Japan thrash Malaysia, again...

NOTE: Some of the players are fasting during the japan Tour. Like they did during the World League Semi-finals in Belgium where Malaysia failed to beat India in the quarter-finals after taking a 2-1 lead, and lost a chance to play in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

MALAYSIA played friendlies, but Japan took both the matches seriously to thrash Malaysia 5-1 and then 3-1 in Kakamigahara.
  Coach Stephen van Huizen's men are on a Tour of six matches, four of which are friendlies, while two are Test matches.
  On Wednesday, his charges were down 5-0 before the consolation was scored Norhizzat Sumantri. And yesterday, Harvinder Singh gave Malaysia the lead off a 12th minute penalty corner rebound, but Japan won the match with ease in a seven minute blitz -- 55th, 58th and 62nd minutes.
  The two Test matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday, followed by two more friendlies.
  Van Huizen attributed the defeats to poor marking and decision-making, particularly during crucial moments.
  "Overall, we played much better in the second friendly. But the results clearly show that without our key players, we struggle. I believe this is an opportunity for several of the younger players to step up and understand the demands of international hockey. While the enthusiasm is good, we find ourselves wanting in many areas.
  The coach went to Japan withour several key players who are nursing injuries, had examinations and also joined the Police Force.
  Goalkeeper S. Kumar is still nursing his thigh injury, 
Faiz Helmi and Fitri Saari have examinations and Shahril Saabah has family commitments.
  National skipper Razie Rahim and Nabil Fiqri are back with Police training after getting a brief release to play in the Razak Cup.
  "Positively, there is progress in our game. We will prepare as best as we can for the upcoming Test matches. We need to up the level significantly to get a result. The games have provided me and the coaching staff with sufficient insight about the players and our squad entirely", he added.
  Japan are preparing a team to host the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while van Huizen and his men will be attempting to qualify for the Olympics, which Malaysia last played in 2000 Sydney.

MHC website and password for everybody...

THE MASTER COACH...

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) yesterday launched the 1Mas Coaching Website 'for everybody' who are interested in the sport, and gave away the password.
  The URL for the website is mhc1mas.com and the password is 1Coach.
  And information in the website is based on the wealth of experience gained by one of the world's best hockey mind, Australian Terry Walsh.
  Walsh, the MHC Technical Director now, said it is a new initiative and visual learning programme which will help players and coaches around the country.
  It is not meant to be prescriptive but information sharing, reminded Walsh.
  “We are trying to make it as open as possible for everybody around the country to go online and have a look at what we have produced. It is basically an education process, as we look forward to go as deep as we can into the hockey community in Malaysia.
  The content of the website is mostly about how to develop skills into the highest level, simple playing concepts, what do they mean and how to go about it,” said Walsh during the soft launch in Bukit Jalil.
   Also present at the event were MHC Deputy President, S. Shamala, Independent member Ahmad Najmi, CEO K. Logan Raj, 1Mas Director of Development Tai Beng Hai and 1Mas coaches.
  Shamala praised the brilliant effort taken by Walsh to build a strong platform for the future of Malaysian hockey.
   “This website will serve as the digital platform for the hockey family to harness knowledge and resources that were developed by Walsh.
  "The platform is intended to serve as a critical and complementary partner to the existing avenues of knowledge transfer,” said Shamala.
  It is going to be a massive advantage for kids who are keen on learning the game and also the coaches, who would be able to learn the process of skill development and understanding what are the coaching concepts are all about.

Top seven coaches for Under 12 programme

 COACHES: Amin Rahim, K. Embaraj, S. Velappan, M. Nadarajan, Yahya Atan, Tai Beng Hai and Terry Walsh.

SEVEN top coachs in Malaysia gathered over the weekend to train a lucky group of 30 Under-12 hockey players at the grass pitch of Universiti Putra Malaysia.

  The 1Mas-Milo programme ran over the weekend, and the participants, some of them who just learned the basics like holding a hockey the right way, received a certificate each.

  Each participant paid RM30 for the programme.

  Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) Technical director Terry Walsh, 1Mas Director Tai Beng Hai, 1Mas development coach K. Embaraj, goalkeepers coach M. Nadarajan, MHC development coach S. Velappan and former No 1 penalty corner specialist Amin Rahim and veteran coach Yahya Atan were literally on their knees teaching the kids.

  These are the future of the country, and we need to get down to their level to coach them so that there is continuity leading up to the top level in 10 years time," said Walsh.

  The next programme will be held in August, and for a longer period.

  "The plan is to have a longer period of raining in August, like eight days, where the participants will be exposed a litle more to the sport. We are also conducting similar programmes for soccer and gymnastics," said Nestle Malaysia Sports Marketing Director Ng Ping Loong.

  The programme is expectd be held in many other states.

  "We need to go to the grassroots and watch, as well as train these kids more often. This is the only way to keep a healthy hockey culture in the country," said Walsh.

Van Huizen: Wait your turn Faizal

HE was once listed among the most talented players in the world by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) but Faizal Shaari loaded his ego gun and shot himself in the foot real bad.

  And he is still limping around, waiting for his ban to play in international matches to end on June 20, while his team-mates played in the Azlan Shah Cup and will be going on a Tour of Japan on June 5-16.

  Fazial was banned from playing in international matches after he skipped training without any reason, and the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) executive board even came up with a new code-of-conduct in their meeting in December.

  MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal had said then: "Under the new code of conduct, players who skip national training without valid reasons will be suspended for six months. This is a warning to all the players in the national set-up, from the juniors to the seniors at all levels."

  This came about after the MHC Discipliniry Committee had only let him off with a warning, together with Syamin Yusof, for indiscipline.

  National coach Stephen van Huizen watched Faizal play in the Razak Cup where he top-scored with seven goals to hand Terengganu only their second title in Division One. The first was won in 2012. He scored two goals in their 3-0 win over Police in the final.

  "Firstly, his ban only ends on June 20, while we will be travelling to Japan on June 5 for two Test and four friendlies. And then, his fitness was also not up to mark as he has been out of training since December.

  "It will not be fair to select him immediately after the ban ends, as he needs to prove himself further... especially show that he will not become a problem in the team once we select him.

  "He has not spoken to me about making a comeback, and I have only read in the newspapers about his intent to re-joing national training.

  "If he is really interested, work on his fitness, and then come and meet us (coaching set-up) and have a talk. We will need to underline certain criteria and rules for him to follow, if it is agreed that he returns to national training," said van Huizen.

  The coach also believes other youth have overtaken him by giving their best in training.

  "We can't just bring him in and drop other players who have been giving their best in training over the months. Hockey is a team sport where discipline is utmost, and if he returns and starts to behave the same way like he did before the ban, it would be disruptive for the national team."

  For now, it looks like even though Faizal door into the national team is not closed, as Subahan said earlier, but its not wide open for him to just walk in. There is just a crack of an opening, and he will have to prove himself on his own, by working on his fitness -- and attitude as well.

Japan Tour: Chance for others to shine..

NATIONAL coach Stephen van Huizen picked a young squad for the Japan Tour on June 5-16, as the seniors are either down with injury, have exams, drafted into the Police Force and have personal commitments.
  Looking at the positive side, van Huizen said this is a golden chance for others to show their prowess.
  "We will be playing six matches against Japan, four of which are friendlies and two are Tests. Even though many of the seniors are not available for this Tour, I believe it gives an opportunity to our younger players," said van Huizen.
  Goalkeeper S. Kumar is still nursing his thigh injury, 
Faiz Helmi and Fitri Saari have examinations and Shahril Saabah has family commitments.
  National skipper Razie Rahim and Nabil Fiqri are back with Police training after getting a brief release to play in the Razak Cup.
  "In their place, 19-year-old players and also those who did not play in the Azlan Shah Cup like Baljit Singh and Harvinder Singh have been called up. This is a golden opportunity for them to shine.'
  Razak Cup top scorer Faizal Shaari will have to sit out the Tour, as his ban from playing in international tournaments only ends on June 20.
  Terengganu Hockey team goalkeeper Hazrul Faiz, 22, and Syafiq Sumantri, 19, are among those who will be under the spotlight in Japan.
  The Tour will be used to prepare the team for the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan, which offers ranking points for the top-three teams for the first time.
  Umpire Rais Zakaria will be accompanying the team to officiate in both Test and he will also be officiating at the upcoming Sultan of Johor Cup.
  JAPAN TOUR: Goalkeepers: Hairi Rahman, Hazrul Faiz; Defenders: Shukri Mutalib, Izad Hakimi, Baljit Singh, Najmi Farizal, Najib Hassan, Firdaus Omar, Marhan Jalil, Meor Azuan, Joel Samuel Van Huizen, Azri Hassan, Harvinder Singh, Firhan Ashaari, Norhizzat Sumantri, Ramadan Rosli, Rashid Baharom, Haziq Samsul, Nik Aiman Rozemi, Nor Syafiq Sumantri.