It was then that the match was stopped for 10 minutes as the rain lashed heavier and flooded the pitch.

  And after resumption, two consecutive rough tackles by Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Butt on youngster Aiman Nik Rosemi in the 36th, resulted in a penalty stroke after a video referral.

  Faizal Shaari executed a low push from the spot, and Malaysia were level at 2-2 by the 37th minute.

  Malaysia were presented with a golden opportunity when they won their fifth penalty corner in the 41st minute, and Shahril Saabah's attempt made it 3-2.

  The fourth goal came off a botched sixth penalty corner under pouring rain, which was salvaged by a powerful hit to the top of the net by Faizal in the 60th minute, for his brace.

  RESULTS: Malaysia 4 Pakistan 2, India 10 Japan 2.

  FRIDAY: Pakistan v South Korea (6.30pm), Malaysia v China (8.30pm).

  SATURDAY: India v South Korea (6.30pm), China v Japan (8.30pm).

STANDINGS

         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

INDIA    1  1  0  0  10  2  3

MALAYSIA 1  1  0  0  4  2  3

PAKISTAN 1  0  0  1  2  4  0

JAPAN    1  0  0  1  0  10  0

CHINA    0  0  0  0  0  0  0

S. KOREA 0  0  0  0  0  0  0