Azlan Shah takes coaches to task

PIC: Malaysia’s Kelvinder Singh (right) attempts to get past China’s Tianjun in their friendly yesterday. Malaysia won 2-0. Pic by Supian Ahmad

By Ajitpal Singh

FORMER Malaysian Hockey Federation president Sultan Azlan Shah took the national coaches to task and jokingly said he would "hang them" if the national team fail to qualify for the London Olympics.
Hockey
Sultan Azlan met national coach Tai Beng Hai, assistant coach Nur Saiful Zaini, team manager George Koshy and National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong in a meeting which lasted about 20 minutes, after Malaysia's 2-0 victory over China in an international friendly at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
"Not good enough... all aspects, especially penalty corners... they tend to make mistakes in the circle, and whenever they claim for a foul, they shout 'kaki, kaki, kaki'. But when they attack, they don't push the ball onto the legs of their opponents to earn corners," said Sultan Azlan, also the president of the Asian Hockey Federation, yesterday.
"The coaches should be trained, not the players. I wanted to bring in help but the coaches refused."
Malaysia have been drawn with South Korea, Ireland, Russia, Ukraine and Chile in Olympic Qualifiers in London on March 10-18.
"An acquaintance of mine, Nick Holden, offered the services of a South African who was formerly coaching the Irish team but our coaches declined.
"They (national coaches) also did not want the help of Paul (Lissek). In this situation, we should use all the help we can get. They said they can handle. The team better qualify or I will hang them," he added jokingly.
Sultan Azlan then summoned Zolkples, and the NSC head later confirmed that the coaches had declined the offer of assistance from the two coaches.
Asked about the team's qualification chances, Sultan Azlan said: "Korea are there and we cannot discount Ireland, it is going to be difficult.
"The team must have a winning attitude... they must play to win... like Tiger Woods. It is all in the head," said Sultan Azlan.
In yesterday's friendly, Malaysia scored in each half in their 2-0 victory over China. The scorers were Razie Rahim (15th) and Firhan Ashaari (69th).
The team face China in their fifth and final friendly at the same venue today at 6pm.

Azlan Shah slams coaches

By Aftar Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president Sultan Azlan Shah took the national hockey team’s coaches to task after watching Malaysia’s fourth friendly against China at the National Hockey Stadium in Buklit Jalil yesterday.
Sultan Azlan, who is also the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) president, jokingly said: I will hang them (coaches) if the national team do not qualify for the London Olympics. The coaches need training more than the players.”
He also had a heart-to-heart talk with national coach Tai Beng Hai, assistant coach Nor Saiful Zaini and team manager George Koshy. Also present was National Sports Council (NSC) Director-General Datuk Zolkples Embong.
Sultan Azlan, who is also life president of the now defunct MHF, was apparently very unhappy with the coaches who turned down his offer to help the national team qualify for the Olympics.
The MHF were dissolved on Dec 17 and the Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) took over as the governing body of hockey as of January this year.
“An acquaintance of mine, Nick Holden from South Africa, knows a former Ireland coach who is willing to help out but our coaches did not take up his offer.
“I also want to bring back former national coach Paul (Lissek) to help but the coaches don’t want his services either.”
Zolkple, confirmed that our coaches did not want the duo’s help.
Malaysia, who are preparing for the Olympic qualifier in Dublin from March 10-18, played a pathetic game against China but still managed to win 2-0 in the fourth test match yesterday.
Defender Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim gave Malaysia the lead from the first penalty corner in the 15th minute before Mohd Firhan Ashaari scored in the 69th from a field goal.
It was Malaysia’s second win of the five-match series. They lost the first two matches (2-1) and (4-1) before winning the third (4-2).
The two teams will square off in the fifth and final match today at 6pm.
When asked about the current team, Sultan Azlan said they were not good enough.
“They are not good in all aspects especially in penalty corners. Every time when the opponents are in their D, they claim for leg faults (kaki, kaki, kaki). When they are in the opponents semi-circle the players are not hitting the ball onto the opponents’ legs,” he said .
Sultan Azlan said that the players must have the “winning attitude”.
“They must play to win like golfing great Tiger Woods. They must use their heads.”
Asked about the chances of qualifying for the Olympics, Sultan Azlan said it is going to be tough.
“It is not going to be easy against South Korea and Ireland in the qualifier,” said Sultan Azlan.
Malaysia failed to qualify for the last two Olympics in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008). They last played in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. -- THE STAR

Former Negri hockey player jailed

MALACCA, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- A former hockey player for the Negri Sembilan team and a friend were sentenced to four years' jail by the Sessions Court here today for robbing a senior citizen more than two years ago.
Judge Abu Bakar Katar ordered the sentence on K.G Chandrasegaran and B.R Vinneshwaran, who pleaded guilty to the charge.
They are to serve the sentence from today.
Chandrasegaran, 23, and Vinneshwaran, 22, were jointly charged with robbing one Ang Kim Hua, 58, of a gold chain, RM8,500 and a Nokia 2630 handphone at a workers' quarters at Hutan Percha, Alor Gajah, about 1.50pm on Aug 6, 2009.
They are charged under Section 394 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries an imprisonment for up to 20 years and liable to fine or whipping, upon conviction.
In mitigation, lawyer T. Samidurai, representing Chandrasegaran and Vinneshwaran, said both his clients were remorse and promised to repeat their mistake.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin prosecuted. -- BERNAMA

Malaysia 4 China 2

THE Malaysian seniors salvaged some pride when the beat China 4-2 in the third friendlies at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Two more friendlies are slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, and Malaysia need to win both to keep a psychological advantage over the China side in future tournaments.
Coach Tai Beng Hai's men played much better game than the first two defeats, but still muffed sitters and went into the dressing room trailing the visiting China side.
The seniors lost the first match 2-1, and the second 4-1, after which the China side were soundly beaten by the Project 2013 side 6-2 on Saturday.
And while the Malaysian seniors enjoyed two rest days, China played back-to-back against Project 2013 and then the seniors yesterday, but were still the more spirited side.
The script was the same yesterday, as China scored off their first penalty corner in the 26th minute just like the previous two matches against the senior side, and went into the dressing room to plot another win.
However, Malaysia won their third penalty corner of the match in the 47th minute, and this time, Amin Rahim's low flick sounded the board to inject some hope into the match.
China immediately mounted a attack after the restart, but were stopped at the top of the Malaysian semi-circle, and a counter saw the ball reaching Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin at the China goalmouth, and he cooly beat a player and slotted in a reverse stick lead in the 50th minute.
And that was the tonic needed for Firhan Ashaari to score the third goal in the 55th minute, off a goalmouth melee.
Malaysia then got their fourth goal off a botched penalty corner which was salvaged by defender Razie Rahim with a powerful hit in the 61st minute.
China pulled one back in the 64th minute, but the score stood at 4-2 in favour of Malaysia.

Project 2013 whip China 6-2

SULTAN of Johor Cup gold medallist Project 2013 taught their seniors how to win matches when they beat China seniors 6-2 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The China national team are down to play five friendlies with the national seniors, and one against the Project 2013 players.
Malaysian seniors lost their first two matches 2-1 and 4-1, and were at the stands watching the Project boys make short work of China players with deft touches and hard running.
The only senior player who guided them yesterday was Kelvinder Singh, who just recovered from injury and was given extra match practice.
The Project 2013 players, who beat Australia 3-2 in the Sultan of Johor Cup final, are preparing for the Junior Asia Cup on May 3-13 in Malacca, which also doubles up as the Junior World Cup Qualifier.
And the seniors are preparing for the Dublin Olympic Qualifiers on March 10-18, where only the gold medallist will advance to London.
Yesterday, the Project 2013 goalscorers were Mohamed Syarin (sixth), Mohamed Nor Faiz (16th, 51st), Kelvinder Singh (18th), Dedy Aryady (39th), Amir Farid (60th).
Malaysia seniors and China will square off in their third friendly at the National Stadium today.