Malaysia 0 Australia 4

 Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin in action against Australia ..

THE Malaysian hockey team played well in patches and went down 4-0 to world no 1 Australia in the curtain raiser of the World Cup at the Hague, Netherlands yesterday.
   The score was 1-0 at half-time, but world no 13 Malaysia let in three more soft goals in the second half.
   Glenn Turner started the count with a 25th minute goal, while the other goals were scored by Eddie Ockenden (50th), Jamie Dwyer (52nd), and Turner (54th).
   All the second half goals were scored in a spate of four minutes, as Malaysia collapsed at the back-line.
   Only the heroics of goalkeeper S, Kumar, who saved at least seven attempts, saved a total drubbing.
    Malaysia will next play Belgium on Monday.
    Yesterday morning, the Malaysian team were hit by another bad news as coach K. Dharmaraj’s gather, R. Kanniah, passed away in India a few hours before the match against Australia.
    Dharmaraj had this posted on his FaceBook: “Thank you all, for your condolence messages with regards to my father's sudden demise. As it has been difficult moment with so many sad and bad news. Thanks for the kind words and concern.
   “It is difficult but your words make me strong. Thank you again.”
   The match statistics sided Australia, as they had 11 shots at goal while Malaysia only had two. The Aussies also had six penalty corners but they failed to score a single goal, as Malaysia defended well.
   The two penalty corners won by Malaysia were executed by Razie Rahim and Faizal Saari but were nicely stopped by the first runners.
    RESULTS -- GROUP A: Malaysia 0 Australia 4, Belgium x India x, England x Spain x.
   MALAYSIA’S World Cup Fixtures (Malaysian time) -- June 2: v Belgium (11.30pm); June  5: v  England (7pm); June 7: v India (8.30pm); June 9: v Spain   (8.30pm).

Kookaburras lose Simpson & Ford to injury

Deavin & Gohdes called up.

Author: Lawrence West/Friday, 30 May 2014/Categories: Hockey Australia News, Kookaburras, Events, World Cup

The Kookaburras have made two changes to the squad for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup, which begins on Saturday in The Hague.
Victorian Glenn Simpson has been withdrawn from the squad after sustaining a fractured ankle in last Sunday’s Test match against England. He will be replaced by Tasmanian Tim Deavin, who is one of two travelling reserves to have trained and played with the World Cup team in England and the Netherlands over the past ten days. 

After sustaining a calf tear in a practice match against Germany on Thursday, Victorian Russell Ford (pictured) has also been withdrawn from the squad. Ford will be replaced by Queenslander Matt Gohdes, who is already with the team in The Hague as a travelling reserve. 

Both Deavin and Gohdes were members of the Australian team that won the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

1 day to the Malaysia-Australia cracker...

MALAYSIA’S World Cup Fixtures (Malaysian time) -- Saturday:  v Australia (4.30pm); June 2: v Belgium (11.30pm); June  5: v  England (7pm); June 7: v India (8.30pm); June 9: v Spain   (8.30pm).

German-born Kevin KOed by hamstring...

Kevin Lim (left) pulled a hamstring during the practice match on May 29, 2014, and has been ruled out of the World Cup. Mohamed Izad Hakimi will be his replacement. – S. S. Kanesan / THE STAR

THE Malaysian hockey team is expected to face a torrid defense test against world No 1 Australia in the in the curtain raiser of the World Cup at the Hague, Netherlands, today.
   As hours before the big match, coach K. Dharmaraj had to reshuffle his defence again, as German-born Kevin Lim pulled a hamstring and has been ruled out for the tournament.
   Izat Hakimi Jamaluddin is being flown in as a replacement and will only arrive today morning, and jet-lag could pose a big problem when he is paired with Razie Rahim in the opener.
   “Kevin pulled a hamstring during our last training match against a Dutch club-side (Friday), and he has been ruled out of the tournament.
   “I still consider it as a lucky break as we had time to fly in a replacement at the 11th hour and I picked Izat over Ahmad Kazamirul and Baljit Singh.
   “I had three choices, Kazamirul is also a flicker but we have enough flickers (for penalty corners) in the team while Baljit has been on and off injuries and I was afraid he will get injured again if he pushes himself in the World Cup.
    “As for Izat, he played in the Azlan Shah Cup as well as the Champions Challenge 1 but unfortunately when the World Cup selection was done, he was down with viral fever and hospitalised.
    “But Izat has recovered now, and I believe he is the best choice among the three options I had as replacement,” said Dharmaraj.
   Izat is the younger brother of No 1 goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin, who is the only surviving member of the 2002 World Cup in the Malaysian side at the Hague.
    The other set of brothers are Faizal and Fitri Saari.
   As for the opening match against Australia who Malaysia lost 8-3 to in the final of the Azlan Shah Cup, Dharmaraj will rely on counter attacks.
   “It would be suicidal to play an open game against Australia, and we hope to do the damage on counter attacks.
   “Also the defenders, especially (goalkeeper) S. Kumar, will have to be at their best to defend Australia’s penalty corners for the team to post a good result,” said Dharmaraj.
   For the record, Kumar was not between the posts when Malaysia lost 8-3, but juniors goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman.
  MALAYSIA’S World Cup Fixtures (Malaysian time) -- Today: v Australia (4.30pm); June 2: v Belgium (11.30pm); June  5: v England (7pm); June 7: v India (8.30pm); June 9: v Spain  (8.30pm).

Moments of respect for the icon..

Junior Asia Cup 2012.. Malaysia topped the podium after 20 years

MALAYSIA will open their World Cup campaign against  world No 1 Australia this Saturday, and there will be a  moment of silence before the match to recognise the contributions of the late Sultan Azlan Shah.
   Azlan Shah, who died on Wednesday, was the Asian Hockey  Federation (AHF) president as well as an Executive Board  member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
    “Sultan Azlan Shah was an important and passionate  member of our Executive Board and we are very saddened by  this news,” said Leandro Negre, president of FIH.
   “Our condolences go out to his Royal Highness’ entire  family and especially his wife, Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku  Bainun, his son, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah and daughters, Dato  Seri Raja Azureen, Raja Eleena and Raja Yong Sofia,” added  Negre.
    FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather said: “This is a great loss for the  hockey world as Sultan Azlan Shah was an icon in hockey.
  “His commitment and his dedication as an ambassador for  the sport will truly be missed.”
    The FIH press release also said: “Moments of respect will  be paid during the Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The  Hague, Netherlands.”
    Azlan Shah passed away at the age of 86 after being the  president of the AHF since 1990, and saw the growth of AHF  from 20 to its now 31 members.
    In addition, Azlan Shah was pivotal in the start-up of the  Raja Ashman AHF-MHFC Academy, which is now the leading  centre for hockey officials and coaches in Asia.
    Malaysian coach K. Dharmaraj said his players will wear a  black arm-band as a mark of respect.
   “The players and officials were all shocked when we heard  about the passing of Azlan Shah, and on a personal note, he  was a guiding figure when I was a national player, as well as  when I became a coach. I remember with fondness when he  came to watch my boys become champions in the Junior Asia  Cup in Malacca (and qualified for the Junior World Cup),”  said Dharmaraj.
    MALAYSIA’S World Cup Fixtures (Malaysian time) -- May  31 v Australia (4.30pm); June 2: v Belgium (11.30pm); June  5: v England (7pm); June 7: v India (8.30pm); June 9: v Spain  (8.30pm).