Perak's 21-yer wait is over

The Perak team celebrate after winning the 51st edition of the Razak Cup after beating Kuala Lumpur 3-0 in the final in Kuantan yesterday. Pic by Luqman Hakim Zubir

 PERAK won the Razak Cup after 21 years at Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium in Kuantan yesterday.
    Led by international Azlan Misron, Perak notched their seventh Cup title by overcoming favourites Kuala Lumpur 3-0 in the final.
    KL, despite dominating play, were toothless in attack and failed to convert five penalty corner set-pieces in the absence of international Razie Rahim and Amin Rahim.
   Muhd Najib Abu Hassan netted the opening goal in the 12th minute before international Hafifi Hafiz Hanafi added a second off a penalty corner set-piece in the 54th.
  A desperate KL attacked in numbers late in the second half and paid dearly for leaving their back-line unattended. Mohd Noor Khairul Azrain made it three for Perak five minutes from time.
   Perak coach Kulwant Singh said his team played their hearts out to bring back the trophy to the state after 21 years.
   "My team, comprising a mix of seniors and juniors, played to instructions. Frankly, we did not have centralised training as some players were with the national team for the Asia Cup," said Kulwant yesterday.
   KL coach K. Rajan said his team did everything right except score.
   "We also did not have a flicker for penalty corners. We should not have conceded the first goal and the move to attack in the second half failed to pay off," said Rajan.
    Former champions Malacca recorded a comprehensive 4-1 win over Negri Sembilan for third place.
    In the Division Two final, former international Muhd Noor Faez Ibrahim led Selangor to an impressive 3-1 win over Armed Forces to earn promotion to the main tier division next season.
  Faridzul Afiq Mohd (10th) and Muhd Amerullah Aziz (34th) gave Selangor a 2-0 lead at half-time before Noor Faez added a third 10 minutes before the final hooter. It was Noor Faez's 11th goal in the competition.
   Tuan Abdul Walid Tuan Aziz replied for Forces off a penalty corner set-piece in the 46th minute.
   "We have finally made it to Division One after five years. Everyone played to instructions," said Selangor coach S. Sivabalan.
   ROLL OF HONOUR -- Division One: 1 Perak, 2 Kuala Lumpur, 3 Malacca, 4 Negri Sembilan.
   Fairplay: Penang; Most Valuable Player: Muhd Shukri Abdul Mutalib (Per); Best Player of Final: Hafifi Hafiz Hanafi (Per); Top scorers: Mohd Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghaffar (Joh), Ahmad Kazamirul Nasaruddin (Pah), Izwan Firdaus Tajuddin (Pen) -- seven goals
   Division Two: 1 Selangor, 2 Armed Forces, 3 Police, 4 Perlis.
   Fairplay: Armed Forces; Most Valuable Player: Kevinder Singh (Police); Best goalkeeper: Adriel Ang (Sab); Best of Final: Saiful Azhar Mohd Affandi (Sel); Top scorer: Muhd Noor Faeez Ibrahim (Sel) -- 11 goals.

Tengku Abdullah wants answers...

NewStraitsTimes By T.N.Alagesh

OFFICIALS involved in giving the green light for a 22-year-old hockey player, who is currently serving a two-year suspension, to feature in the ongoing Razak Cup in Kuantan could find themselves in trouble as the Malaysian Hockey Confederation wants to get to the root of the matter.
MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah wants those responsible, including from the Pahang Hockey Association (Pahang HA) and MHC who may have turned a deaf ear in allowing the respective player to register for the tournament, to come forward and explain. Clearly upset over the matter, Tengku Abdullah said such an incident, which displayed the weaknesses of certain officials, will only tarnish the image of the game in the country.
"This is the problem with the officials. We have to take action against those responsible for allowing a suspended player to register himself and take to the field in the opening fixture.
"To be fair I hope to hear from both parties (Pahang HA and MHC) on the incident. I hope those responsible will provide an explanation on the matter," Tengku Abdullah told reporters in Kuantan yesterday.
On Tuesday, the Pahang team were ordered to turn up for their remaining matches with only 17 players after Mohd Aminuddin Abu, who is serving a two-year suspension, was barred by tournament director Brian Fernandez.
Aminuddin, suspended in 2011 for failing a dope test, is due to complete his suspension on Oct 12 but Pahang fielded him for their opening match against Perak on Saturday.
However, since Pahang lost that match, it is learnt that there were no changes to the outcome other than barring Aminuddin from the tournament.

Malaysia game for their second title..

NATIONAL juniors coach K. Dharmaraj has set his eyes on the Sultan of Johor Cup title, as he finally has his full squad for the assault at the Taman Daya Stadium from Sept 22-29.
    Malaysia were the inaugural champions in 2011, but ended at the bottom last year, and with the Junior World Cup just around the corner, Dharmaraj wants the title as an early boost.
    Malaysia are in Group D of the Junior World Cup, in New Delhi from Dec 6-15, together with Pakistan, England and South Africa.
   And in Johor, the other five teams are England, Pakistan, India, Argentina and South Korea.
    “I believe with the inclusion of the four players who were with the senior side, the team has the potential to win the title again.
    “And with England and Pakistan in our World Cup group, it is time we win morale boosters on home soil,” said Dharmaraj.
    South Africa were also supposed to play in Johor, but pulled out due to lack of funds.
   The four who played in the Asia Cup with the senior side and will be back with Dharmaraj are Fitri Saari, Faiz Jali Helmi, Izad Hakimi and Firhan Ashaari.
    And even though Malaysia will parade their best available, India and Pakistan are expected to be the teams to beat.
    “Looking at the team list, Pakistan will be fielding the same side which we beat in the final of the Junior Asia Cup, while India also have many players who have seen action at the senior side in recent major tournaments.
   “But that is the challenge we gladly accept, because my players need to beat both this two teams to prepare for the Junior World Cup semi-finals target,” said Dharmaraj.

Women shoot for the stars..

THE Malaysian women’s hockey team for the Asia Cup will  attempt to scale new heights, as a fourth-placed target has  been set for them.
    The tournament, which is also a World Cup Qualifier, will  be held at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil from  Sept 21-27.
    Malaysia are Group A with defending champions China,  India, and Hong Kong while South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan  and Taiwan are placed in Group B.
    “We need to beat India and Hong Kong to play in the semi- finals, and take matters from there,” said women’s coach  Nasihin Nubli.
    The 18-strong squad, with an average age of 24, will also  see 18-year-old Fatin Shafika playing in her third big tournament after featuring in the World Hockey League Round  One and Round Two.
    The other notable youngster is 20-year-old Nor Azlin  Sumantri.
    Malaysia will open accounts against China on Sept 21,  followed by Hong Kong the next day and their last group  match is against India on Sept 24.
    The women’s junior and senior side received an attire  boost to the tune of RM200,000 from GS Gill.
   “This is the 11th year of sponsorship from GS Gill and we  are grateful to the undying support,” said Nasihin.
    MALAYSIA -- Goalkeepers: Farah Ayuni Yahya, Siti Noor  Hafiza.
   Defenders: Julaini Din, Siti Shahidah Saad, Raja Noor Sharina, Nuraini Rashid, Norhashikin Halim, Siti Nor Ama rina.
   Midfielders: Nadia Rahman, Rabiatul Adawiyah, Noor  Hasliza Ali, Fatin Shakira, Nor Izaidah Ibrahim.
   Forwards: Norbaini Hashim, Siti Rahmah Othman, Fazilla  Sylvester Silin, Nurul Nabihan Mansor, Nor Azlin Sumantri.

Five nations battle for 2018 World Cups

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is delighted to announce that it has received seven high quality bids from five nations who are all vying for the chance to host Hockey’s marquee events.

Four official proposals to host the men’s World Cup have been made, with a further three submissions being made for the women’s equivalent. The National Associations of Australia, England, India, Malaysia, and New Zealand have all put extremely strong cases forward in an attempt to lure the sport’s top properties to their territory. 

As part of the bidding process, the FIH requested that official bid questionnaires were submitted before the 31 August deadline. The FIH received official submissions from five of the original six nations that initially expressed interest earlier in the year. The next phase of the process will feature the detailed evaluation of each bid which will be followed by further discussions and clarifications with NAs as well as site visits to each country.  The final decision will rest with the FIH Executive Board in Lausanne, Switzerland, with the winning bids being announced on 7 November 2013.