OLAK Gala Dinner open for bookings...

Call Joseph de Silva (Right) for more information -- 019-6491927

THE old boys of Lasalle Klang, popularly known as OLAK, are getting back together on the 22nd of October 2016 at a grand dinner to celebrate 25 years of the existence of its association, to be held at the Top Glove Ballroom, Level 9, Top Glove Tower, Persiaran Setia Indah, Alam Nusantara, Selangor.
   OLAK is inviting old boys from as far back as 1963, teachers who have retired as well as present teachers in the school to attend this reunion to rekindle old relationships. Many ex-students who have migrated overseas will be making the journey back home to spend some precious moments with old friends, teachers and family too.
    Marking this significant milestone will be a sumptuous 10-course Chinese dinner, a special opening ceremony featuring the St. Johns Institution Bagpipers, music and songs of yesteryear by the ever popular STAG band from Klang, an all-Lasallian cast of entertainers made of old and present students, door gifts and raffle draw with fantastic prizes.
   Demand for tables for the event has been amazing and those who have not got their tables yet are urged to do so right away to avoid disappointment. Tables are priced at RM5000, RM3000 and RM1000. Proceeds will be used to defray costs for the dinner and profits generated will applied to OLAK’s various student empowerment, and school-related programs.
  OLAK’s sports programs, especially its hockey team is always on the lookout for generous financial assistance. OLAK has the distinction of being the only school alumni to have fielded a team in the Malaysian Junior Hockey League since its inception in 1995 to the present day. The OLAK Hockey     Team were MJHL Champions in 1997, 1998 and 1999, and overall Champions in 1998 and 1999 and 2000. OLAK are the first and only team to have achieved such a feat of three championships in a row. 
   OLAK are also regular participants in the Pesta Hockey Penang USM Six-a Side where OLAK has been champions numerous times. OLAK also plays an active role in facilitating job placements for it’s hockey players, as well as placements in institutions of higher learning.
   If you are a Lasallian from Klang and want to get your dinner tickets, please call our OLAK Secretariat c/o Caxton House, No. 8 Jalan Stesen, 41000 Klang, Selangor, and ask for Joseph D’Silva 019-6491927,  Ho King Min 012-3259188,  K Selva ( 012-3600358).

ACT: Pakistan deal with FIH straight...

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) never received Pakistan's confirmation letter, but the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have received their team list for the Asian Champions Trophy on Oct 20-30 in Kuantan.
  MHC CEO K. Logan Raj is still waiting for the confirmation letter, even as travel arrangements have been forwarded to them.
  "Surprisingly, Pakistan sent their team list to the FIH and not the hosts or organisers Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). They wrote to us only today (Friday) about their travelling schedule and are expected to arrive on Sunday," said Logan.
  The MHC were ready to run a five-team tournament, as Pakistan never responded to the queries until the cut-off date on Oct 6.
  Malaysia will be up against defending champions Pakistan, Asian Games champions India, South Korea, Japan and China in the ACT which will offer FIH ranking points for the first time.
  On another matter, MHC are also closely following Pakistan's entry for the Junior World Cup on Dec 8-18 in Lucknow, India.
  "There has been online reports saying that Pakistan might not play in the Junior World Cup because of security reasons and if that happens, Malaysia are the No 1 standby to replace them.
  "Even though its a far shot, but we cant wait for the final moment to prepare if it happens," said Logan.
  The Malaysian juniors, who finished fifth in the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan and missed the boat to Lucknow, will be playing in the Sultan of Johor Cup and that could be their training ground to select players if Pakistan are unable to compete in India.
  The SOJC, the only junior invitational tournament in the world, will be held in Johor Baru on Oct 31-Nov 6 where the hosts will battle Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
  For the record, Malaysia beat Argentina 3-2 for the bronze in the last edition.

MHC still waiting for Pakistan ACT entry...

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are still awaiting for Pakistan to send in their confirmation letter to play in the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan on Oct 20-30.

  MHC, the hosts, gave them until Oct 6 to reply but after sending Pakistan Hockey several reminders, they have hit a brick wall.

  "Yes, we have yet to get a confirmation letter from Pakistan. And our cut-off date was Oct 6, but the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) asked us to wait until today (yesterday).

  "But we have not received anything from them. If they do decide to come after this, they will have to make their own internal travel and accommodation bookings," said MHC CEO K. Logan Raj.

  And if Pakistan fail to turn up?

  "The tournament will go on with five teams, and the semi-finals format will be maintained after the pool matches," said Logan.

  It is believed that Pakistan, champions of the last edition, have yet to get the green-light from their government to play in Kuantan.

  The teams which have sent confirmation are hosts Malaysia, India, South Korea, China and Japan.

  The ACT offers International Hockey Federation (FIH) ranking points for the first time in its Fourth Edition, and media reports in Pakistan say that they have already selected a team for Kuantan.

WL RD2: Malaysia to play in Trinidad and Tobago..

By FIH

...The Malaysian men will be playing in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago on 25 March-April 2. The other teams involved are Japan, Russia, USA, Barbados, Chile and Switzerland.

  ...For the women's Round Two, in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 14-22, Malaysia will battle for a slot in the World League Semi-finals and a shot at the 2018 World Cup against Ireland, Italy, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Fiji and Wales.

The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in Trinidad and Tobago. The event is well known for participants' colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations...

THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed which teams will participate in each of the Hockey World League Round 2 events taking place at six locations around the world between January and April 2017.
  Round 2 will be played over three men’s and three women’s events, with eight teams assigned to each destination by the FIH Competitions Committee.
  The first Round 2 women’s event will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 14-22 January. The teams aiming for qualification for the Hockey World League Semi-Finals and a shot at 2018 Hockey World Cup qualification are Ireland, Italy, hosts Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Fiji and Wales.
  A couple of weeks later, a further eight women’s teams will take to the field in Valencia, Spain between 4-12 February. Hosts Spain will compete against Scotland, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Ghana and one more team to be confirmed.
  The third women’s event will be hosted in West Vancouver, Canada between 1-9 April. Teams taking to the field there will be India, Belarus, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Chile and France.
  Men’s Round 2 begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where Canada, Oman, Egypt, hosts Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Fiji will be playing between 4-12 March.
  From 11-19 March Ireland will also host a men’s Round 2 event in Ulster, with a venue to be confirmed shortly. Hosts Ireland will welcome France, Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Wales, Scotland and Austria.
  The last men’s Round 2 event takes place in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago from 25 March until 2 April. There, Malaysia, Japan, Russia, hosts Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Barbados, Chile and Switzerland will take part.
  Composed of four rounds (Round 1, 2, Semi-Finals and Finals) and played over two years, the Hockey World League shines a spotlight on the sport around the world. Even the smallest hockey-playing nations have the opportunity to write their own chapter in hockey’s history books.
  A lot is at stake for teams participating in these Hockey World League Round 2 events. Whilst vital FIH Hero World Ranking points will be awarded depending on final standings, eight teams per gender will qualify for the Hockey World League Semi-Finals. These will be the top two teams from each event plus the two highest placed teams in the FIH Hero World Rankings of the teams that finish third.
  Taking place next June and July, the Semi-Finals offer teams the chance to qualify for the Hockey World League Finals later in the year, plus the ultimate prize of 2018 Hockey World Cup qualification.
  Tickets for the first of those, the men’s Hockey World League Semi-Final at London’s Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre (15-25 June) are now on sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
  Fans can support their nation’s journey throughout the Hockey World League by following FIH on Twitter,Facebook and Instagram and visiting FIH.ch over the coming months.

SUBAHAN: Lets reach for No 8..

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal yesterday revised his KPI for the national team, from current World No 14 to World No eight in two years time.
  He said this at the launching of new attire and sponsorship presentation for the national men's and women's teams. The men will be playing in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Kuantan on Oct 20-30.
  "When I took over more than a year ago, I said I wanted the men's team to become 10th by the time my tenure is over. However, after charting their path to qualify for the World Cup (2018) and Olympics (2020), I have renewed my KPI to take the team to eight in the world," said Subahan.
  A total of RM900,000 sponsorship has been received for the ACT, and from the traditional yellow, the men and women will now wear orange jerseys as their first kits. Their second and third kits remain blue and white respectively.
  The sponsorship is RM500,000 from QNET, RM300,000 from Tenaga Nasional, RM50,000 from Genting Malaysia and RM50,000 from Waz Lian Group of Companies.
  Kappa, an Italian sportswear brand, had pledged RM350,000 in sponsorship towards the national men's and women's senior teams for the duration of three years.
  "Since the team is known as Tigers, a change from yellow to orange is appropriate," said Subahan.
  The ACT will be offering International Hockey Federation (FIH) ranking points for the first time in its Fourth Edition, and to achieve Subahan's KPI, the Tigers need to play in the final of the ACT.
  When asked about Malaysia's target in the ACT, Subaha said: "I have my own KPI, and coach Stephen (van Huizen) has his own."
  Van Huizen maintained semi-finals in the ACT as his first target.
  "We are ranked fourth in Asia and going by ranking, we will aim for the semi-finals first," said van Huizen.
  The other teams in the ACT are defending champions Pakistan, Asian Games champions India, South Korea, China and Japan.
  The format is easy, as the top-four after a Round Robbin, play in the semi-finals.