NEW broom Australian Neil Hawgood believes Malaysia has many skilful and talented players, but he will need at least two and a half years before he can turn them into medal winners.
Hawgood has been hired as consultant for the Singapore World League Round Two, and that was his assessment after watching coach Tai Beng Hai's players train at the Sengkang Stadium.
"Well it took me two and a half years to turn the India women's team around, (and that should be the yardstick)," he said yesterday.
The senior Indian women qualified for the World Cup, while the juniors won bronze in the Junior World Cup.
Hawgood is being courted as the national coach, but first, the National Sports Council (NSC) wants the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to clean up their amended constitution before talks about a foreign coach can move further.
His contract with India expired in December, and if all goes well Hawgood could just be foreign coach that MHC have been trying to secure for the last year.
When asked if he will adapt the Australian style in Malaysia: "No, that is not the approach I will take as every country has its own strength in playing hockey and I will work to improve some weak departments but not the sytle of play as Malaysia has very skilful players and I will work with this unique charachter and balance it out to bring out the best," said Hawgood.
Malaysia has seen many foreign coaches before Hawgood and even the likes of Australian Terry Walsh, and Germans Volker Knapp, Paul Lissek and South African Paul Revington could not do much to improve the world rankings.
Malaysia are stuck on no 13: "World rankings do not mean a thing because world no 20 teams have finished fifth in the World League. India are the best in Asia, but second to South Korea in the world.
"The main aim is to develop a winning mentality, and with it, medals will come and naturally, the rankings will also be better."
In Singapore Hawgood said Malaysia have had a very good preparation, and if the players focus on the task at hand, winning a gold medal is not beyond this team.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
Azmi: Best chance for gold
MALAYSIAN team manager Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad believes this is the best time for Malaysia to win a gold medal, as the opponents in the World League Round Two in Singapore are not heavy-weights.
The tournament, which starts on Saturday, will see top seed Malaysia play Ukraine, Oman and Singapore. The top-three teams qualify for the World League Semi-finals which is a door to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
"As the top seeds I believe this is our best chance to win a gold medal and qualify for the WL Semifinals on a confident note. The teams here are not world beaters, and we can beat all of them provided there is full commitment from the players in every match.
"I have spoken the players and they are committed to the cause, as all their needs have been taken care off, and there are no more grouses off the pich. Now, they just need to give their best for the country.
Australian Neil Hawgood has been roped in as consultant to help chief coach Tain Beng Hai and he was at the Sengkang stadium with the team yesterday.
Malaysia were supposed to play a friendly with Singapore yesterday, but the match was called off as many Singapore players have picked up injuries leading to the tournament.
"We have a balanced team as our goalkeeper (S. Kumar) is among the best in the world and with good penalty corner flickers (Razie Rahim and Faizal Saari) I believe the team will not let down their fans again like last year," said Nur Azmi.
Malaysia were a total flop last year as they struggled in the World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and gave away the gold in the Champions Challenge I and the Asian Games.
Their performance against minnows, even though ranked 13th in the World also came to question when they lost to World No 29 Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
But that is the past: "I have selected the best players, and the plan is to win the semi-finals and grab a ticket to the WL semi-finals early to avoid unnecessary pressure in the third-fourth placing match," said Beng Hai.
The tournament, which starts on Saturday, will see top seed Malaysia play Ukraine, Oman and Singapore. The top-three teams qualify for the World League Semi-finals which is a door to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
"As the top seeds I believe this is our best chance to win a gold medal and qualify for the WL Semifinals on a confident note. The teams here are not world beaters, and we can beat all of them provided there is full commitment from the players in every match.
"I have spoken the players and they are committed to the cause, as all their needs have been taken care off, and there are no more grouses off the pich. Now, they just need to give their best for the country.
Australian Neil Hawgood has been roped in as consultant to help chief coach Tain Beng Hai and he was at the Sengkang stadium with the team yesterday.
Malaysia were supposed to play a friendly with Singapore yesterday, but the match was called off as many Singapore players have picked up injuries leading to the tournament.
"We have a balanced team as our goalkeeper (S. Kumar) is among the best in the world and with good penalty corner flickers (Razie Rahim and Faizal Saari) I believe the team will not let down their fans again like last year," said Nur Azmi.
Malaysia were a total flop last year as they struggled in the World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and gave away the gold in the Champions Challenge I and the Asian Games.
Their performance against minnows, even though ranked 13th in the World also came to question when they lost to World No 29 Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
But that is the past: "I have selected the best players, and the plan is to win the semi-finals and grab a ticket to the WL semi-finals early to avoid unnecessary pressure in the third-fourth placing match," said Beng Hai.
Gobinathan: Bangladesh teady for battle
BANGLADESH coach K. Gobinathan brough down a young team to the World League Round Two in Singapore, as he plans to blood them for the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan at the end of the year,
Even the, the former Malaysian international said none of the Malaysian players can match his boys when it comes to fitness.
"The players are tactically much better after I coached them for a month, and are super fit. None of the Malaysian players can come close to their fitness level," said Gobinathan.
Bangladesh are in Group B with Japan, Poland and Mexico. In Group A are Malaysia, Oman, Ukraine and Singapore.
Gobinathan's boys played a friendly against the Malaysian juniors before arriving in Singapore, and they only lost 2-1. Yesterday, Bangladesh played against Ukraine and also lost 2-1.
"We missed too many sitters in both the games, as shooting in the semi-circle is still a big problem. However, we aim to give every team in our group a tough fight as my plan is to have a solid side for the Junior Asia Cup.
"I have 12 players in Singapore who can play for Bangladesh in the junior tournament, and I believe we have a side which can win a medal in Kuantan," said Gobinathan.
The only chance of Malaysia meeting Bangladesh is if they top Group A, and Bangladesh finishes at the bottom of Group B -- and the clash will be at the quarter-finals level.
"No way we will meet Malaysia in the quarter finals, as we aim to make an impact in this tournament," said Gobinathan.
Even the, the former Malaysian international said none of the Malaysian players can match his boys when it comes to fitness.
"The players are tactically much better after I coached them for a month, and are super fit. None of the Malaysian players can come close to their fitness level," said Gobinathan.
Bangladesh are in Group B with Japan, Poland and Mexico. In Group A are Malaysia, Oman, Ukraine and Singapore.
Gobinathan's boys played a friendly against the Malaysian juniors before arriving in Singapore, and they only lost 2-1. Yesterday, Bangladesh played against Ukraine and also lost 2-1.
"We missed too many sitters in both the games, as shooting in the semi-circle is still a big problem. However, we aim to give every team in our group a tough fight as my plan is to have a solid side for the Junior Asia Cup.
"I have 12 players in Singapore who can play for Bangladesh in the junior tournament, and I believe we have a side which can win a medal in Kuantan," said Gobinathan.
The only chance of Malaysia meeting Bangladesh is if they top Group A, and Bangladesh finishes at the bottom of Group B -- and the clash will be at the quarter-finals level.
"No way we will meet Malaysia in the quarter finals, as we aim to make an impact in this tournament," said Gobinathan.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Hawgood appointed as consultant...
AUSTRALIAN Neil Hawgood was finally accepted as a consultant, and will assist chief coach Tai Beng Hai in the Singapore World League Round Two on Jan 17-25.
However, the National Sports Council (NSC) told Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM) and clean up their messy constitution before they can talk further about hiring Hawgood on a full-time basis.
Hawgood's previous attachment was with the India women's team from July 2012, and under him, India won bronze in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea, while the junior team won a first-ever bronze medal in the 2013 World Cup.
Yesterday, MHC vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad met NSC director general Datuk Ahamad Shapawi to iron out the coach as well as constitution issues.
MHC messed up their constitutional amendments at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) last year, and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have offered suggestions on how to tighten it.
"The NSC have agreed to the appointment of Hawgood as consultant for the World League but we need to rectify some issues in our amended constitution before they proceed with the next step of offering him a coaching contract," said Nur Azmi Ahmad.
Beng Hai welcomed the news, even though its an 11th hour appointment as the team leave for Singapore today.
"Finally there is some concrete news about a foreign coach with the help of the NSC. I welcome the appointment of Hawgood as consultant as every little help matters in a tournament of this nature," said Beng Hai.
Malaysia have Oman (22nd), Ukraine (24th) and Singapore (36th) for company in Group A. In Group B are Japan (14th), Poland, (18th), Bangladesh (30th) and Mexico (35th).
The top-three teams in Singapore will advance to the World League Semi-finals at either Argentina or Belgium where tickets to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics await.
Malaysia are arranging for a friendly in Singapore on Thursday: "All the players are injury free and ready for the tournament," said Beng Hai as he tries to steer Malaysia to the top of the podium.
For the record, Malaysia has a spartan record of winning an FIH tournament as their only gold was won when Stephen van Huizen coached the nation at a Paris Five-Nation.
Van Huizen is now assistant to Beng Hai.
And then there was the near miss at the 2009 World Cup Qualifier in Invercargill, New Zealand, where Malaysia won silver. Then, Malaysia took the lead, only to lose 2-1 and hand the New Delhi World Cup ticket to New Zealand.
However, the National Sports Council (NSC) told Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM) and clean up their messy constitution before they can talk further about hiring Hawgood on a full-time basis.
Hawgood's previous attachment was with the India women's team from July 2012, and under him, India won bronze in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea, while the junior team won a first-ever bronze medal in the 2013 World Cup.
Yesterday, MHC vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad met NSC director general Datuk Ahamad Shapawi to iron out the coach as well as constitution issues.
MHC messed up their constitutional amendments at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) last year, and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have offered suggestions on how to tighten it.
"The NSC have agreed to the appointment of Hawgood as consultant for the World League but we need to rectify some issues in our amended constitution before they proceed with the next step of offering him a coaching contract," said Nur Azmi Ahmad.
Beng Hai welcomed the news, even though its an 11th hour appointment as the team leave for Singapore today.
"Finally there is some concrete news about a foreign coach with the help of the NSC. I welcome the appointment of Hawgood as consultant as every little help matters in a tournament of this nature," said Beng Hai.
Malaysia have Oman (22nd), Ukraine (24th) and Singapore (36th) for company in Group A. In Group B are Japan (14th), Poland, (18th), Bangladesh (30th) and Mexico (35th).
The top-three teams in Singapore will advance to the World League Semi-finals at either Argentina or Belgium where tickets to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics await.
Malaysia are arranging for a friendly in Singapore on Thursday: "All the players are injury free and ready for the tournament," said Beng Hai as he tries to steer Malaysia to the top of the podium.
For the record, Malaysia has a spartan record of winning an FIH tournament as their only gold was won when Stephen van Huizen coached the nation at a Paris Five-Nation.
Van Huizen is now assistant to Beng Hai.
And then there was the near miss at the 2009 World Cup Qualifier in Invercargill, New Zealand, where Malaysia won silver. Then, Malaysia took the lead, only to lose 2-1 and hand the New Delhi World Cup ticket to New Zealand.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Azlan Misron: I want gold..
SEASONED campaigner Azlan Misron (pic) is a man of few words, as he prefers to do the talking on the pitch, but yesterday he broke the taboo with a fired up message for his mates who will be playing in the World League Round Two in Singapore on Jan 17-25.
Azlan, who has represented Malaysia for the last 14 years with a whopping 346 caps, wants his mates to give their all and erase all embarrassing 2014 records.
"Coach (Tai) Beng Hai has selected the best players and the team is mantap (solid) and we will be out to erase our embarrassing 2014 record which saw many bickering and in-fights which led to poor results on the pitch.
"I believe all the problems have been sorted out, and even though the MHC (Malaysian Hockey Confederation) has set a top-two target in Singapore, my personal target is a gold medal," said the 31 year-old Azlan
2014 saw the worst of Malaysian hockey on and off the pitch, as player-power, star players, bungling officials, fighting coaches -- all led to a string of disastrous tournaments with the climax being when they lost 4-2 to 29th ranked Trinidad and Tobago at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
"That is all the past, and I am looking for a new beginning as the New Year is still fresh, to bring about drastic changes in the minds of our supporters by winning gold an the Singapore World League and qualify for the World League Semi-finals with dignity," said Azlan.
Azlan will also break a Malaysian hockey caps record, as he looks set to play in all six matches in Singapore to take his tally to 350.
Last year, the Perak-born played to form in the World Cup as well as the Asian Games, but was let down by some poor play from his mates.
"This time around we have a very good understanding and by going into the tournament as top-seeds (ranked 13th in World) we need to keep our reputation intact and what better way than win the gold medal.
"Having said that, we are not overconfident playing against lower ranked teams, but are confident with our own capabilities this time around," said Azlan.
Malaysia only have Oman (22nd), Ukraine (24th) and Singapore (36th) for company in Group A. In Group B are Japan (14th), Poland, (18th), Bangladesh (30th) and Mexico (35th).
The top-three teams in Singapore will advance to the World League Semi-finals at either Argentina or Belgium where tickets to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics await.
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