Blooding National Juniors

THE National Juniors are shaping up well for the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), where coach K. Rajan will test his probable 2009 Junior World Cup charges.
The Division One will start on Oct 17, while the Division Two on Oct 10. The National Juniors will play as an outfit in the elite division, where the coach hopes to blood his players in the run-up to the Junior World Cup.
“The boys have been training during the fasting month, and their progress has been good. We have played as a team in the Razak Cup, and the MHL will be a crucial training ground for the (Junior) World Cup,” said Rajan.
The juniors will have their hands full playing against Ernst & Young, Sapura and Tenaga -- teams which have the majority of current and former national players.
“I have been working on their fitness, and will try out numerous tactics and our penalty corner variations in the MHL. It will be a good exposure for my boys to play against the best seniors in the country,” said Rajan.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) com petitions committee have decided that the MHL will be played on home-and-away format for Division One matches.
League champions Ernst and Young had proposed that teams play each other three times in the preliminary stage but lack of time did not permit it.
There will be three breaks during the MHL, to accom modate the Asia Champion Clubs tournament from Nov 14- 16, Pesta Penang from Nov 28-30 and the Asean University Games from Dec 17-21.
Six teams from Division One and two from Division Two will qualify for the knock-out quarter-finals.

Like a virgin, for the very first time...

By Jocelyn Syrstad

Collegian Staff Writer

AS sophomore midfielder Daneen Zug passed the ball to teammate Jessica Longstreth Wednesday against Princeton, a spray of water came up from the field when her stick slid across the surface.

However, it hadn't rained in State College in several days.

The Penn State field hockey team plays on an Astroturf field, which is an artificial or synthetic turf that is water-based. Before every game, and often during halftime, the maintenance crew at AstroTurf Field turns on two giant water hoses to soak down the field before the team competes on it.

Penn State coach Char Morett said watering the field helps athletes with their footing because the surface is spongy, meaning it will give and they won't get stuck in the turf. She also said the water helps prevent the ball from skipping, making all passes possible on the field.

"It sorta gives you the best of both worlds," Morett said. "You can do good, hard passes if that's what you're looking for, or you can pace the ball down the field because it's absorbing a little bit of water. This field allows you to do both because of the water."

The Nittany Lions play on the highest quality of Astroturf available to athletics, a Grade A turf or a regulation water-based turf. This is the only type of surface major field hockey events can be played on, such as the NCAA tournament and international matches.

Since the ball is usually on the ground in field hockey games, a smooth surface is required to keep the ball rolling. On a grass or field turf surface (which contains rubber pellets), the ball will get caught up in divots making the players come over the top of it when they try to make a pass. The smoothness of the turf accelerates the pace of the game as well.

"It's a lot faster," freshman midfielder Longstreth said. "Your stick moves a lot easier meaning you can hit balls quicker."

For the majority of the Penn State team, the first turf field they saw was at the collegiate level. Junior midfielder Amy Bonenberger said unless you played on a club team or your high school team made it to the playoffs, you played on a grass field. She said some fields she played on at the high school level were terrible, sometimes even in pastures full of weeds and dirt.

Morett said another advantage of playing on an Astroturf field is the team sees less injuries than they would playing on a more uneven surface. Since there are no divots, ankle rolls and torn ACLs are rarely seen.

However, the Lions said taking a fall is not as easy on turf as it is on grass. Bonenberger said when she or a teammate gets up from falling, it is not unlikely to find turf burns which are similar to rug burns. She said the burns sometimes sting, and the trainers have a special cream they put on the athletes' wounds before they bandage them up.

"Me and one other player have to wear knee pads on our knees because our turf burns keep reopening," Bonenberger said. "You can't play if you're bleeding, so we have to cover up our burns so we can still play."

The Lions aren't the only ones who are impressed with AstroTurf Field. Bob Hudzik, the Director of Outdoor Facilities, enjoys the little maintenance the field requires.

He said his department only needs to paint the field hockey lines once or twice a year, monitor the irrigation system and sweep off the field with a sweeper device on occasion.

In its fourth year of use, AstroTurf Field is "as true as you get," Morett said. In the future, she hopes to see improvements in the landscaping around the stadium, but she knows that will come with time.

"I am just grateful Penn State gave us the finances to get this high quality of surface to use," Morett said. "I mean, pros come in and they go, 'This is a gorgeous field, this is a great field.' "

Hashim will defend post

WHILE many aspirants and incumbents are keeping the cards close to their chests, Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary Sgt Hashim Yusoff declared yesterday that he will seek re-election, even if he gets only one nom ination.
The MHF elections will be held on Nov 1, with the nominations opening on Oct 3 and closing on Oct 25.
So far, president Tan Sri Admiral (rtd) Anwar Mohd Nor and deputy-president Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar have said they will seek re-election. But they have come to an agree ment wheres the person that gets the highest nomination for the president’s post, will become the next president.
But there might be a spanner in their plans, as Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad is also said to be keen, but has yet to make a stand.
“I will seek re-election (for the secretary’s post) even if I only get one nomination. The state delegates know who has worked and who has not for the past season, and I am sure they will make a right choice when nominating, and then marking the ballot papers,” said Hashim.
Hashim will be seeking his second term, after he toppled previous secretary T. Paramalingam in a straight fight in the last elections.
“I have sent out nomination papers to states, as the festive holidays are fast approaching and the standard procedure is for states to hold a meeting and name their candidates.
“And I hope states will check with the candidates before naming them, as nominating someone who does not want to stand for election will be a waste of time,” said Hashim.
And those who are nominated, but do not want to stand for elections, must withdraw before Oct 29, as MHF needs time to prepare ballot papers.
The states are abuzz with many aspirants and incumbents coming out with their choice of names for the MHF ‘cabinet’, and secret meetings and phone calls have already started, even though it is still a long way to the elections.
“I will be the least surprised if some states name chal lengers to the top two positions, or the vice-presidents.
“We practice democracy at the MHF, and our elections have always been fair to those who have put in the hours, or those who can come out with a sound manifesto,” said Hashim.
There are six vice-president’s posts in the MHF, with four up for elections, while Sabah and Sarawak get a choice to name theirs.

Ranjit ready to battle Tunku Majid

By K. Kandiah
nstsport@nst.com.my

THE Penang State Hockey Association (PSHA) has called on the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) to address the issues at hand and not to sweep it under the carpet.
A fuming PSHA secretary Ranjit Singh said the one-man show and the dictatorship in MHF should be put to rest immediately or else the sport, where Malaysia was once the fourth best in the world, would go down the drain.
During Saturday's council meeting Ranjit, via a letter, wanted to know as to who had approved the 2007 Champions Trophy and who had agreed to cater the food cost which totaled RM47,000 for the 10-day tournament.
The outspoken PSHA secretary also questioned as to why the finance committee was not informed that participating teams were offered free food and lodging for the Champions trophy.
Ranjit claimed that the MHF ended up burdened with a RM1.5 million bill.
MHF became the first and only country to have offered free food and lodging to participating teams in the history of the Champions Trophy tournament, which was a fatal mistake.
MHF deputy president Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar was furious after the meeting and had said that he would instruct his lawyers to sue Ranjit, who is also MHF council member, for deformation.
Apparently, Tunku Majid had also said that he was the son of a State Ruler and that he does not tolerate all these.
Ranjit said: "with due respect to the Johor Sultan and the royalty, anyone who chose to associate with NGO's or sports organisations should not only be prepared to work but should also be prepared to accept criticism.
"If Tunku Majid cannot tolerate this, then it was best that he remained at his palace and not disrupt hockey".
He said what PSHA did was to highlight the abuse of the MHF funds and questioned the rational behind the single person who approved it.
"PSHA is still waiting for answers for the Champions Trophy fiasco.
"PSHA will go all out to make sure that Tunku Majid does not win any posts at the MHF, directly or indirectly.
"PSHA is doing this to save hockey in the country," said Ranjit who had decided to take the `bull by its horns'.
Meanwhile, PSHA deputy president Datuk Mary Ritchie told Timesport that Ranjit had briefed her on the Sept 20 MHF council meeting and would also brief the PSHA council during its meeting.
She also said that she was aware of Tunku Majid's threat to sue him.
Mary, dubbed the `Iron Lady of Hockey', said PSHA would decide the next course of action, including counter suing.

Tengku Abdullah open for nominations

By T.N. Alagesh
nstsport@nst.com.my

TENGKU Abdullah Sultan Ahmad (pic), in denying that he is a candidate for the post of Malaysian Hockey Federation president, has not ruled out accepting nominations.
The former FA of Malaysia deputy president, responding to a newspaper report, said he had been contacted by an individual who wanted to know whether Tengku Abdullah was interested in the post.
Tengku Abdullah’s reply was that he wanted to know more about MHF before making a decision.
“Other than the individual contacting me, I have not spoken to anyone about going for the post of MHF president,” said Tengku Abdullah in Kuantan late on Wednesday.
“However, if there are some who feel that I can be considered for the post, I suggest they meet me.
“I will then decide about it. However, I must have the support and also the views from others before making such a move.
“The nomination date is still a long way away. I may decide when it gets closer.”
Nominations open on Oct 3 and close on Oct 25 with election on Nov 1.
The same newspaper report also quoted MHF president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Anwar Mohd Nor and his deputy Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar as saying they would not contest the president’s post if Tengku Abdullah goes for it.
Tengku Abdullah said he does want to be seen as interfering in MHF’s affairs.
“The leadership should be chosen through a democratic process so no one needs to fight for the president’s post.
“If one feels he is capable of leading the association, then he should step forward and offer himself to take the lead.”
Tengku Abdullah said his interest in hockey is due to its potential.
“It is a popular sport and it has the potential to reach a higher level on the international stage.”
With Tengku Abdullah sending confusing signals and Anwar and Tunku Majid having an agreement whereby the candidate with the highest number of nominations winning the president’s post uncontested, the coming weeks promise to be interesting.