Focus 1, 2, 3...

MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah met his players for the World League Semi-finals, and his advise to them was make the World Cup for the sake of the sport in the country.
    Refusing to dwell further into the controversy which had sidelined the players preparations for the past week, he only wanted a concerted focus from every quarter, to qualify for the Netherlands World Cup next year.
   “Today was supposed to be the day when i addressed all the issues which had cropped up over the month because I was really busy with other commitments.
    “Then the coach (Paul Revington) resigned and urgent meetings were held by every quarter and I thank them for bringing the episode to a quick end,” said Tengku Abdullah in his first comment on the controversy surrounding Revington’s drastic measure.
    A high tea was the order of the day, as Revington, assistant Arul Selvaraj, team manager George Koshy and National Sports Council director general Datuk Seri Zolkeples Embong had a chat with their players.
    “The focus should be on three matters now, with the controversy be left behind. No 1, the players must give their best on the pitch on tournament day and keep the winning momentum right till the day we qualify.
   “No 2, the players must be focused to eat and sleep right in this crucial weeks as we need every ounce of help to reach the goal.
   “No 3 is that once you guys reach the goal and qualify for the World Cup, a big bonus as well as bigger sponsors await -- that’s a pledge. But if you guys fail, the future of hockey in this country will take another beating,” said Tengku Abdullah.
    And the meeting Revington again reiterated that he will stay on till the World League from June 29-July 7: “And think about the future with Malaysia at a later date.”
     Malaysia must finish top-three in Johor Baru to cement their spot in the World Cup.

Three cheers to the Coaching Committee..

STATEMEMT BY THE MALAYSIAN HOCKEY CONFEDERATION

COACHING COMMITTEE

In light of new developments with regards to the issue of the resignation of the National Senior Hockey Coach Paul Revington, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation Coaching Committee would like to thank the Youth & Sports Minister Yang Berhormat En Khairy Jamaluddin for his assistance and effort in convincing Paul Revington to stay on as the national Hockey Coach.

Firstly we wish to remind all parties that the Coaching Committee acted within its jurisdiction as provided for in the Malaysian Hockey Confederation Constitution and had no mala fide in coming up with the decisions made on Saturday.

The Coaching Committee acted within its limitations and on the facts presented, hence the decision to reject the resignation of Revington, appeal to him to stay on and recommend action on the two officials, namely K. Dharmaraj and Lim Chiow Chuan.

In the hindsight the Coaching Committee may have erred with regards to the terminology used, recommend to terminate the two officials, but should have been recommend for action to be initiated against the duo. The coaching Committee may have crossed certain boundaries unknowingly.

Thus the Coaching Committee, taking into consideration the views of Revington, and the initiative by YB En Khairy Jamaluddin, Youth & Sports Minister, to resolve the impasse, will now withdraw any recommendation against Mohd Dharmaraj Abdullah and Lim Chiow Chuan and will leave it to the wisdom of the MHC President HRH Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to put this matter to rest.

In addition, the Coaching Committee is thankful to YB En Khairy for his hands on approach in convincing Revington to stay as Coach until the World League Semi Final Round 3 and is optimistic that all matters raised by Revington will get resolved as well.

And we reiterate our faith in the ability of Dharmaraj to carry on coaching the National Juniors Team for the Junior World Cup in New Delhi.

Thank You.

For and on behalf of MHC Coaching Committee

Manjit Majid Abdullah

Chairman

18^th June 2013

Paul Revington to stay on till World League..

MINISTER STEPS IN: Khairy ensures Revington stays until the World League Semi-finals ends

  SPORTS Minister Khairy Jamaluddin took less than 20 minutes to defuse a tense situation that has been festering for six months, and came out smiling with news that Paul Revington had agreed to stay on as coach until the World League Semi-finals in Johor Baru.
The World Cup Qualifier will be held from June 29-July 7, with the top-three teams assured of a spot in the Netherlands next year.
However, Revington threw in his resignation on Saturday, stating that "outside interference," and a threatening email had made his stay in Malaysia uncomfortable for the past six months.
Revington, after about a year into the job, received the email from 1Mas project director Lim Chiow Chuan on March 23, while he claimed that Juniors coach K. Dharmaraj have been interfering in his job scope.
Dharmaraj and Chiow Chuan have been proposed to be removed by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) coaching committee and their fate will be decided when the management committee meets on June 30 in Johor Baru.
Revington came out of the meeting at the Sports Ministry in Putra Jaya with a "no comment" wave, and walked away.
But the hands-on minister did not disappoint: "Revington gave his views in brief, and after I promised him that I will personally look into the grievances (which has been swept under the carpet for six months), he agreed to stay on until the World League is over," said Khairy.
And with the short-term goal achieved, Khairy will work for the long term benefit of the sport.
"It was a relief when Revington agreed, because it would have been difficult to arrange for a calibre coach on such short notice.
"But with the short-term goal accomplished, I want to meet with MHC president Tengku Abdullah (Sultan Ahmad Shah) and see how we can work out a plan to keep Revington with us for the long term as well," said Khairy.
  Revington, under the National Sports Council payroll, had brought up the issues which were bothering him, to many quarters, but no concrete solutions were found, and finally the South African just gave up and was ready to go home.

Aussies back in form..

Men's Pool A

Spain – Australia 2-5 (0-2 halftime)

Australia got back on track at the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final after soundly defeating Spain 5-2 in the second game of round robin action. It was Spain’s first loss in the group and keeps things wide open for top billing in the tightly-knit Group A.
    The game was the meeting between the two top-ranked teams in the Group and could ultimately decide who comes out with top billing for the important quarterfinal game. Australia is currently the World #2 team, while Spain is ranked seventh.
    Kieran Govers’ convincing penalty corner gave Australia the lead 13 minutes into the game. Spain did a good job of holding off the steadily improving Aussies through the half, but there was little they could do to stop the 2-0 goal when Christopher Ciriello fired in a second penalty corner goal to double the lead.
   Spain had a small glimmer of hope when Eduard Tubau fired in a beautiful one-timer to cut the lead to 2-1 and put the Aussies on their toes. But the goal merely served to wake the sleeping giant as Australia sprung to life scoring three goals in a five-minute span to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Two tip ins from Keil Brown and Russell Ford made it four one and the icing on the cake came when Robert Hammond forced in a rebound on a penalty corner. Spain scored one last-gasp goal in the 70th minute to bring the final to 5-2.
    After the three-game round robin, the teams will play a crossover game in the quarterfinal with the top team meeting the last-place team from the other group, and the second and third-ranked teams from the group doing the same. The difference between and first and second-place finish in the group has the potential to be monumental with essentially a World Cup berth on the line in the quarterfinal.
    
Belgium – France 3-0 (1-0 halftime)

Belgium earned its second win in as many games and took over sole possession of first place in Group A after a 3-0 win over France. The loss bumps France down to 0-2 and likely means the last edition to the World League Semi-Final will face a tough quarterfinal opponent.
    It was the lowest scoring game of the event yet with Belgium’s Loïck Luypaert penalty corner goal in the eighth minute stood as the only offense of the game until Belgian captain Jerome Truyens doubled the lead in the 51st minute. A last-second goal from Tom Boon, that had to go to video review because it was so close to the buzzer, brought the final to 3-0.
   The low-scoring affair was a far cry from what most expected from the meeting. With Belgium flying high after its upset win against Australia, most expected a goal-filled festival. But France did an excellent job of neutralizing the scoring threat from Belgium and defending the penalty corners they gave up.
    The round robin phase will conclude on Sunday with France taking on Australia and Belgium facing Spain. Belgium leads the pack with six points, while Spain and Australia both are sitting on three points. France is the only team out of contention for first place in the group with zero points in two games.

Dharmaraj: It cuts like a knife...

NATIONAL Juniors coach K. Dharmaraj is deeply hurt  after he was dragged into the Paul Revington resignation  saga....
   more to follow later...