Tai cool over bumpy turf

By T.N. Alagesh

NATIONAL coach Tai Beng Hai said the slightly bumpy turf at the Wisma
Belia Hockey Stadium in Kuantan will not affect his team's goal of
finishing in the top four of the Asia Cup hockey tournament which will
begin next week.
 After the national team ended three days of training at the tournament
venue yesterday, Beng Hai admitted that the artificial turf was a little
bumpy causing the ball to bounce which at times resulted in his players
losing ball.
 He said the pitch condition, however, will not affect the players
during their game and also execution of penalty corner set pieces.
 "There is only a slight difference on the pitch, and the players seem
to adapt well to the condition here which I believe is good news to the
team."
 When asked about naming his final 18 for the tournament, Beng Hai said
he was is no hurry to make his selection and would only name his final
squad on May 7, which would give players more time to impress selectors.
 The national team had a pleasant surprise yesterday when Malaysian
Hockey Federation president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah turned up
to inspect the renovation works at the venue. He later watched the
national team play against K. Rajan's National Junior World Cup-bound
team.