THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) finally put to rest the coaching ‘dispute’ when they decided yesterday to forget about their hunt for a foreign coach, and rely on locals until the 2012 London Olympics.
And the chosen one is Stephen van Huizen, with Tai Beng Hai assisting him.
“I would like to put to rest the issue about coaching by saying that the MHF council had endorsed Stephen as chief coach and Beng Hai as his assistant until the London Olympics.
“We will no longer look for a foreign coach until that period,” said MHF president Tunku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah after the council meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The foreigner on MHF’s mind was Netherlands Roelant Oltmans, but he already has a two year contract with a Dutch clubside.
“This two coaches will handle the team for the Azlan Shah Cup next month, and then the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
“And what we are looking is to improve our world ranking. We were 16th before the World Cup Qualifier last year and after reaching the final, we have been elevated to 14th.
“It is a good step towards achieving our target of breaking into the top-ten in the world,” said Tengku Abdullah.
There was a hectic discussion on the coaching committee’s role in MHF, as many felt that it had the absolute power to appoint coaches, while others felt it only had the right to nominate names for the council to decide on.
“We will amend the MHF constitution soon to clear some grey areas so that the daily running and responsibilities of the various committees will be more clearly defined,” said Tengku Abdullah.
Meanwhile, SM Teknik Klang pulled out of the JUnior Hockey League (JHL) starting on April 9, and now there will be nine teams in Division One and Nine in Division Two.
The national women’s team will be playing in Division One for the first time, and if they win the title, they will be eligible for the prize money as well.
The National Sports Council and Milo are the core sponsors for the JHL.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Hot prelude to Sunday final
EIGHTEEN-time champions Kuala Lumpur took Perak to the wire before bowing out 3-2 in the final Division One Razak Cup match at the Kuantan Stadium yesterday.
RESULTS: Division One: Armed Forces 3 Negri 2, Perak 3 Kuala Lumpur 2, Penang 0 Malacca 1.
Division Two: Brunei 0 Terengganu 7, Pahang 7 Perlis 2.
TODAY: Division Two semi-finals: Singapore v Terengganu (5pm), Pahang v Police (7pm).
Both matches at Pitch I of the Kuantan Stadium.
FINAL STANDINGS
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
PERAK 6 6 0 0 15 4 18
K LUMPUR 6 4 1 1 18 6 13
JOHOR 6 3 1 2 11 10 10
MALACCA 6 2 1 4 2 7 7
PENANG 6 2 0 4 10 15 6
NEGRI 6 1 1 4 8 12 4
FORCES 6 1 0 5 8 19 3
DIVISION TWO
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pt
SINGAPORE 4 4 0 0 19 3 12
POLICE 4 2 1 1 10 9 7
KELANTAN 4 2 1 1 10 11 7
SABAH 4 1 0 3 5 14 3
KEDAH 4 0 0 4 1 10 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pt
PAHANG 4 3 1 0 22 6 10
TERENGGANU 4 2 1 1 18 9 7
SELANGOR 4 2 1 1 13 8 7
PERLIS 4 1 1 2 9 12 4
BRUNEI 4 0 0 4 0 27 0
RESULTS: Division One: Armed Forces 3 Negri 2, Perak 3 Kuala Lumpur 2, Penang 0 Malacca 1.
Division Two: Brunei 0 Terengganu 7, Pahang 7 Perlis 2.
TODAY: Division Two semi-finals: Singapore v Terengganu (5pm), Pahang v Police (7pm).
Both matches at Pitch I of the Kuantan Stadium.
FINAL STANDINGS
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
PERAK 6 6 0 0 15 4 18
K LUMPUR 6 4 1 1 18 6 13
JOHOR 6 3 1 2 11 10 10
MALACCA 6 2 1 4 2 7 7
PENANG 6 2 0 4 10 15 6
NEGRI 6 1 1 4 8 12 4
FORCES 6 1 0 5 8 19 3
DIVISION TWO
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pt
SINGAPORE 4 4 0 0 19 3 12
POLICE 4 2 1 1 10 9 7
KELANTAN 4 2 1 1 10 11 7
SABAH 4 1 0 3 5 14 3
KEDAH 4 0 0 4 1 10 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pt
PAHANG 4 3 1 0 22 6 10
TERENGGANU 4 2 1 1 18 9 7
SELANGOR 4 2 1 1 13 8 7
PERLIS 4 1 1 2 9 12 4
BRUNEI 4 0 0 4 0 27 0
The Oltmans saga continues
T. N. Alagesh
nstsport@nst.com.my
Tengku Abdullah said the confirmation that Oltmans' services were almost secured was made by another party and the decision did not come from MHF.
He said MHF had included Oltmans as among the potential candidates and at the same time, the association had also a list of several other names of coaches from Europe and Australia.
"At the moment nothing is concrete, but the MHF council on Saturday will discuss in depth about the selected coach.
"We will also look into the salary payment methods as we are currently trying to secure sponsors after the National Sports Council (NSC) assured us they will support half of the wages," he said at the Sukpa Hockey Stadium after watching the Razak Cup Division Two match between Pahang and Selangor in Kuantan yesterday.
Former Netherlands coach Oltmans was recently the subject of much talk after he was said to have been chosen as the national coach.
Currently, locals Tai Beng Hai and Stephen van Huizen are coaching the national team, with the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh on May 6-16 their next assignment.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Nor Saiful: National players jaded
FORMER national skipper Nor Saiful Zaini, who is coaching Kuala Lumpur in the Razak Cup, feels the standard of national players in the tournament is cause for worry.
Nor Saiful has six national players under his charge, and he feels they have not been performing up to par.
“National players, in my days, did not need to be instructed by a coach in the Razak Cup as they have played at the highest level including the Olympics and the World Cup.
“But today, I feel this tournament has reached a new low because even the national players in all the teams needed to be prodded and told what to do,” said Nor Saiful.
KL and Perak have qualified for the Division One final on Sunday, with one pool match against each other to complete today.
“I personally feel national players have not shown their true potential in this tournament yet, and there might be a few factors contributing to this.
“First of all, they just finished playing in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) and look like they needed a break, but were forced to play for their states in the Razak Cup.
“And then, I also feel that their heart is not in this tournament, and they would be rather be on a holiday after a tough MHL and then national training sessions,” said Nor Saiful.
On his last pool match against Perak: “I will not be pushing my players as they might pick up injuries or cards and make it more difficult for KL to lift the title.
“But then again, I would not want then to lose badly, as I want to keep their spirits high. Rightly said, this last en counter would be a warm-up for my charges before we attempt our 20th title charge,” said or Saiful.
RESULTS: GROUP A : Kedah 0 Sabah 2, Kelantan 3 Police 3; GROUP B: Perlis 2 Terengganu 2, Pahang 1 Selangor 1.
TODAY: Division One: Armed Forces v Negri (3pm), Perak v Kuala Lumpur (5pm), Penang v Malacca (7pm).
Division Two: Brunei v Terengganu (3pm), Pahang v Perlis (5pm).
All matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Stadium.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
PERAK 5 5 0 0 12 2 15
K LUMPUR 5 4 1 0 16 3 13
JOHOR 6 3 1 2 11 10 10
PENANG 5 2 0 3 10 14 6
NEGRI 5 1 1 3 6 9 4
MALACCA 5 1 1 3 2 7 4
FORCES 5 0 0 5 5 17 0
DIVISION TWO
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pt
SINGAPORE 4 4 0 0 19 3 12
POLICE 4 2 1 1 10 9 7
KELANTAN 4 2 1 1 10 11 7
SABAH 4 1 0 3 5 14 3
KEDAH 4 0 0 4 1 10 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pt
PAHANG 3 2 1 0 15 4 7
SELANGOR 4 2 1 1 13 8 7
TERENGGANU 3 1 1 1 11 9 4
PERLIS 3 1 1 1 7 5 4
BRUNEI 3 0 0 3 0 20 0
Nor Saiful has six national players under his charge, and he feels they have not been performing up to par.
“National players, in my days, did not need to be instructed by a coach in the Razak Cup as they have played at the highest level including the Olympics and the World Cup.
“But today, I feel this tournament has reached a new low because even the national players in all the teams needed to be prodded and told what to do,” said Nor Saiful.
KL and Perak have qualified for the Division One final on Sunday, with one pool match against each other to complete today.
“I personally feel national players have not shown their true potential in this tournament yet, and there might be a few factors contributing to this.
“First of all, they just finished playing in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) and look like they needed a break, but were forced to play for their states in the Razak Cup.
“And then, I also feel that their heart is not in this tournament, and they would be rather be on a holiday after a tough MHL and then national training sessions,” said Nor Saiful.
On his last pool match against Perak: “I will not be pushing my players as they might pick up injuries or cards and make it more difficult for KL to lift the title.
“But then again, I would not want then to lose badly, as I want to keep their spirits high. Rightly said, this last en counter would be a warm-up for my charges before we attempt our 20th title charge,” said or Saiful.
RESULTS: GROUP A : Kedah 0 Sabah 2, Kelantan 3 Police 3; GROUP B: Perlis 2 Terengganu 2, Pahang 1 Selangor 1.
TODAY: Division One: Armed Forces v Negri (3pm), Perak v Kuala Lumpur (5pm), Penang v Malacca (7pm).
Division Two: Brunei v Terengganu (3pm), Pahang v Perlis (5pm).
All matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Stadium.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
PERAK 5 5 0 0 12 2 15
K LUMPUR 5 4 1 0 16 3 13
JOHOR 6 3 1 2 11 10 10
PENANG 5 2 0 3 10 14 6
NEGRI 5 1 1 3 6 9 4
MALACCA 5 1 1 3 2 7 4
FORCES 5 0 0 5 5 17 0
DIVISION TWO
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pt
SINGAPORE 4 4 0 0 19 3 12
POLICE 4 2 1 1 10 9 7
KELANTAN 4 2 1 1 10 11 7
SABAH 4 1 0 3 5 14 3
KEDAH 4 0 0 4 1 10 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pt
PAHANG 3 2 1 0 15 4 7
SELANGOR 4 2 1 1 13 8 7
TERENGGANU 3 1 1 1 11 9 4
PERLIS 3 1 1 1 7 5 4
BRUNEI 3 0 0 3 0 20 0
Its KL-Perak final
By T.N.Alagesh
FAVOURITES Kuala Lumpur will square off against a high riding Perak side in the final for the Razak Cup Division One title on Sunday.
Despite, having one more match to play against each other to complete their Division One fixtures tommorow(Friday), both teams booked their slots yesterday after brushing aside their respective opponents.
Perak, unbeaten after five matches in the tournament yesterday edged Penang 1-0 with their solitary goal coming from a field goal effort through Noor Khairul Azrain in the 35th minute.
Perak coach Manjit Singh Grewal was happy with their performance saying his players had put on a strong and impressive show despite being a little worn out after their tough match against Armed Forces on Tuesday night.
"The team had less than 24 hours of rest before going down to the pitch at 4pm yesterday to take on Penang, and the blazing sunlight during the match had also made the players get tired easily," he said.
Manjit said although the team had secured their place in the final on Sunday, he will instruct his players to go all out to extend their winning streak to six matches when they wrap up their Division One fixtures against KUala Lumpur on Friday.
In the second match yesterday, 18-times champions Kuala Lumpur thumped Armed Forces 5-0 to finish second with their penalty corner specialist Mohd Amin Rahim was the toast of the team when he earned himself a hatrick.
The national player opened the scoring for Kuala Lumpur in the 23rd minute before sounding the board again via another penalty corner a minute before half time.
Amin, who were among the six national players in the Kuala Lumpur side secured his hatrick in the 38th minute from a well-executed penalty corner.
Tajul Roslie Mohamed(57th) and Harvinder Singh(66th) scored one goal a piece to kill off their opponents.
Despite the convincing win along with a place in the final, Kuala Lumpur coach, Nor Saiful Zaini was far from pleased with his players performance against Armed Forces, who are rooted to the bottom of the Division One table.
"The forwards should have seized the chances during the match and convert them into goals, instead they failed to add to the goal tally.
"I will work more on the attacking players so that they will be more sharper in their next match On friday, and perform better when they take on Kuala Lumpur on Sunday," he said.
RESULTS -- Division One: Perak 1 Penang 0: Kuala Lumpur 5 Armed Forces 0: Negri x Johor x.
Division Two: GROUP A Kelantan 1 Singapore 5: Police 4 Sabah 2,
TODAY : Fixtures : GROUP A : Perlis v Terengganu(3.30pm), Kelantan v Police (5.30pm)
GROUP B : Pahang v Selangor(3.30pm), Kedah v Sabah(5.30pm)
All matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Stadium.
FAVOURITES Kuala Lumpur will square off against a high riding Perak side in the final for the Razak Cup Division One title on Sunday.
Despite, having one more match to play against each other to complete their Division One fixtures tommorow(Friday), both teams booked their slots yesterday after brushing aside their respective opponents.
Perak, unbeaten after five matches in the tournament yesterday edged Penang 1-0 with their solitary goal coming from a field goal effort through Noor Khairul Azrain in the 35th minute.
Perak coach Manjit Singh Grewal was happy with their performance saying his players had put on a strong and impressive show despite being a little worn out after their tough match against Armed Forces on Tuesday night.
"The team had less than 24 hours of rest before going down to the pitch at 4pm yesterday to take on Penang, and the blazing sunlight during the match had also made the players get tired easily," he said.
Manjit said although the team had secured their place in the final on Sunday, he will instruct his players to go all out to extend their winning streak to six matches when they wrap up their Division One fixtures against KUala Lumpur on Friday.
In the second match yesterday, 18-times champions Kuala Lumpur thumped Armed Forces 5-0 to finish second with their penalty corner specialist Mohd Amin Rahim was the toast of the team when he earned himself a hatrick.
The national player opened the scoring for Kuala Lumpur in the 23rd minute before sounding the board again via another penalty corner a minute before half time.
Amin, who were among the six national players in the Kuala Lumpur side secured his hatrick in the 38th minute from a well-executed penalty corner.
Tajul Roslie Mohamed(57th) and Harvinder Singh(66th) scored one goal a piece to kill off their opponents.
Despite the convincing win along with a place in the final, Kuala Lumpur coach, Nor Saiful Zaini was far from pleased with his players performance against Armed Forces, who are rooted to the bottom of the Division One table.
"The forwards should have seized the chances during the match and convert them into goals, instead they failed to add to the goal tally.
"I will work more on the attacking players so that they will be more sharper in their next match On friday, and perform better when they take on Kuala Lumpur on Sunday," he said.
RESULTS -- Division One: Perak 1 Penang 0: Kuala Lumpur 5 Armed Forces 0: Negri x Johor x.
Division Two: GROUP A Kelantan 1 Singapore 5: Police 4 Sabah 2,
TODAY : Fixtures : GROUP A : Perlis v Terengganu(3.30pm), Kelantan v Police (5.30pm)
GROUP B : Pahang v Selangor(3.30pm), Kedah v Sabah(5.30pm)
All matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Stadium.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
