Felda boys on a mission

 Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin (right)

 PIC: Hafiz Zainol(left)

FELDA boys Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin and Hafiz Zainol are two examples of true grit and determination, which is what Malaysia need to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Junior World Cup in New Delhi.
Izad, 21, grew up in a Felda settlement in Trolak, Perak, while Hafiz, 20, is from Jengka in Pahang.
Since the Project 2013 squad were formed five years ago, coach K. Dharmaraj has picked, trained and booted out some 200 players. And for the two Felda boys to remain standing in the final 18 for the World Cup, is a remarkable achievement in itself.
     Both were truly delighted, when Felda came in with an RM500,000 sponsorship to help the team in New Delhi from Dec 6-15.
"Growing up in a Felda settlement, life can be tough sometimes but it made me much more determined to make my mark when I was given a chance to join juniors training a few years ago," said Izad.
"And with Felda coming in as a major sponsor to help us, my gut feeling is that we are going to have a wonderful World Cup," said Hafiz.
Izad's main inspiration was his elder brother Roslan, a goalkeeper with the national senior side for the last decade.
"I have eight other siblings, and I am the youngest. Roslan is 14 years older than me, and I have always admired his ability in hockey.
"He (Roslan) is one of the driving factors in me giving my best in every match I play," said the lanky defender.
Izad is also the first runner when defending penalty corners, and has many a time stopped the ball with his body without fear.
The most recent was when he performed well against India's penalty corner flickers during the Sultan of Johor Cup.
"I don't fear the flickers, and my main focus is to stop them from scoring. If I get hurt in the process, it is not a problem, as I hate letting down the team," said Izad.
As for Hafiz, a midfielder, he feels the top-six target set by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is achievable.
"Our first match (against New Zealand) is the most important in my career as a hockey player. I believe, if we beat the Kiwis, the quarter-finals door will open wide for Malaysia," said Hafiz.
Malaysia are in Group D and the other opponents in their path to the quarter-finals are England and South Africa.

Johari apologises for JHL mess...

PIC: MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah speaking to the media after the appointment of Johari Aziz (right) as the MHC secretary general in April 10 last year.

ENTRIES for the Junior Hockey League (JHL) closed yesterday, but there was nobody at the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) office in Bukit Jalil to accept the forms, as well as the entry fee.
    The MHC office was locked, and team managers who turned up to submit last-minute entries were fuming at the MHC administrative bungle.
   And MHC secretary Johari Aziz, when contacted said it was due to miscommunication among his staff.
   “I admit that the booboo was an oversight, due to miscommunication and I apologise to the team managers who turned up to submit their entries at our Bukit Jalil office.
    “However, we will rectify the situation and not penalise teams which submit entries at a later date. Monday, I will sort out the problem,” said Johari.
    Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) team manager Joseph de Silva was one of those who knocked at the MHC office door yesterday with no reply forthcoming.
    “Olak just finished their selection on Friday, and after finalising the team, I went to the MHC office at 11am to submit the entries and also make the payment as it was the last day.
   “Imagine my shock, when the office was locked on a day when MHC had set as the closing date for entries,” said Joseph.
    For the record, Olak has never missed a single season playing in the JHL since its inception in 1995.
    “While waiting outside the office, I also met Datuk Taha team manager Roslan (Mohamed) who has also come to submit the entry, and he was also shocked on why the MHC office was closed on the last day of filing entries,” said Joseph.

Australian juniors impressive against Kiwis..

BURRAS 5 (2)
Jeremy Hayward 27,62 (PC,PC)
Flynn Ogilvie 35 (F)
Cameron Joyce 40 (PC)
Will Gilmour 66 (F)

NEW ZEALAND JUNIOR BLACK STICKS 2 (1)
Russell Kane 5,45 (PC,PC)

The Burras came from behind to record a second straight win over New Zealand’s Junior Black Sticks in Perth. 
A double from captain Jeremy Hayward (NT) and one each from Flynn Ogilvie (NSW), Cameron Joyce (SA) and Will Gilmour (VIC) saw the Burras come from behind to beat their Kiwi rivals.
Russell Kane’s penalty corner had given New Zealand an early lead but Jeremy Haward’s penalty corner seven minutes from the break levelled the score and Ogilvie’s goal on the stroke of half time sent the Aussie U21s ahead at half time. 
Cameron Joyce’s goal five minutes after the restart gave Australia a two goal cushion but Kane’s second for New Zealand gave the visitors hope of a comeback soon after. 
But as the game entered its final ten minutes the Burras stretched their lead to ensure victory. Hayward’s second made it 4-2 before Will Gilmour’s late strike signed off the Australians’ Junior World Cup preparations.
The Burras' preparations for the Junior World Cup have been aided by support from the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad Program (AJCGS). The team departs Perth for Delhi on Sunday ahead of the start of the tournament next weekend. The Burras will face Argentina, France and Spain in their Pool in Delhi with all eyes on a top two finish and a place in the quarter finals. 
>> Visit the FIH's Junior World Cup web page here.

Burras U21 men’s squad v New Zealand
Started 
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD)
Edward Chittleborough (GK) (Blackwood, SA)
Matthew Dawson (Central Coast, NSW)
Justin Douglas (Townsville, QLD)
Casey Hammond (Melbourne, VIC)
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT)
Cameron Joyce (Port Pirie, SA)
Frank Main (Perth, WA)
Luke Noblett (Sydney, NSW)
Flynn Ogilvie (Woonona, NSW)
Kane Posselt (Atherton, QLD)
Used Substitute
Robert Bell (Brisbane, QLD)
Andrew Butturini (GK) (Burringbar, QLD)
Tyler Cowley (South Morang, VIC)
Aaron Kershaw (Goulburn, NSW)
Will Gilmour (Melbourne, VIC)
Jayshaan Randhawa (Eltham, VIC)
Dylan Wotherspoon (Mulwillumbah, QLD)

JWC: Australia hammer Kiwis 6-1

 http://www.hockey.org.au

BURRAS 6 (1)
Cameron Joyce 3,46 (PC,PC)
Kane Posselt 37 (F)
Tyler Cowley 43,63 (F,F)
Aaron Kershaw 56 (PC)

NEW ZEALAND 1 (0)
Nicholas Woods 58 (PC)

Australia’s under 21 men, the Burras, saw off New Zealand’s Junior Black Sticks with a 6-1 victory in the first of two matches in Perth on Thursday as both countries prepare for the Junior World Cup.
Despite the comprehensive score there was little in the half time tally to indicate the goal-fest second half to come. Cameron Joyce (SA) put the Burras ahead at the break through a penalty corner late in the first period before a quick-fire double in the opening ten minutes of the second half put the Burras well on track. Kane Posselt (QLD) and Tyler Cowley (VIC) both found the net from open play with Joyce adding his second – Australia’s fourth – soon after with a thunderous penalty corner.
Aaron Kershaw (NSW) netted the Burras' fifth goal from another penalty corner before New Zealand pulled a goal back. But there was still plenty in the Australian tank as Cowley rounded off the scoring for 6-1.
Afterwards, Junior Head Coach Paul Gaudoin said, “It was pleasing to score a few goals today but there’s lots of room for improvement. Our basic skills weren’t where they needed to be but overall the signs are promising. Tomorrow, we have another game and we’ll use that to work on improving things in our attacking and defensive thirds."
And speaking about the two week camp the squad is undertaking before departing for India on Sunday, Gaudoin added: “The boys are being worked very hard but we’ve also managed to give them a bit of down time to help with the team bonding. It’s important because they don’t normally train together and they’ve been brought here for this two weeks before the Junior World Cup. It’s been a balanced two weeks; we try to fit in as much as we can without overloading them.”
The two teams meet again on Friday afternoon (5:15pm AWST / 8:15pm AEDT) before departing next week to Delhi for the start of the Junior World Cup.
Burras U21 men’s squad for Junior World Cup
6-15 December 2013, New Delhi, India
Started
Simon Borger (Cairns, QLD)
Andrew Butturini (GK) (Burringbar, QLD)
Matthew Dawson (Central Coast, NSW)
Justin Douglas (Townsville, QLD)
Casey Hammond (Melbourne, VIC)
Aaron Kershaw (Goulburn, NSW)
Luke Noblett (Sydney, NSW)
Flynn Ogilvie (Woonona, NSW)
Kane Posselt (Atherton, QLD)
Jayshaan Randhawa (Eltham, VIC)
Dylan Wotherspoon (Mulwillumbah, QLD)

Used Substitute
Robert Bell (Brisbane, QLD)
Edward Chittleborough (GK) (Blackwood, SA)
Tyler Cowley (South Morang, VIC)
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT)
Cameron Joyce (Port Pirie, SA)
Frank Main (Perth, WA)
Aidan Rintala (Townsville, QLD)

Burras’ Fixtures, Junior World Cup
(all times are local in New Delhi, which is 5.5 hours behind AEDT / 2.5 hours behind AWST)
Friday 6 December – 14:00 – Burras v Argentina (Pool B)
Saturday 7 December – 14:00 – Burras v Spain (Pool B)
Monday 9 December – 16:00 – Burras v France (Pool B)
Thursday 12 December – tbc – Quarter  Final or 9-16 classification
Friday 13 December – tbc – Semi Final or 5-8 classification
Saturday 14 December – tbc – 9-16 classification
Sunday 15 December – tbc – Medal matches or 5-8 classification

Bhutta to lead Pakistan in JWC

KARACHI: Olympian Umar Bhutta has been retained as captain of the national junior team that will represent the country in the Junior Hockey World Cup to be played in India.
    Pakistan will send an 18-member squad for the event that will be contested by 16 teams from December 6 to 15 in New Delhi.
   The final squad was named following the trials in Lahore on Wednesday.
   Bhutta, who led the team at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia in September, has been retained as captain on the back of his experiences with the senior team.
   Mohammad Tauseeq, another member of the senior team, has been named vice-captain in place of Syed Kashif Shah. The squad includes two goal-keepers in Mazhar Abbas and Amin Yousaf.
   However, Mohammad Khalid’s inclusion in the touring squad is subject to his fitness which will be gauged during the practice games between the senior and junior teams on November 29 and 30.
   Khalid will be replaced by Kashif Javed if he fails the fitness test.
   “The squad has been named after thorough assessment,” head coach Manzoorul Hasan told The Express Tribune.
  “We have tried our best to select a balanced squad comprising the best available players.
   “Umar [Bhutta] is experienced and was the best option to lead team while Tauseeq has been promoted after his fine show with the Pakistan team at the Asian Champions Trophy.”
   The colts, tied in Pool A, will begin their World Cup campaign with a match against Egypt, while Germany and Belgium are the other teams in the group.

Squad

Umar Bhutta (captain), Mohammad Tauseeq (vice-captain), Mazhar Abbas, Amin Yousaf, Kashif Shah, Faisal Qadir, Rizwan Junior, Ammad Shakeel, Zohaib Ashraf, Mohammad Umair, Mohammad Dilber, Aleem Bilal, Arslan Qadir, Tassawur Abbas, Mohammad Irfan, Rizwan Ali, Mohammad Adnan, Mohammad Khalid/Kashif Javed.

The Express Tribune