SOJC: In them we trust...

Completed their training in Taman Daya

THE national juniors have one week to sharpen themselves up before they do battle in the Fifth Edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.

  The only Under-21 Invitational sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will see Malaysia go up against back-to-back champions India, Pakistan, Australia, Argentina and Britain on October 11-18.

  The juniors, who just returned to Kuala Lumpur from a training stint at Taman Daya, will play friendlies with the national senior squad on Oct 6 and 7, and will also host Britian to a warm up match on the Oct 9, before the final squad is named.

  Juniors coach Arul Selvaraj will be banking on Shahril Saabah, Haziq Syamsul and Meor Azuan Hassan to deliver the goods as the trio have enough experience to lead the team.

  Shahril has played in the World Cup, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games with the senior side even though he is only 21.

  Haziq has seen action in the Commonwealth Games and 2013 Junior World Cup, while Meor has played in the Asian and Commonwealth Games.

  “I never rely on individual players, but their combined experience is vital to stabilise the team,” concluded Arul.

  And with the Junior Asia Cup slated on Nov 14-22 in Kuantan, Malaysia, India and Pakistan will be looking to get into gear as the tournament will offer four tickets to the Junior World Cup.

  India have already booked themselves a spot in the Junior World Cup as the host nation and all Malaysia need to do in Kuantan is to qualify for the semi-finals to cement their spot in the world cup.

  With that in mind, head Arul will be keeping his cards close to his chest during the SOJC, as rivals India and Pakistan will certainly be on the lookout for their strength and weakness.

   “Unfortunately this is the only tournament I have to test the boys and I am well aware that India and Pakistan will be keeping a close eye on us, with that in mind I will not reveal much during the tournament but will ensure the boys give their best,” said Arul

   Malaysia finished a disappointing fifth in the previous edition of the SOJC but are confident to walk away with a better result this time around.

  “I am prepared to see some heavy legs; the boys have been working extremely hard in training and I think they will see good results in return,”

  “We will take one game at a time. I am taking each game tactically, as I have plans on trying a few different tactics and we will build the team from there.

  “My biggest concern is injuries. With the Asia Cup just around the corner I have to keep my fingers crossed and hope none of my players gets injured,” added Arul.

MHC start steep Olympic and World Cup climb...

THE MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) selected 35 trainees for the senior squad yesterday, and it was based on merit and not sentiment.
  Three former stalwarts were dropped from the list, but Technical Director Terry Walsh reminded everybody that: "The door swings both ways."
  Veteran goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin, striker Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and midfielder Azlan Misron were left out, as MHC start preparing to get back into the Olympic and World Cup.
  Azlan is the highest capped Malaysian player with 349 internationals, while Roslan retired with 199 and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin with 206.
  Coach Stephen van Huizen and assistant Lim Chiow Chuan selected a team with an average age of 24, with the oldest being goalkeeper S. Kumar who is 36.
  Baljit Singh will no longer be the sole Punjabi representative, as Harmeet Singh, Harmesh Singh and Harvinder Singh were also included in the training squad.
  Harmeet, 23, and Harmesh, 22, played for Sapura in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League, while Harvinder turned out for Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club.
  "The selection was done with the Olympics and World Cup in mind, and so, we had to leave behind some players and try out others. We have six months to the Azlan Shah Cup, and so, emphasis would be on fitness and technical aspect of the game," said van Huizen.
  Also selected was Joel Samuel, van Huizen's son, who last turned out for the country in the 2013 Junior World Cup. He played for Sapura in the MHL.
  Walsh, tasked to turned around Malaysia's hockey misfortunes said: "Those who have been selected and those who were dropped must always understand that the door swings both ways. Don't take anything for granted, and comeback is also a possibility."
  Three 21-year-olds who will play in the Sultan of Johor Cup and then the Junior Asia Cup were also named as senior trainees.
  Meor Azuan, Shahril Saabah and Haziq Shamsul will be coach Arul Selvaraj's stalwarts when Malaysia play in both the junior tournaments.
  "Training will start on Monday with 21 players, as some are away with their clubs overseas, while others have some commitments to settle before answering the call-up," said van Huizen.
  GOALKEEPERS: S. Kumar (age 36), Hairi Abdul Rahman (25), Hafizuddin Othman (23), Hazrul Faiz (22).
  DEFENDERS: Razie Rahim (28), Noor Faeez Ibrahim (24), Suhkri  Mutalib (29), Azlam Hanafiah (22), Izad Hakimi (23), Harmesh Singh (22), Harmeet Singh (23), Shahrun Nabil (30), Shazril Irwan (22), Baljit Singh (29).
  MIDFIELDERS: Nabil Fiqri (28), Azri Hassan (23), Harvinder Singh (26), Joel Samuel van Huizen (23), Faiz Helmi (23), Marhan Jalil (25), Fitri Shaari (22), Ramadan Rosli (24), Norhizzat Sumantri (24), Meor Azuan (21).
  FORWARDS: Rashid Baharom (23), Syamin Yusof (23), Dedi Ariyadi (24), Hafiz Zainol (22), Faridzul Afiq (23), Dangerous Lee (23), Faizal Shaari (24), Firhan Ashari (22), Shahril Saabah (21), Haziq Samsul (21), Izwan Firdaus (26).

FOUR LIONS: Baljit, Harmeet, Harmesh, Harvinder ...

THE MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) training squad, after decades, saw four Punjabi's called up at once. S. Kumar is eldest at 36, while three juniors Meor Azuan, Shahril Saabah and Haziq Samsul will first play in the Sultan of Johor Cup then the Junior Asia Cup before joining the seniors.

 HARMEET SINGH

 HARMESH SINGH (right)

 HARVINDER SINGH

BALJIT SINGH

Junior Asia Cup: Great Wall the first hurdle...

FORMER skipper Mirnawan Nawawi has been named as ambassador for Malacca hockey during the unveiling of new jerseys for "Malacca The Hurricanes". Mirnawan, born in Malacca, is three-time Olympian who played in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
  Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal also attended the function to honour the former skipper fondly known as The 'Boss'.
  Mirnawan also played in three Asian Games -- Beijing 1990, Hiroshima 1994 and Bangkok 1998. He was also in the thick of action in the KL Champions Trophy in 2007, and two World Cup in Utrecht 1998 and Kuala Lumpur 2012.




MALAYSIA will open their campaign against China in the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan, Pahang, from Nov 14-22.
  The tournament offers four tickets to the Junior World Cup in India next year. And with India qualifying as hosts, defending champions Malaysia must play in the semi-finals to book their spot.
  In Group A with China, Japan and India -- Malaysia must not fumble in their opening match to keep the fire burning.
  Group B looke like an open book, as South Korea and Pakistan will be the front-runners, while Oman and Bangladesh playing catch-up.
  Coach Arul Selvaraj and his boys will have a tough time emulating the 2012 feat, which saw Malaysia snatch the gold in Malacca and went on to finish fourth in the Junior World Cup.
  Then, Malaysia were the highest ranked Asian team in the Junior World Cup as South Korea finished eighth, Pakistan ninth and India tenth.
  After China, Malaysia lock horns with tournament favourites India on Nov 15, followed by Japan on Nov 17. 
  "We have two tournaments starting with the Sultan of Johor Cup (Oct 11-18) followed by the Junior Asia Cup and the priority is the latter.
  "Out focus remains with the Asia Cup where we will first play to be in the semi-finals to qualify for the World Cup, and then make a dash to defend our title," said Arul.
  The SOJC will see Malaysia battle against two-time champions India, Australia, Pakistan, Britain and Argentina.
  "It (SOJC) will give us an insight into the strength of India and Pakistan ahead of the Junior Asia Cup," said Arul.
  India will be the team to beat in Group A, while Pakistan could be Malaysia's opponents in the semi-finals.
  India's budding striker Arman Qureshi had this to say about the SOJC: "The team is very confident as we aim to retain the title this time around too. This has made us even more positive of playing the matches ahead.
  "During our practice sessions, we have made good progress and aim for a better penalty corner conversion rate. We want to make our attack even stronger in the upcoming matches and look forward to carry out our game strategies firmly to claim the title.”
  India open against Pakistan in the SOJC.

QNET Selangor off to a roaring start

QNET Selangor Kicked off over the weekend with 7 matches being played.

  Newcomers PAUiTM register a high scoring victory as they scored past Gombak District. Highlander Hockey Club, UKM, Selayang and Permatang Senior also registered victory by big margin.

  X-Hamzah making their debut in the league went thru a torrid time before finding their feet to bear Gombak District 7-4. 

  In another match Synergy Hockey Club Edged out Alumni Seri Nibong . 

   Results
PAUiTM beat Persatuan Hoki Daerah Gombak (PHDG) 7-0

 Highlander Hockey Club beat ALUMI SMK SERI NIBONG 7-1

 UniKL MIAT Hockey Club lost to UKM 0-6

 KIE Hockey Team lost to SELAYANG 0-7

 X-Hamzah HC beat Persatuan Hoki Daerah Gombak (PHDG) 7-4

 ALUMI SMK SERI NIBONG lost to Synergy Hockey Club 1-3

 PERMATANG SENIOR beat SIA GURSTICKS 5-0

 Upcoming matches

 Saturday 26th September
4.00pm KPM SMK Bandar Seri Putra vs SMK Pusat Bdr Puchong 1
5.30pm KPM SMK Puchong BT.14 vs SMK Sg Pusu
7.00pm KPM Synergy Hockey Club vs Highlander Hockey Club
4.00pm STR PDRM vs PAUiTM
5.30pm STR RAMD vs MBPJ SUKMA
7.00pm STR DOLPHINS YOUNG GUNS vs X-Matrix Hockey Club

 Sunday 27th September
4.00pm KPM KIE Hockey Team vs PERMATANG SENIOR
5.30pm KPM X - Hamzah HC vs PDRM
7.00pm KPM SELANGOR SIKHS vs UniKL MIAT Hockey Club
4.00pm STR X-Matrix Hockey Club vs OLAK PKT
5.30pm STR KOR JLJ DIRAJA ( JLJD) vs MBPJ SUKMA
7.00pm STR RAMD vs BJSS
8.30pm STR DOLPHINS YOUNG GUNS vs UiTM