All eyes on Dharma's boyz..

NATIONAL youth coach K. Dharmaraj wants his team to play without fear in the Sultan of Johor Cup which starts on Sunday in Johor Baru.
  Malaysia, the defending champions, are among the most improved junior teams in the world and foreign coaches are now keeping an eye on Dharmaraj's boys following their win in the Junior Asia Cup in May.
  Dharmaraj was given the job to mould the nation's best junior players into a formidable unit and the former international has done just that but his team still need to work on their weaknesses before next year's Junior World Cup in New Delhi.
  "We have conquered Asia and the next step is to become among the best in the world," said Dharmaraj yesterday.
  "We must not aim low nor give too much respect to our rivals. We must think big and only then can we make an impression."
  Five-time world champions Germany, Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan make up the six-team tournament.
  Except for the Shaari brothers -- Faizal and Fitri -- together with Faiz Helmi, who have been selected for a senior team assignment, Dharmaraj will field the same squad who won the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca.
  Among the core players are Amir Farid Ahmad Fuzi, Mohd Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin, Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof, Mohd Azri Hassan, Mohd Firhan Ashaari, Mohd Ramadan Rosli, Mohd Noor Faeez Ibrahim, Norhizzat Sumantri and Shazril Irwan Nazli.
  Dharmaraj will name his 18-member squad after a friendly against New Zealand in Johor Baru tomorrow. "No doubt, national coach Paul Revington's decision to drop nine juniors from the Champions Challenge I will strengthen my team, but the Saari brothers and Faiz are our core players and their absences will be felt."
  Malaysia play Germany in their opening match on Sunday.

Revington keeps the faith

STRONG BELIEF: Coach includes four former internationals in squad for Argentina assignment

By Ajitpal Singh
 
FOUR former internationals -- Chua Boon Huat (pic), Ismail Abu, Jivan Mohan and Muhd Amerullah Abdul Aziz -- have been included in the 18-member national hockey squad for the  Champions Challenge 1 on  Nov 24-Dec 2 in Argentina.
  National coach Paul Revington believes the quartet will make a difference to his team, drawn in Group A with South Korea, Poland and Canada.
  "As I have stated from the first day, my aim is to make Malaysia a winning side. I had the best players for three weeks in training and those selected adapted well to my system," said Revington in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
  "I hope everyone will play to their strengths in Argentina and hopefully, they can make progress after each match."
  Boon Huat and Ismail were regulars before the duo were axed by former coach Tai Beng Hai while Jivan opted out last year to complete a 10-month training course at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol).
  As for Amerullah, the 26-year-old played in one international tournament under Beng Hai.
  "Being an ex-international does not mean one can never return for national duty.
  "They have proven themselves in competitions and in training and I have no regrets including them as I believe they can play a major role.
  "In Argentina, we have to aim towards winning matches, show consistency and above all have the confidence that we have a team capable of taking on the best," Revington added.
  Although Revington chose to be diplomatic in regard to the quartet's inclusion, he may have had no choice as some of his trainees are needed for the Sultan of Johor Cup (a junior event), which starts on Sunday.
  He called up 12 players from the Sultan of Johor Cup squad for selection but only three -- the Saari brothers, Faizal, and Fitri, and Faiz Helmi Jali -- were named for the Argentina assignment. Faizal and Fitri are regular internationals while Faiz will be making his senior debut in Argentina.
  The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) made it clear to Revington, before he penned his contract in August, that it wants to see Malaysia qualify for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
  Although Revington has been given a tough task, critics should not judge him too early if Malaysia fail in the Champions Challenge I as it is his first international assignment as coach.
  Revington was strict in training as those who did not report on time were sent home.
  He named two captains -- Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Abdul Jalil and Shahrun Nabil for the tournament.
  The squad: S. Kumar, Roslan Jamaluddin, Azlan Misron, Baljit Singh, Chua Boon Huat, Faiz Helmi Jali, Faizal Saari, Ismail Abu, Jivan Mohan,, Mohd Shukri Mutalib, Mohd Fitri Saari, Mohd Shahrun Nabil Abdullah (capt), Mohd Amin Rahim, Mohd Amerullah Abdul Aziz, Marhan Mohd Jalil, Razie Rahim (vice-capt), Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Abdul Jalil (capt).

Tengku Abdullah sails away with 67 votes..

TENGKU Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah sailed away with a strong win to become the second Malaysian to be appointed to the Executive Board of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) yesterday.
  The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president received the strongest mandate from the 84 delegates when he garnered the highest vote of 67.
  Incumbent Jans Albers of the Netherlands came in second with a distant count of 52 votes while another incumbent Stephen Abel of Germany was knocked out with only 21 votes while Sergey Chechenkov of Russia received the lowest count of 12 votes.
  And with Tengku Abdullah's inclusion, Asia now has three representatives in Sultan Azlan Shah, the first Malaysian to be elected into the Executive Board, and Qasim Zia of Pakistan.
  "This is a reckoning moment for not only Malaysian hockey, but also Asia as a whole, and my immediate plan is to re-group our Asian brothers and formulate a plan to get all of us back to the top bracket of hockey playing nations like we used to be," said Tengku Abdullah who is also the FA of Malaysia deputy-president and vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation.
  FIH president Leandro Negre also congratulated Tengku Abdullah: "I would like to congratulate Tengku Abdullah and all the other winners today, and now that they are in the FIH, we will give them specific duties to perform and elevate the sport further."
  Tengku Abdullah also said he will be looking into the bid paper for the 2018 World Cup, as there are many new requirements that needs to be studied first before a decision is taken.
  "We would like to host the 2018 World Cup, but now with 16 teams (instead of the normal 12) and also many new requirements that the FIH have included in the bidding paper, the MHC will have a further read and hold discussions with other parties (Sports Ministry) before making a concrete stand on the matter," said Tengku Abdullah.
  And the MHC have the backing of Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak, who said during the FIH dinner on Friday night that his support is with hockey as the sport has the potential to win medals at the international level.
  Another of Tengku Abdullah's immediate concern is to help increase the global viewership of the sport.
  "It is no use if the FIH keep hosting big tournaments but it is only watched by people from a small group of countries in the world. I would like to help make the audience base wider, once I get my bearing around the Executive Board members," said Tengku Abdullah.
  The first meeting of the FIH Executive Board would be held today, but it is only a formality to introduce the new members and get the ball rolling.

FIH decide on 16 teams for 2018 World Cup

THE FIH Executive Board decided in Kuala Lumpur to to increase the number of participating nations at the 2018 World Cup to 16 men’s and 16 women’s squads.
  Earlier, FIH president Leandro Negre had said in a press conference that he will like to see 24 teams for the World Cup, but the Executive Board decided 16 was enough.
  However, the the Board will look into the possibility of increasing the field to 24 teams for each gender for the 2022 edition of the World Cup.
  There was a lot of research that went into the proposal to increase the field at the World Cup with competition format and the ability to find a host nation all making an impact.
   In the end, after a lengthy decision process, the Executive Board decided that an increase to 16 teams from the current 12-team format would best suit the growth of hockey.
  “The 16-team format is the best decision for the sport,” said FIH President Leandro Negre.
   “We have so many quality teams in the top-20 of our World ranking that it will still be quite competitive to earn a berth to the World Cup even with the expanded field. This is a testament to the global development of hockey.”
   “It was a simple decision from that aspect to increase the field to 16 teams for both genders. We are fortunate in hockey that we have no gender gap and that our women’s field is every bit as competitive as the men’s side.”
  The 2014 World Cup, to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, will still host a 12-team field for both the men and women.

Tengku Abdullah ready to serve..

FIH SEAT: Tengku Abdullah wants to help further elevate hockey

TENGKU Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is a man who wears several hats, and come tomorrow, he is looking to become a member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) executive board (EB).
  The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president also serves football as the deputy president of the FA of Malaysia, and is a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
  So why would he want to wear an FIH hat?
  "It is all about serving hockey better, and the best way to do so is to move up the ranks and become a serving member of the parent body," said Tengku Abdullah yesterday.
  Malaysia is hosting the 43rd FIH Congress where 91 delegates will vote for two EB members, while president Leandro Negre is running unopposed.
  Tengku Abdullah will be up against Russia's Sergey Chechenkov and incumbents Stephen Abel of Germany and Jan Albers of the Netherlands.
  While he became president of the now defunct Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) not by choice in 2008, Tengku Abdullah is now in love with the sport.
  "I was a football man a few years back, but right now, if you ask me personally, I feel that hockey is a more interesting sport."
  He has changed the face of Malaysian hockey since taking over, as not only is there added focus on the various national teams but efforts are also being undertaken to improve administration -- at the national and state levels -- and hosting of local tournaments.
  "The MHC has given everything that the coaches and players have needed, as nothing has been spared to prepare the senior and junior teams for international tournaments.
  "Sadly, the players could not deliver gold at the World Cup Qualifier (in Invercargill) and also the Asian Games, as well as the Olympic Qualifier in Dublin.
  "We came close in all three tournaments but there is still hope, as the juniors delivered in the Junior Asia Cup and now they are our future."
  Malaysia won the Junior Asia Cup title to qualify for the World Cup in New Delhi next year.
  And if the FIH delegates -- who went on a sight-seeing trip of Kuala Lumpur yesterday -- choose Tengku Abdullah, he will be another voice for Asia in the parent body.
  "Asia needs another voice in the parent body, as hockey is a fast moving sport not only on the pitch, but also in hosting tournaments as well as a growing television sport.
  "I know I can contribute towards its global growth, and that's why I am offering myself as a candidate," said Tengku Abdullah.
  And the vibe on the ground is good, as many of the delegates approached by Timesport had only positive things to say about Tengku Abdullah.