MHC start steep Olympic and World Cup climb...

THE MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) selected 35 trainees for the senior squad yesterday, and it was based on merit and not sentiment.
  Three former stalwarts were dropped from the list, but Technical Director Terry Walsh reminded everybody that: "The door swings both ways."
  Veteran goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin, striker Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and midfielder Azlan Misron were left out, as MHC start preparing to get back into the Olympic and World Cup.
  Azlan is the highest capped Malaysian player with 349 internationals, while Roslan retired with 199 and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin with 206.
  Coach Stephen van Huizen and assistant Lim Chiow Chuan selected a team with an average age of 24, with the oldest being goalkeeper S. Kumar who is 36.
  Baljit Singh will no longer be the sole Punjabi representative, as Harmeet Singh, Harmesh Singh and Harvinder Singh were also included in the training squad.
  Harmeet, 23, and Harmesh, 22, played for Sapura in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League, while Harvinder turned out for Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club.
  "The selection was done with the Olympics and World Cup in mind, and so, we had to leave behind some players and try out others. We have six months to the Azlan Shah Cup, and so, emphasis would be on fitness and technical aspect of the game," said van Huizen.
  Also selected was Joel Samuel, van Huizen's son, who last turned out for the country in the 2013 Junior World Cup. He played for Sapura in the MHL.
  Walsh, tasked to turned around Malaysia's hockey misfortunes said: "Those who have been selected and those who were dropped must always understand that the door swings both ways. Don't take anything for granted, and comeback is also a possibility."
  Three 21-year-olds who will play in the Sultan of Johor Cup and then the Junior Asia Cup were also named as senior trainees.
  Meor Azuan, Shahril Saabah and Haziq Shamsul will be coach Arul Selvaraj's stalwarts when Malaysia play in both the junior tournaments.
  "Training will start on Monday with 21 players, as some are away with their clubs overseas, while others have some commitments to settle before answering the call-up," said van Huizen.
  GOALKEEPERS: S. Kumar (age 36), Hairi Abdul Rahman (25), Hafizuddin Othman (23), Hazrul Faiz (22).
  DEFENDERS: Razie Rahim (28), Noor Faeez Ibrahim (24), Suhkri  Mutalib (29), Azlam Hanafiah (22), Izad Hakimi (23), Harmesh Singh (22), Harmeet Singh (23), Shahrun Nabil (30), Shazril Irwan (22), Baljit Singh (29).
  MIDFIELDERS: Nabil Fiqri (28), Azri Hassan (23), Harvinder Singh (26), Joel Samuel van Huizen (23), Faiz Helmi (23), Marhan Jalil (25), Fitri Shaari (22), Ramadan Rosli (24), Norhizzat Sumantri (24), Meor Azuan (21).
  FORWARDS: Rashid Baharom (23), Syamin Yusof (23), Dedi Ariyadi (24), Hafiz Zainol (22), Faridzul Afiq (23), Dangerous Lee (23), Faizal Shaari (24), Firhan Ashari (22), Shahril Saabah (21), Haziq Samsul (21), Izwan Firdaus (26).

FOUR LIONS: Baljit, Harmeet, Harmesh, Harvinder ...

THE MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) training squad, after decades, saw four Punjabi's called up at once. S. Kumar is eldest at 36, while three juniors Meor Azuan, Shahril Saabah and Haziq Samsul will first play in the Sultan of Johor Cup then the Junior Asia Cup before joining the seniors.

 HARMEET SINGH

 HARMESH SINGH (right)

 HARVINDER SINGH

BALJIT SINGH

Junior Asia Cup: Great Wall the first hurdle...

FORMER skipper Mirnawan Nawawi has been named as ambassador for Malacca hockey during the unveiling of new jerseys for "Malacca The Hurricanes". Mirnawan, born in Malacca, is three-time Olympian who played in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
  Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal also attended the function to honour the former skipper fondly known as The 'Boss'.
  Mirnawan also played in three Asian Games -- Beijing 1990, Hiroshima 1994 and Bangkok 1998. He was also in the thick of action in the KL Champions Trophy in 2007, and two World Cup in Utrecht 1998 and Kuala Lumpur 2012.




MALAYSIA will open their campaign against China in the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan, Pahang, from Nov 14-22.
  The tournament offers four tickets to the Junior World Cup in India next year. And with India qualifying as hosts, defending champions Malaysia must play in the semi-finals to book their spot.
  In Group A with China, Japan and India -- Malaysia must not fumble in their opening match to keep the fire burning.
  Group B looke like an open book, as South Korea and Pakistan will be the front-runners, while Oman and Bangladesh playing catch-up.
  Coach Arul Selvaraj and his boys will have a tough time emulating the 2012 feat, which saw Malaysia snatch the gold in Malacca and went on to finish fourth in the Junior World Cup.
  Then, Malaysia were the highest ranked Asian team in the Junior World Cup as South Korea finished eighth, Pakistan ninth and India tenth.
  After China, Malaysia lock horns with tournament favourites India on Nov 15, followed by Japan on Nov 17. 
  "We have two tournaments starting with the Sultan of Johor Cup (Oct 11-18) followed by the Junior Asia Cup and the priority is the latter.
  "Out focus remains with the Asia Cup where we will first play to be in the semi-finals to qualify for the World Cup, and then make a dash to defend our title," said Arul.
  The SOJC will see Malaysia battle against two-time champions India, Australia, Pakistan, Britain and Argentina.
  "It (SOJC) will give us an insight into the strength of India and Pakistan ahead of the Junior Asia Cup," said Arul.
  India will be the team to beat in Group A, while Pakistan could be Malaysia's opponents in the semi-finals.
  India's budding striker Arman Qureshi had this to say about the SOJC: "The team is very confident as we aim to retain the title this time around too. This has made us even more positive of playing the matches ahead.
  "During our practice sessions, we have made good progress and aim for a better penalty corner conversion rate. We want to make our attack even stronger in the upcoming matches and look forward to carry out our game strategies firmly to claim the title.”
  India open against Pakistan in the SOJC.

QNET Selangor off to a roaring start

QNET Selangor Kicked off over the weekend with 7 matches being played.

  Newcomers PAUiTM register a high scoring victory as they scored past Gombak District. Highlander Hockey Club, UKM, Selayang and Permatang Senior also registered victory by big margin.

  X-Hamzah making their debut in the league went thru a torrid time before finding their feet to bear Gombak District 7-4. 

  In another match Synergy Hockey Club Edged out Alumni Seri Nibong . 

   Results
PAUiTM beat Persatuan Hoki Daerah Gombak (PHDG) 7-0

 Highlander Hockey Club beat ALUMI SMK SERI NIBONG 7-1

 UniKL MIAT Hockey Club lost to UKM 0-6

 KIE Hockey Team lost to SELAYANG 0-7

 X-Hamzah HC beat Persatuan Hoki Daerah Gombak (PHDG) 7-4

 ALUMI SMK SERI NIBONG lost to Synergy Hockey Club 1-3

 PERMATANG SENIOR beat SIA GURSTICKS 5-0

 Upcoming matches

 Saturday 26th September
4.00pm KPM SMK Bandar Seri Putra vs SMK Pusat Bdr Puchong 1
5.30pm KPM SMK Puchong BT.14 vs SMK Sg Pusu
7.00pm KPM Synergy Hockey Club vs Highlander Hockey Club
4.00pm STR PDRM vs PAUiTM
5.30pm STR RAMD vs MBPJ SUKMA
7.00pm STR DOLPHINS YOUNG GUNS vs X-Matrix Hockey Club

 Sunday 27th September
4.00pm KPM KIE Hockey Team vs PERMATANG SENIOR
5.30pm KPM X - Hamzah HC vs PDRM
7.00pm KPM SELANGOR SIKHS vs UniKL MIAT Hockey Club
4.00pm STR X-Matrix Hockey Club vs OLAK PKT
5.30pm STR KOR JLJ DIRAJA ( JLJD) vs MBPJ SUKMA
7.00pm STR RAMD vs BJSS
8.30pm STR DOLPHINS YOUNG GUNS vs UiTM

MHL: Paying the price of lavish spending...

WHILE about 3,000 fans went home feeling satisfied when the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) curtains fell on Sunday,  a handful of coaches were either not impressed, or want drastic changes in place for the next season.
  The TNB Cup fan-fare was well planned, and there was drama worth the travel to Bukit Jalil as Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) and Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) battled neck-and-neck.
  Sixty-minutes could not separate the teams who stood at 1-1, and even the five shoot-outs ended 3-3.
  THT finally laid their hands on the TNB Cup, and a double double, by winning sudden-death shoot-out at 5-4.
  Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) Technical Director Terry Walsh was among the thousands, but he was not impressed.
  "If you ask me about drama, about a close finish its right there. But if you ask me about other areas... (he kept it to himself)," said Walsh while the prize-giving ceremony was ongoing.
  Newly appointed national coach Stephen van Huizen was seated next to Walsh, and he is in no hurry to select a training team from this bunch: "There are no immediate assignments, and so, there is no hurry in naming the training pool just yet."
  And at the press conference, KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj was more vocal about the MHL.
  "Don't get me wrong, I am all for players to earn a good keep by playing in the MHL, but money is becoming a big problem right now.
  "Local players are being paid big bucks and I mean really, really big amounts to secure the best. And the problem here is that the pool is very small, and these players are now demanding even more and are willing to give their very best to their clubs.
  "However, it has and will back-fire in the long run, as they do not show the same determination and zest when playing for the country.
  "In the long run, some players might just have the attitude of giving their best for clubs, while going through the motions when they receive a national call-up," said Dharmaraj.
  Some of the local players receive up to RM20,00 per month, and it is not only for the six-week MHL, but are contracted for at least a year.
  KLHC had lost many players to THT early this season, and the bargaining and pinching of players has already started -- for the next season.
  Sapura coach Tai Beng Hai and Maybank coach S. Vellapan were also of the opinion that foreign and national players should be restricted to six per-team.
  "Well I believe it would be better if the small pool of national players be equally distributed among clubs so that there will not be a big disparity in results. This can be achieved if say, clubs are only allowed to hire six professional players. By professional I mean national and foreign players.
  "So each club can, lets say, field three national and three foreign players or at any other combination, but only six professionals per-team.
  "This would see a healthier tournament, and the fans would also be kept guessing right till the end, and not know the results by just comparing club team-lists," said Beng Hai, a former national coach.
  Maybank's Vellapan echoed the same opinion as Beng Hai.
  This year's league was as predictable as the haze hitting Malaysia every year. And from the first whistle, it was a battle for titles between THT and KLHC while Tenaga Nasional, Maybank, Sapura and University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) were just there to make up the numbers.
  And if the other four also-rans want to lay their hands on the titles next year, they must be willing to fork out more than RM20,000 and a lucrative contract to secure the best available locals.
  As for the foreign legion who came from Argentina, Pakistan, Ireland, India and South Africa -- they were a big let down -- and their contracts offered peanuts compared to what the cream of the locals received.