Juniors a bane for coaches

Malaysia’s Harvinder Singh Makbul Singh (second from right) is outnumbered by Singapore players in their match on Friday. — Pic: ZULKARNAIN AHMAD TAJUDDIN

TWO coaches quit because of the national juniors, and a third finds himself in a possibly similar situation as the future of Malaysian hockey has shown little promise in the ongoing Four-Nation at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.

K. Rajan was placed in a tight spot on Friday, when the Juniors scored a pathetic 2-1 win over minnows Singapore.
Malaysia and Singapore co-host the Junior World Cup on June 7-21, and it looks like both will be battling to avoid last place.
Last year, Tai Beng Hai quit after this batch of players went on a losing spree of 30 friendly and tournament matches, and V. Muraleedharan was appointed as the replacement.
But barely six months into the job, Muraleedharan also sent in his quit letter, when the juniors fared miserably in the Kuala Lumpur Eight-Nation, the Poland Four-Nation, Europe friendlies and the final straw was when they drew 2-2 with Singapore in the Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad, India.
Malaysia are in Group C of the Junior World Cup with England, South Korea, Spain and the USA. The top two in each group advance to the quarter-finals, and right now it looks like an impossible dream.
The boys did receive a sarcastic 'Terima-Kasih" from their coach after the match for their poor display against a country which will be playing in its first Junior World Cup by virtue of being co-hosts.
"I watched a recording of the match last night and the indication was that the boys could have scored at least five goals, but the last touch was missing after mounting good attacks."
Rajan, despite being let down on Friday, said that won't happen today.
Today -- Third-Fourth: Malaysia v Singapore (5pm); Final: India v Pakistan (7.30pm).

Juniors win in embarrassing fashion

Malaysia’s Ahmad Tajuddin Izwan Firdaus is brought down by a Singapore player in the Four-Nation Invitational at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday. Malaysia won 2-1 — Pic: ZULKARNAIN AHMAD TAJUDDIN

THE National Juniors put up an embarrassing display when they could only beat Singapore 2-1 in the Four-Nation Invitational at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.

Consider this -- India hammered Singapore 12-0 and Pakistan beat them 8-0 but Malaysia slogged, even conceding a goal.
Short of saying pathetic, juniors coach K. Rajan used "Bad day" to sum up the situation.
Izwan Firdaus scored in the fifth minute and Faizal Saari made it 2-0 in the 51st minute. Singapore's goal was scored by P. Anbalagan in the 57th minute, and they were unlucky not to have shared points.
"Singapore always play their best against Malaysia, and it was a bad day and a bad show from my charges.
"But all is not lost, as we will rebound on Sunday (third-fourth) in the placing match," said Rajan.
Rajan also said three matches in a row took their toll on his team: "Nur Hafiq Ghaffar (penalty corner flicker) fractured his finger against Pakistan while two others picked up ankle injuries.
" I am not making excuses for this poor show, but thinking forward to the re-match on Sunday."
In another match, India rattled Pakistan in the first minute itself, to win 3-1 and keep a perfect record in the Four-Nation.
Even though both the teams were already in the final before the match, it turned out to be an entertaining affair as India attacked relentlessly after Kumar Pramod scored a first minute field goal.
Diwakar Ram (14th) and Mujtaba Danish (19th) made it uphill for Pakistan in the second half, and they could only score a consolation in the 51st minute off an Attique Muhammad penalty corner.
India and Pakistan will square off again tomorrow to decide the winners of the Four-Nation, which is being held to test the new stadium ahead of the Junior World Cup which Malaysia and Singapore will co-host on June 7-21.

Pakistan 3 Malaysia 1

Malaysia’s Mohd Jalil Mohd Marhan is tackled by two Pakistan players in their Four-Nation match at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday. Pakistan won 3-1. Pic: ZULKARNAIN AHMAD TAJUDDIN

MALAYSIA lost 3-1 to Pakistan in the Four-Nation Invitational tournament yesterday as the door to the final was slammed shut on them.

Pakistan and India, who will play their academic pool match today, have already qualified for Sunday's final with six points each.
Malaysia, who lost by the same score to India on Wednesday, gave the Pakistan players too much space and paid the price.
Pakistan led 2-0 before Malaysia narrowed the gap, but failed to find the equaliser and instead let in another goal.
The Pakistan goals were scored by Attique Muhammad (28th), Toufeeq Muhammad (40th) and Abdul Haseem (54th). Saari Faizal (48th) scored for Malaysia.
In an earlier match India drubbed Singapore 12-0.
Malaysia and Singapore will co-host the Junior World Cup on June 7-21 with both sides hosting 10 teams each.
Singapore, who have let in 20 goals in two matches, will square off against Malaysia today.
"The target was to play in the final but plenty of defensive errors were made in both the matches, so now it's back to the drawing board," said National Juniors coach K. Rajan.
"From the two matches, I noticed that the players have the ability to win but make too many silly mistakes when under attack.
"It was also clear that the players do not support each other when under attack, and this area needs urgent attention."
The Four-Nation is being held not only to test the facilities at the newly laid Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru, but also to gauge the team's level of preparation to face the rest of the world.

India 3 Malaysia 1

Results: Pakistan 8 Singapore 0; India 3 Pakistan 1.

THE National Juniors hardly pressed forward but their tactics to defend were still not good enough to stop India from winning 3-1 in their opening match of the Four-Nation Invitational Tournament at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
Despite the defeat, the Malaysians can stand proud of their performance in the match.
They played well as a unit, unlike previously, but fell behind due to their inexperience in handling the skillful and speedy Indians.
In the first half, the Malaysian lads foiled six penalty corner attempts in the with goalkeeper Abdul Hakim Adnan at his element.
But a defensive mix-up from the Malaysians allowed India to take a lead through Victo Singh in the 35th minute.
Izwan Firdaus Tajuddin turned on the heat with a splendid penalty corner set-piece attempt to equalise for Malaysia in the 44th minute
Three minutes later, Diwakar Ram regained India’s lead with a penalty corner goal.
India scored their third through Karan Jay’s field attempt in the 50th minute.
Malaysia coach K.Rajan said his charges were letdown by defensive errors.
“My boys stood their ground in the first half but India’s relentless attacks broke their momentum. I need to do some work on the defence,” said Rajan yesterday.
“Overall, I’m happy with my charges and they will need to e cautions against Pakistan tomorrow (today).”
Earlier, Abdul Haseem Khan scored four goals as Pakistan romped to a 8-0 demolition of Singapore.
Abdul Haseen scored in the fourth, 26th, 34th and 66th minutes.
Inayat Ullah (eight), Adeel Hussain Syed (23rd), Muhd Toufeeq (61st) and Muhd Umar Bhutta (66th) scored the other Pakistan goals.

STANDINGS
P W D L G A Pts

Pakistan 1 1 0 0 8 0 3
India 1 1 0 0 3 1 3
Malaysia 1 0 0 1 1 3 0
Singapore 1 0 0 1 0 8 0

Big test for Rajan's boys

THE National Juniors will face their sternest test yet prior to the Junior World Cup (June 7-21) in the Four-Nation Invitational Tournament at the brand new Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru which starts today.
The other teams in the fray are former world junior champions India, Pakistan and Singapore.
The tournament will provide quality matches but a good result is important to boost the players’ self confidence.
The national team have so much to prove here in the build up towards the Junior World Cup, co-hosted by Johor Baru and Singapore, after several unconvincing results in previous tournaments and friendly matches.
Coach K. Rajan has a difficult task on his hands to transform his players into a winning unit.
Time is certainly not on their side and already touted as one of the worst assembled squads for a Junior World Cup, Rajan will need to find a solution fast in the Four-Nation to turn the team around.
Rajan certainly has the ability to make things happen and his past successes with Tenaga Nasional in the Malaysian Hockey League, says it all about his creditability as an excellent coach.
He picked his best-18 players for the Four-Nation and they will open their account against India today.
The surprise inclusion is forward Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin, who only joined the national junior training squad about six month ago.
Rajan said Izwan is a natural goal-scorer and will be a player to watch in the Four-Nation.
"He is fast and excellent with his dribbling skills. I am banking on him to deliver the goals,” said Rajan in Johor Baru yesterday.
Izwan made his debut in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney in January and scored two goals in four matches.
The other forwards in the squad are Ahmad Termidzi Ismail, Mohd Azammi Adabi, Faizal Saari and Mohd Jamil Saidin.
On the opening match against India, Rajan said his team can expect a strong challenge from their skillful opponents.
"We also have to wary of their penalty corner specialist Diwakar (Ram), who is good with his drag flicks,’’ he added.

MALAYSIA: Goalkeepers: Abdul Hakim Adnan, Mohd Asmawi Zaidi;
Defenders: Khairil Anuar Mohd Isa, Mohd Sybrie Sham suddin, Mohd Nor Hafiq Abdul Gaffar, Wong Kee Hoon, G. Kavin Kartik;
Midfielders: Mohd Marhan Mohd Jalil, Azreen Rizal Nasir, Mohd Shafiq Mohd Zain, Mohd Izzat Mohd Rahim, Harvinder Singh, R. Nadesh;
Forwards: Faizal Saari, Mohd Azammi Adabi, Mohd Jamil Saidin, Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin, Ahmad Termidzi Ismail.