Struggling against 'undercooked' Irish

MALAYSIA beat an undercooked Ireland 4-2 in their second ‘un-friendly’ in Belfield last night.
The first match ended 3-3, while in the second, Malaysia saw one red card and a yellow which diluted their strength.
Ireland coach Paul Revington fielded an inexperienced side for both the matches, with one Irish website commenting the first friendly as: “..an Ireland side made up of mainly possible rather than probable major tournament players.”
And the website described the second friendly as: “Malaysia withstood 37 minutes of suspensions to roast an undercooked Ireland.”
Nabil Fiqi was red carded in the 42nd minute for an off the ball incident, while Baljit Singh was flashed the green and then yellow to add unnecessary pressure in the friendly.
The Malaysian goals were scored by Faizal Saari, Izwan Firdaus, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Azlan Misron.
“We started off well when Faizal scored off a penalty corner attempt, but then let in the equaliser. However, a brilliant run from Faizal, who beat three defender, saw the ball reaching Izwan who tapped in the lead and we went on to score two more goals,” said Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen.
Ireland kept their cool but Malaysia almost blew their top because: “The match was a good lesson for our players to learn to play with two home umpires, with different in terpretations, and a lot of 50-50 balls going against them,” said van Huizen.
Malaysia will play two more friendlies against the Irish before heading to France to play a Five-Nation involving the hosts, Ireland, Scotland and Poland on Aug 24-29.

Malaysia see red in win

Men’s Senior international: Ireland 2 (Alan Giles, Alan Sothern ps) Malaysia 4 (Saari Faizal, Izwan Firdaus, Ahmad Tajudin, Misron Azlan)

by www.hookhockey.com

MALAYSIA withstood 37 minutes of suspensions to roast an undercooked Ireland at Belfield tonight in the second of four challenge matches, scoring twice after Nabil Figri was red carded in the 42nd minute.
He was given his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident, taking a cut at Gareth Watkins in the circle as the crowd’s attention was more keenly focussed on a long corner.
It was one of numerous talking points of a feisty affair which the visitors were delighted to take the win having visibly shown frustration with what they felt were home-town umpiring decisions.
But they played the endgame well, using the incredible speed of Hanfi Hafifihafiz, Misron Azlan and Ahmad Tajudin to devastating effect.
Paul Revington kept a reasonably inexperienced side with Ronan Gormley stepping out of defence with Paul Gleghorne moving in while Chris Cargo and Geoff McCabe in for Andy McConnell and David Ames.
And the hosts had their first shot in anger on just 24 seconds when Brian Doherty’s long overhead found Alan Giles in the circle to whistle a volley over the bar.
Baljit Singh picked up the first suspension of the night in the eighth minute – the first of four cards his side would see to Ireland’s none – but his side took the lead in the 19th minute after an exchange of corners yielded no joy.
It was earned from a typically fast left-wing run. The corner, itself, did not go quite to plan. Muhammad Razie’s spin did not lay the ball up for the intended drag-flicker but he kept possession to tee up Saari Faizal’s precision flick to the top corner.
With the lead, Malaysia reverted to a half-court press and it almost paid dividends when they picked off a loose Irish pass – following a minute of possession with little penetration – but Hafifihafiz scuffed his finish with the goal beckoning.
Ireland were back on terms from their second corner in the 26th minute, Alan Giles sharply controlling Brian Doherty’s corner rebound and batting in a volley.
But parity lasted just a couple of minutes as an Irish mistrap in the attacking 25 saw Faizal pick the ball up show a breathtaking clean pair of heals to burn off three chasers and Izwan Firdaus swept home a simple finish; 2-1 at half-time.
Their evening, though, looked to have turned sour when Nabil Figri was shown the straight red soon after the break. Joe Brennan thought he had levelled from a corner rebound but his effort was disallowed, deemed over shoulder height, after initially being awarded.
The resulting retaken corner was comfortably tipped around the post by the impressive Kalruilnizam. He saved twice more amid a goalmouth melee when Malaysia were down to nine men – Singh taking his second card of the evening.
Peter Caruth’s punch shot bounced Chris Cargo’s way and his swipe was brilliantly blocked back into play but an infringement was called en route and a penalty stroke ensued.
Alan Sothern netted to the left but was ordered to retake, this time switching to his right and garnering the same effect for 2-2 with 17 minutes to go.
The momentum looked likely to all be one way but Malaysia had a breath-taking sucker-punch in store.
Muhammad Razie’s perfectly weighted, 70-metre overhead, was retrieved by Hafifihafiz in the left corner. He picked out Misron Azlan on the circle’s edge who was joined on the flick spot by Ahmad Tajudin and they worked the overload simply for the go-ahead goal.
And they sealed the win in the 59th minute, again from play, when Azlan battered home from the top of the circle.
Ireland created a bit more bedlam in front of Kalruilnizam’s goal, let a fifth corner slip out of their hands while Malaysia endured another yellow card for dissent in the closing stages to end out a lively night in suitable chaotic fashion.
Ireland: Iain Walker, Paul Gleghorne, Brian Doherty, Michael Maguire, Adam Pritchard, Phelie Maguire, Alan Giles, Bruce McCandless, Alan Sothern, Chris Cargo
Subs: Gareth Watkins, Peter Caruth, Peter Blakeney, Jason Lynch, Joe Brennan
Malaysia: Ibrahim Kairuilnizam, Rahim Muhamad Amin, Muhammad Marhan, Madzli Ikmar, Mohamed Sukri, Misron Azlan, Muhamad Razie, Hanfi Hafifihafiz, Baljit Singh, Ahmad Tajudin, Nabil Figri
Subs: Ahmad Kazamirul, Izwan Firdaus, Saari Faizal, Mohan Jivan, Azreen Rizal
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Kieran Bolger
Saturday, 7pm: Ireland vs Malaysia, Belfield
Sunday, 7pm: Ireland vs Malaysia, Belfield

Ireland 3 Malaysia 3

Ireland 3 (Alan Sothern 2, Bruce McCandless) Malaysia 3 (Ahmad Tajudin 2, Hanfi Hafifihafiz)

ALAN Sothern’s last minute goal earned an Ireland side made up of mainly possible rather than probable major tournament players a lively draw at Belfield in the first tie of their four-match series.
Played in front of a decent crowd, chances were few and far between, but the majority of those carved out were converted; Ireland, for example, made three of their four penalty corners count on the scoreboard.
Nonetheless, it was lively encounter from the off with Malaysia’s commitment to a fast and furious style providing a good night’s entertainment. Both sides displayed some flashes of inspiration with Alan Giles displaying some delightful touches while Joe Brennan’s audacious long-passes creating some excellent overload opportunities.
His first such effort – introduced on the quarter-hour from the bench – ripped 60-metres from right to left through the Malaysia defences, found its way to Ronan Gormley who neatly earned his side’s first corner.
With Brian Doherty and Alan Sothern in the dugout at the time, David Ames took the ensuing drag and while his effort was blocked it caused enough mayhem for Bruce McCandless to poke home the second rebound in the 21st minute.
Malaysia were back on terms within three minutes, working their way down the preferred left flank. Marhan jinked his way into the circle before driving a strong push on the 45 angle to the back post.
Amid the melee, Gormley appeared to get an unfortunate stick to the ball though the waiting Hanfi Hafifihafiz was also in the mix and took the credit for the equaliser.
Into the second half, Malaysia started to turn the screw in terms of possession and territory but Ireland kept them outside the 25 for the most part and, after a piece of Giles’ 3d magic, earned another corner.
Sothern nailed low and true in the 47th minute to regain the lead – punishing Malaysia’s second green card sin-binning.
But a player deficit cost Ireland dear in the closing stages as they looked a little jaded in the closing stages. First, the visitors profited from a player advantage when Doherty was binned for two minutes when Ahmad Tajudin provided the moment of the night.
Following a long corner with his back to goal, he turned on a sixpence, flipping the ball through two defenders in the process before sliding his reverse-stick under the ball and over Iain Walker for a delicate finish.
Then, with Ames sitting out the last three and a half minutes for a midfield foul, Tajudin took the lead for the first time in the 68th minute. It was a simpler task to finish this time, rolling home a two-on-one chance from Misron Azlan’s pass.
But Ireland garnered a last chance in the closing stages and Sothern zipped home his 17th international goal, via the goalkeeper’s pad, to earn a draw and stretch the men’s unbeaten to eight games.
Irish assistant coach Arul Anthoni Selvaraj was satisfied with a performance against a Malaysian side “at their peak”
“We have been trying some new defensive tactics and we were pleased with how this went against Malaysia tonight,” he said.
“Obviously, Malaysia have some fast and furious players and they are busy preparing for the Commonwealth Game and Asian Games later in the year, so they are at their peak.”
Umpires: Geoff Conn, Andrew Groves.

By Hookhockey

NPC Dutch Lady Buka Puasa

CATCHING UP: Ahirudin (standing, left) and Tengku Sharifuddin (centre) having a banter with media guests

KUALA LUMPUR: Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd yesterday feted National Press Club members at the Halia Restaurant, Sime Darby Convention Centre.

Its corporate communications head, Jad Mahidin, said the break fast function was timely to foster closer ties with NPC and the media.

Among the 37 guests were NPC president Datuk Ahirudin Attan, and editors from various newspapers, magazines, Bernama and bloggers.

Also in attendance was Datuk Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad, Press secretary to the Prime Minister.

The Tanvir Dar hockey academy story

By Ijaz Choudhry

Olympic gold medallist Taqueer Dar Talks About Pakistan’s Finest Hockey Academy
Established in 2006 with just seven boys, Lahore based Tanvir Dar hockey academy is now acknowledged as Pakistan’s finest colts’ factory.
Functioning without any help from the government, it has been a great success story.
The academy is now providing quality players to the national teams at all the tiers/age groups.
The academy’s founder president, Olympic gold medallist, Taqueer Dar who is in England these days talks about the academy’s achievements and future plans.
- How you see the ‘Tanvir Dar Hockey Academy’ after four years of its inception?
We started with just seven kids and now we have around 70 boys. Our boys have brought laurels for the academy but more importantly they have won selection for Pakistan’s national teams.
- Can you tell us more about the academy’s achievements?
The main purpose of the academy is to groom quality players for Pakistan.
It gives me immense satisfaction that in such a small period, our boys have donned the Pakistan shirts for various teams. Four of our boys were members of the Pakistan team which won the under 18 Asia cup in 2009. Then the Pakistan under 22 side, the winners of the South Asian Games early this year had three players from the Tanvir Dar HA. And now our boys have also started gaining selection for the national senior outfits. Imran Butt debuted for the Pakistan’s national senior team in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup this May.
- The academy is being run without any support from the government. How you manage it?
We were quite apprehensive in the beginning but have been very fortunate in getting sponsorships from various sources. You know that sponsors always look at the results, and the academy is producing results. The academy teams are winning and our boys are gaining selection for Pakistan’s national sides. This attracts more patrons.
- Something about the coaching and training of the boys?
We have a very good team of coaches. Wahid Khan Billoo is a person who eats, drinks, sleeps and dreams hockey. You can’t find a better grass root worker. Then Olympian M.Akhlaq is a qualified coach who has attended many FIH courses and has also been associated with Pakistan’s national outfits.
But I am also fully aware of the importance of providing good competition. Apart from domestic opposition, we look abroad as well. In 2008, our boys travelled to Amritsar, India and won the All India Maharaja Ranjit Singh under 15 tournament.
This year academy’s under 16 side had a very successful tour of three major European hockey nations, Holland, Belgium and Germany.
- Tell us about this European tour?
It was my earnest desire to test the skills of our boys against their European counterparts. It was litmus test to find whether we had been working on right lines.
n Holland, the under 16 side of Tanvir Dar HA appeared in an international youth tournament featuring teams from Holland, Germany and France. The academy team lifted the trophy winning all the matches. They also remained unbeaten in Belgium and Germany. In total, we played 17 matches, winning 16 and drawing one.
The return tickets and the visas of the academy were financed by our Pakistani sponsors while the boarding and lodging as well as the travel within Europe was taken care by our hosts.
- Immediate future plans?
I visit England almost every year. England has a very good hockey structure especially at youth level. The school hockey in this country is the best organised in the whole Europe. The single system introduced by the England hockey is an excellent scheme to reach all the parts of the country and all the sections of the society.
So it will be wonderful if the Dar HA tours England in near future, may be the next year. As there is a large population of ethnic Pakistanis is this country so I am sure there will be good crowds in our matches and the tour will be well covered by the Asian media in the UK.
Academy’s achievements mean we can rope in sponsors in Pakistan to finance our travel both ways but we will need a formal invitation from our hosts in England which is a prerequisite to obtain the UK visas.

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