By Jugjet Singh
jugjet@nst.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Poland traveled for 48 hours, before reaching Malaysia 3am Friday from a wintry climate to sizzling hot Ipoh, but still, they are cool and coy about their opening match today.
They will open accounts against Malaysia in the 28th Azlan Shah Cup, and have placed the pressure squarely in coach Roelant Oltman's and his men.
"Yes, we are tired and jet lagged, as we arrived from cold Poland (9 degrees) to sizzling 30 plus in Ipoh this morning (Friday), but we have nothing to lose but everything to gain from this tournament. The pressure will be on hosts Malaysia," said Poland coach Karol Sniezek.
Skipper Bartosz Zywiczka mimicked his coach, and it looks like the Poland opener is going be as difficult as to spell their names.
Poland were last minute replacements after South Africa withdrew, citing financial problems.
"As a coach I am really grateful to be able to bring my team for the Azlan Shah Cup because as a player, I dreamed of playing at this stage but never got a chance.
"We would like to thank Malaysian Hockey (confederation) for Inviting us to make our debut.
"It will not be easy playing against Malaysia in front of their own fans, but the pressure will be on them to preform, while we will do our best," said Sniezek.
After a training session yesterday, both the coach and captain came to the press conference with rosy cheeks, and tanned foreheads.
For the record, Malaysia beat Poland 3-1 in the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, and in the last encounter in 2015 in the World League Round Two in Singapore -- Malaysia hammered Poland 8-0 in the final.
Malaysian coach Roelant Oltmans was evasive when asked about his chances playing against a jet-lagged team, backed by horrendous weather.
"No, jet-lag as well as the heat will not pose a problem to a team as dedicated as Poland and I believe they will put up a good fight and we have our own plans on how to stop them," said Oltmans.
Skipper Razie Rahim, who trained under former world no 1 penalty corner flicker Taeke Taekema of the Netherlands for a week in Kuantan, was more optimistic.
"I believe after a week of training and undergoing motivational sessions (in Kuantan) we are ready for the tournament. As for me, Taekema fine tuned my drag flicks and made me sharper," said Razie.
FIXTURES: SATURDAY -- India v Japan (4pm), Canada v South Korea (6pm), Malaysia v Poland (8pm).
SUNDAY: India v South Korea (4pm), Canada v Poland (6pm), Malaysia v Japan (8pm).
