Women not worried about Australia cracker...

Malaysian women's hockey team in a light moment with their coach Nasihin Nubli in Glasqow, Scotland.

WOMEN’S hockey coach Nasihin Nubli knows the score when they open accounts against Australia on July 24 in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
   For it was 8-0 when the two teams last met at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
   “We know it is going to be uphill all the way in our opening match against Australia, no denying that, but my girls are not overly worried as I have told them to be ready for all-weather, and there is no need to be demoralised.
   “My team will just go in and enjoy the game, the there will be no pressure, during or after the match, as we need to focus on the other win-able fixtures,” said Nasihin.
    Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
   In Group B are Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.
   The women’s best outing was sixth at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2006 Melbourne Games, while in New Delhi four years ago, they finished last in the 10-team competition.
    “Australia have brought their best and our focus will be to try and minimise the damage, and I have been working on our defense.
    “I will be placing my best players in midfield for a fast counter, and hopefully we surprise them a few times for a morale booster ahead of playing the hosts,” said Nasihin.
    They ladies will play a match against Trinidad and Tobago as a warm-up in chilly Scotland ahead for their fiery match against raging favourites Australia.

Dharmaraj: Its scary to fly now...

FB PIC:

Sachin Nadarajan with Arul Anthoni and 9 others

We flew back after World Cup in that flight Mh17 from Amtersdam on June 13th. Very sad for this pepole

THE were anxious moments at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) around midnight Thursday, as national hockey players prepared to board their flight to Scotland for the Commonwealth Games.
    That was when they received the tragic news of MH17 being shot down over Ukraine airspace.
    Coach K. Dharmaraj, when contacted was shell shocked.
    “It is really true.. seriously, a MAS plane was shot down?,” reacted Dharmaraj when he received my sms.
   “It is really scary to fly now, I am now worried for my players safety as well as we are heading for that direction in an hours time,” said Dharmaraj.
    Some hockey players posted on FB that it was really eerie as the Malaysian hockey team were on MH17 when they returned from the World Cup at the Hague, Netherlands.
    Goalkeepers coach S. Nadarajan posted a picture of an old  MH17 baggage tag on FaceBook and wrote: “We flew back after World Cup in that flight MH17 from Amsterdam on June 13th. Very sad for these people...”
    The news rattled many players as they started to contact their family members before heading for Scotland.
   Coach Dharmaraj’s men will open their Group B campaign against Canada on July 26 followed by England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
    Defending champions Australia, India, Wales, South Africa and Scotland are in Group A.
   At best, the men will advance to the semi-finals but a medal is out of their reach.
    A total of 10 women’s teams are confirmed, and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against defending champions Australia on July 24.
    Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
   In Group B are Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.

Making up the numbers...

HOCKEY: 23 July- 3 August
VENUE:  Glasgow National Hockey Centre

MEN -- 2010 HAUL: Eighth
2014 TARGET: No Target
SQUAD: Baljit Singh, Izwan Firdaus, Firhan Ashaari,  Rashid Baharom, Razie Rahim, Ahmad Kazamirul, Faiz  Helmi, Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Fitri Saari, Ramadhan  Rosli, S. Selvaraju, Kevin Lim, Meor Azuan, Azri Hassan,  Shazril Irwan Nazli, Shahril Saabah.

WOMEN -- 2010 HAUL: 10th
2014 TARGET: No Target
SQUAD:  Nadia Abdul Rahman, Nuraini Rashid, Surizan  Awang Noh, Norbaini Hashim, Fatin Shafika, Nurul Nabihah,  Noor Hasliza Ali, Juliani Din, Robiatul Adawiyah, Raja  Norsharina, Siti Noor Amarina, Siti Shahida, Norazlin  Sumantri, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Farah Ayuni, Siti Noor  Hafiza.
 
AUSTRALIA have a perfect record, winning the men’s hockey gold since the sport was introduced in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, and the Glasgow title is also theirs for the taking.
    Malaysia, who finished 12th in the recent World Cup, will be  represented by a motley crew of juniors and a handful of seniors who will be out to re-claim their spot in the Asian Games squad.
   Players like Baljit Singh and S. Selvaraju will have to give their best if they want to impress coach K. Dharmaraj in his Asian Games selection.
   Dharmaraj will be resting No 1 goalkeeper S. Kumar and only fielding one goalkeeper in Junior World Cup player Hafizuddin Othman.
  The Games only allow 16 players to be registered, so the choices were limited: “We have selected a big number from the training pool to give them a chance t o show that they are capable of playing in the Asian Games.
   “The Commonwealth Games does not offer ranking points, and all the other teams will also be fielding youth for the future,” said Dharmaraj.
   The men will open their Group B campaign against Canada on July 26 followed by England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
    Defending champions Australia, India, Wales, South Africa and Scotland are in Group A.
   At best, the men will advance to the semi-finals but a medal is out of their reach.
    As for the women, they are more confident after winning the gold medal at the Hockey World League Round One after beating Kazakhstan 5-0.
    Two goals from Hasliza Ali Noor and a goal apiece by Nuraini Rashid, Nadia Rahman and Adawiyah Mohamed saw the Malaysians emerge as unbeaten champions — but the other teams who will be in Scotland are way above coach Nasihin Nubli’s players.
    “We have selected experienced players for the Games, and hope to use it as a platform to improve our status in the Asian Games,” said Nasihin.
    A total of 10 women’s teams are confirmed, and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against defending champions Australia on July 24.
    Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
   In Group B are Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa.
   The women’s best outing was sixth at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2006 Melbourne Games, while in New Delhi four years ago, they finished last in the 10-team competition.
   

Dharmaraj: If team a flop, sack me..

NATIONAL chief coach K. Dharmaraj believes his charges were not a total flop in the World Cup, and is ready to step down if the ongoing enquiries find them to be ‘a disaster’.
    Malaysia finished at the bottom of the 12-team tournament without a win or a draw to show at the Hague, Netherlands.
   “If the enquiry (headed by R. Yogeswaran) finds that Malaysia were a total disaster in the World Cup, they should also recommend to remove the chief coach, and I will gladly step down,” said Dharmaraj after naming a raw side for the Commonwealth Games.
   Dharmaraj came about the conclusion because: “We qualified after 12 years (last played in 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup) and that itself was an achievement. And the players found it very tough, as after two matches they realised that the rest of the world has left them far behind.
   “Yes we struggled, and did set a 10th finish target, but in reality, qualifying itself was a big milestone and now we should think about playing regularly in the World Cup, and move up the ranks slowly.
   “Don’t demoralise the players further, as many of them are very young and after losing six matches (and letting in 26 goals) I am finding it very difficult to motivate them for the next two tournaments,” said Dharmaraj.
   Sixteen players were named for the Commonwealth Games, with Baljit Singh and S. Selvaraju making a comeback.
    Baljit did not play in the Azlan Shah Cup, the Champions Challenge 1 and also the World Cup this year.
    “I have left out regulars as they are tired (while skipper Azlan Misron has quit) after playing in the World Cup, and fielded many from the training pool for the Commonwealth Games to test them ahead of the Asian Games selection.
   “Scotland does not offer and ranking points, but the Asian Games does and there is also the ticket to the Olympics if we win it.”
    The women’s team, who became champions in the World League Round 1 in Singapore by fielding youth, have picked their best for the Commonwealth Games with an eye to prepare for the Asian Games.
    German-born Kevin Lim, who pulled a hamstring in a friendly match at the Hague before the World Cup, has not fully recovered yet but was also given the nod for the Commonwealth Games.
    “We need to test him and see if he will be ready for the Asian Games,” said Dharmaraj.
    The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHF) are still pondering over the selection of the assistant coach as well as manager.
    At the Commonwealth Games, Malaysia will open their Group B campaign against Canada on July 26 followed by England (July 27), Trinidad and Tobago (July 29) and New Zealand (July 31).
    Defending champions Australia, India, Wales, South Africa and Scotland are in Group A.
    MEN: Baljit Singh, Izwan Firdaus, Firhan Ashaari, Rashid Baharom, Razie Rahim, Ahmad Kazamirul, Faiz Helmi, Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Fitri Saari, Ramadhan Rosli, S. Selvaraju, Kevin Lim, Meor Azuan, Azri Hassan, Shazril Irwan Nazli, Shahril Saabah.
    WOMEN: Nadia Abdul Rahman, Nuraini Rashid, Surizan Awang Noh, Norbaini Hashim, Fatin Shafika, Nurul Nabihah, Noor Hasliza Ali, Juliani Din, Robiatul Adawiyah, Raja Norsharina, Siti Noor Amarina, Siti Shahida, Norazlin Sumantri, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Farah Ayuni, Siti Noor Hafiza.

Open Letter to the MHC...

By
Maninderjit Singh (Mike)
Former Hockey International (1990-2002)

As we all are aware the Malaysian Men’s Hockey Team played at the recent Hockey World Cup 2014 at the Hague and created a record of sort. The National Team lost all their matches including the classification tie and completed the event at the bottom of the heap which was the worst ever position in our world cup history since 1973.
The national team now need to play in the coming Commonwealth Games in July and also the Asian Games in September 2014. It is less than a month to the Commonwealth Games and 95 days to the Asian Games. It is also a year towards the FIH World League event which acts as qualifier for Rio 2016.
The team has set the target of winning the Gold Medal at the Asian Games in order to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Based on my personal view, the following were the prevailing issues faced by the team for their preparation towards the 2014 Hockey World Cup:

• The Head Coach announced his resignation twice before a major event
• The blending of the senior and junior players were not properly executed. The junior team finished fourth (^4th) at  the 2013 Junior World Cup while most senior players played at at FIH WL Semis to qualify.
• Salary issues raised by Coaches prior to World Cup did not augur well.
• A foreign Malaysian born player inclusion without time-tested.
• Low Quality of Matches for preparation.
• Managing Players’ Discipline on and off the field was not at their best during training camps and tournaments. Lack of conviction to uphold disciplinary matters in the team.
• Selection of National Team was not done based on fitness level, international experience (caps), versatility (could play more than one position), special skills (PC flicker, defense including first runner, stopper, pusher and deflector) and finally the players’ current performance at international arena.
• The number of Coaches involved for the Team do not deserve justification.

The National hockey team is now at a crossroad, where changes are necessary in order to revive it from the results the team has suffered at the recent World Cup. Any improvement to the dire status quo can only be facilitated if we have a team of officials who not only love the game of hockey dearly, but who are also prepared to sacrifice their time towards the cause.
This must be done in tandem with properly planned strategy with the intention of revitalizing the National hockey team and installing the structure that can create world class players and officials.
Therefore, all relevant stakeholders need to look at the following points in order for the National hockey team to firstly survive and then for Malaysia to become a World Class hockey nation:

• Foreign League Attachment

A minimum of seven (7) players to be attached in Europe and Australia at first class league and the players selected must be below age of 23. These seven players will be the future core of the National team and the proposition will be 1 Goalkeeper, 2 Defenders, 2 Midfielders and 2 Forwards and from this at least 2 players must be Penalty Corner Flickers. Modern hockey is all about Penalty Corners conversion and defending it.

• High Performance Unit

Employing a qualified and experienced High Performance Director with supporting staff to re-evaluate the followings:
-       National Teams’ Program
-       Fitness
-       Training Methodology
-       Technical and Tactical
-       Supervision & Monitoring
-       Adoption of Innovation
-       Technology Implication
-       Sport Science application

• Structure of National Teams and National Players Salary Structure

MHC needs to have four (4) National Teams in which are 2 National Senior Team (A & B) with two back up squad of Project 2016 and Project 2020 to address the next Junior World Cups.
A good National Senior Team must have internal and external pressure of players competing among themselves to make the grades. When the team has quality of 40 players, the Coaches can make proper decision and this will create “hunger” for the players to perform in training and matches.
As for remuneration, every end of the month, both these teams will play a series of best of three and after the series the Coaches will rename the players for Team A & B. In doing so, each player is able to ensure that he: 

1. Earns as many caps by being in first team
2. Sustains an achievable level of fitness based on scorecard
3. Gets rewards for winning and is penalized for not performing

The National Team A will play in all the major tournaments where else the Team B will address the lower ranked events such as Sea Games and other invitational tournaments.

• Quality of Matches for Test and Friendly Matches

From now on any matches for National team must be at least ranked 8^th or better. About 30-40 matches of such quality must be arranged. It goes for Senior and all the Project Squads.
And as for annual Sultan Azlan Cup and Sultan Johor Cup, the teams that are invited must be of great credential and I suggest all teams invited must be ranked 10^th and better but the participating teams must send at least 80% of first team players and not development squads.

• Competitiveness of Malaysian Hockey League and Junior Hockey League

Both these events need to “rejuvenate” with -

• New Purpose
• New Ideas
• New Structure
• New Mindset
• New Image and Branding
• Updated Rules and Regulations

When organizing the calendar, the importance of setting of the dates for such events will allow high class foreign players to ply their trade in MHL and JHL. The best period for MHL is always from November to January and JHL from February to April. And 4 years of calendars (2014 till 2018) must be established to comprehend the quality of the tournaments.
This high level competition will provide the National Coaches the chance to gauge and undertake talent scouting for National teams. Therefore, all National Coaches must not be allowed to coach club teams and they must be doing selection and parting knowledge to club hockey coaches and ratifying national players’ mistakes from time to time. This is to avoid any conflict of interest at both levels and its effect on National Team program and quality of selection made by Coaches.

• Benefit and Burden of Rule Not Equitable

The system in place only seems to reward the players. This is being done in the hope that players perform. More often than not, the system of just paying and rewarding seems not to levy a great burden to perform. A system of penalty must be imposed to ensure that “benefit and burden” rule has an equitable role in the teams’ performance. A code of conduct must be established to curb the disciplinary and absenteeism issues.

• National Coaches

-       Must have minimum qualification of FIH Level 1
-       More than 10 years of Coaching experience
-       Must handled one of the National Team (minimum period of 4 years)
-       Quality Success Profile with a list of achievement with the various national teams and at least has coached a Olympic or World Cup team and attain results.
-       List of know-how and experience on Technologies related to sport of hockey.
-       Latest training methodology taking into account of changing phases of modern hockey.
-       Manner of experience and interaction with supporting team such as sports science, fitness, physiology, strength, dietician and psychologist.
My intention is to ensure that the standard of hockey is returned to its former glory, so that some day it may even surpass it. It is a matter of national pride that Malaysia re-attains her position as one of the top teams in the world.
This appeal is done for the love of the sport and country and in the hope that the nation’s flag is always hoisted high to fly proudly at international arenas.
And I will end with this phrase – “The price of excellence is discipline and the cost of mediocrity is disappointment”.

Thank you