CANADA coach Anthony Farry feels whenever Malaysia plays at home, it looks like they have 15 players on the pitch.
This statement came about on the eve of a crucial Azlan Shah Cup encounter between Malaysia and Canada in Ipoh Tuesday.
A win will place either team in a better footing to play in the third-fourth placing match.
Canada and Malaysia are tied on four points, but Malaysia have played one less match. Canada's last match is against Australia, while Malaysia still have Pakistan and India after this match.
"It simply amazing to see Malaysia play at home, and they have shown great form in all three matches so far. It looks like they have 15 players, not 11 on the pitch," said Farry.
Canada skipper Scott Tupper said the two teams rivalry goes back more than 20 years.
"When ever Canada and Malaysia play, over the last two decades, the matches have always been explosive and entertaining. I believe it will be the same on Tuesday," said Tupper.
The only vast difference between the teams is that Canada have qualified for the Olympics by finishing fourth in the World League Semi-finals in Argentina. While Malaysia finished sixth in the WL Semi-finals in Antwerp and did not qualify.
In Ipoh, Malaysia drew defending champions New Zealand 3-3, beat Japan 4-3 and lost to Australia 5-1.
"For sure this match will be the turning point in our Azlan Shah campaign and we have plans for full points. Canada are in the same boat, and are no pushovers, so I believe it will be difficult but not impossible to beat them," said Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen.
Skipper Razie Rahim, who is tied on four goals as the tournament top-scorer with Pakistan's Arslan Qadir and New Zealand's Nic Woods, believes his players have the edge.
"We have played well in all three matches, and the big defeat against Australia (5-1) was because of a two-minute lapse of concentration.
"But I believe my team-mates are ready to win their second match of the tournament and keep our sights on finishing among the top-four," said Razie.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 3 3 0 0 14 2 9
N ZEALAND 4 2 2 0 13 8 8
INDIA 3 2 0 1 6 7 6
CANADA 4 1 1 2 6 8 4
MALAYSIA 3 1 1 1 8 11 4
PAKISTAN 3 1 0 2 6 10 3
JAPAN 4 0 0 4 6 13 0
April 11: REST DAY.
April 12: Australia v New Zealand (4pm), Pakistan v India (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8.35pm).
April 13: New Zealand v India (4pm), Australia v Japan (6pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (8.35pm).
April 14: REST DAY.
April 15: Japan v Pakistan (4pm), Australia v Canada (6pm), Malaysia v India (8.35pm).
April 16: Classifications and Final.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Selvaraju off to Australia ...10th foreign league
FORMER national player S. Selvaraju, 30, left for Australia yesterday to play in his 10th foreign league.
He last played for the country in the 2009 Invercargill, New Zealand, World Cup qualifier after which he was sidelined because of internal bickering.
"I have played in 10 overseas stints since that, and I am still in demand overseas even though locall coaches feel that I am not up to their mark," said Selvaraju.
He left for Australia yesterday to play for Greater Dandenong Warriors HC until September.
"Since 2010, I have played in New Zealand, France, Germany three times, Italy twice, Hong Kong and Thailand Leagues.
"Malaysian players are in high demand in these countries, and over the years, with my contacts there I have sent many young players to play overseas as well," said Selvaraju.
Selvaraju feels for Malaysian players to progress, they must play in overseas leagues.
"There is no spoon-feeding when you go overseas, everything is on your own and one becomes a better person as well as player in the long run," said Selvaraju.
Selvaraju who made his debut in the 2005 Junior World Cup in Rotterdam, currently plays for Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHC) and also coaches the UniKL development squad.
The other nine clubs Selvaraju has turned out for are Midlands HC New Zealand, Racing Santhder HC France, Wespen HC Germany, Berliner HC Germany, Monchengladbach HC Germany, Armicora HC Italy, Pistotia HC Italy, Khalsa HC Hong Kong, Air force HC Thailand.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Australia hit Pakistan for four..
WORLD No 1 Australia played another classy match to beat Pakistan 4-0 in the 25th Edition of the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh Sunday.
And after three straight wins, Australia are on course to play in the final yet again.
Blake Govers started the count with a penalty corner goal in the 24th minute, and then four-time Olympian Jamie Dwyer set up Thomas Craig in the 41st minute.
And just after the re-start, Dwyer nailed the third in the 42nd minute.
Aran Zalewski (52nd) made it 4-0.
Defending champions New Zealand beat Japan 4-1 to get back into the title challenge in the Azlan Shah Cup Sunday.
With eight points after three matches, the Kiwis have two more tough matches to play against Australia on Tuesday and India on Wednesday.
The New Zealand goals were scored by Nick Wilso (4th), Simon Child (13th), Nic Woods (27th) and Hugo Inglis (58th).
Kazuma Murata scored for Japan in the 20th minute.
In another match India beat Canada 3-1 with goals Chandanda Thimmaiah (3rd), Harmanpreet Singh (41st) and Talwinder Singh (57th). Keegan Pereira (23rd) scored for Canada.
RESULTS: Japan 1 New Zealand 4, Australia 4 Pakistan 0, Canada 1 India 3.
April 11: REST DAY.
April 12: Australia v New Zealand (4pm), Pakistan v India (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8.35pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 3 3 0 0 14 2 9
N ZEALAND 4 2 2 0 13 8 8
INDIA 3 2 0 1 6 7 6
CANADA 4 1 1 2 6 8 4
MALAYSIA 3 1 1 1 8 11 4
PAKISTAN 3 1 0 2 6 10 3
JAPAN 4 0 0 4 6 13 0
And after three straight wins, Australia are on course to play in the final yet again.
Blake Govers started the count with a penalty corner goal in the 24th minute, and then four-time Olympian Jamie Dwyer set up Thomas Craig in the 41st minute.
And just after the re-start, Dwyer nailed the third in the 42nd minute.
Aran Zalewski (52nd) made it 4-0.
Defending champions New Zealand beat Japan 4-1 to get back into the title challenge in the Azlan Shah Cup Sunday.
With eight points after three matches, the Kiwis have two more tough matches to play against Australia on Tuesday and India on Wednesday.
The New Zealand goals were scored by Nick Wilso (4th), Simon Child (13th), Nic Woods (27th) and Hugo Inglis (58th).
Kazuma Murata scored for Japan in the 20th minute.
In another match India beat Canada 3-1 with goals Chandanda Thimmaiah (3rd), Harmanpreet Singh (41st) and Talwinder Singh (57th). Keegan Pereira (23rd) scored for Canada.
RESULTS: Japan 1 New Zealand 4, Australia 4 Pakistan 0, Canada 1 India 3.
April 11: REST DAY.
April 12: Australia v New Zealand (4pm), Pakistan v India (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8.35pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 3 3 0 0 14 2 9
N ZEALAND 4 2 2 0 13 8 8
INDIA 3 2 0 1 6 7 6
CANADA 4 1 1 2 6 8 4
MALAYSIA 3 1 1 1 8 11 4
PAKISTAN 3 1 0 2 6 10 3
JAPAN 4 0 0 4 6 13 0
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Australia's three-minute blitz...
MALAYSIA were beaten 5-1 by World No 1 Australia in a three-minute blitz, in the 25th Edition of the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
Otherwise, the national players played well to contain more than a dozen deadly attacks from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics favourites.
"I have no complaints on this match as my players gave their best but lost out in a three-minute lapse of concentration. My players also did not defend the entire game but came out and played good hockey upfront.
"The next match against Canada on Tuesday will be after a two-day rest and I believe we will make amends to keep ourselves afloat in this tournament," said Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen.
Australia skipper Mark Knowles, who will be playing in his fourth Olympics in Brazil said: "Well this is what we wanted. We got a very good crowd, and a team which was willing to fight with us all the way."
And he felt the they are on the right track to play in the final: "Ten goals in two matches (they also beat India 5-1) and we are heading in the right direction to play against tough sides like Pakistan and New Zealand."
The Azlan Shah Stadium was filled to the brim, with fans sitting and standing elbow-to-elbow. The cheering, drums and vuvuzelas were deafening, as they cheered on the hosts who held Australia at bay in the first quarter.
It was 15 minutes of 'hell' as Australia took at least eight shots at the Malaysian goalmouth, but stout defending, and good goalkeeping by Hairi Rahman stopped the World No 1.
And Malaysia did not disappoint their fans, as off their first penalty corner in the 24th minute, Razie Rahim scored and the cheering almost brought down the roof.
However, Australia quickly re-grouped after that, and a mis-hit by Jacob Whetton in the 26th minute handed them the equaliser.
At the half-time break, world No 13 Malaysia held the World No 1 at 1-1.
However, after missing many chances, Australia finally got their world class act together and scored three quick goals to seal the match in the third quarter.
Two of the goals were scored inside one minute. In the 40th minute, Flynn Ogilvie scored their second goal, and just after the re-start, Matt Ghodes made it 3-1.
And in the 41st minute, Ogilvie nailed the fourth goal off an easy tap.
The three-goal blitz was an unkind cut to the national team, who played well for most of the match.
Thomas Craig made it 5-1 in the 50th minute.
In another match, defending champions New Zealand made a third-quarter surge to beat Pakistan 5-3.
The New Zealand goals were scored by Stephen Jenness (11th), Simon Child (19th), Nic Woods (39th, 42nd), Kane Russell (43rd),
Pakistan got their goals off Arslan Qadir (8th, 52nd) and Irfan Junior (23rd).
Canada won their first match of the tournament when they beat Japan 3-1.
The Canada goals were scored by Mark Pearson (34th), Gabriel Ho-Garcia (35th) and Scott Tupper (45th).
The Japan consolation was scored by Hiroki Sakamoto in the 42nd minute.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 2 2 0 0 10 2 6
N ZEALAND 3 1 2 0 9 7 5
CANADA 3 1 1 1 5 5 4
MALAYSIA 3 1 1 1 8 11 4
PAKISTAN 2 1 0 1 6 6 3
INDIA 2 1 0 1 3 6 3
JAPAN 3 0 0 3 5 9 0
RESULTS: Japan 1 Canada 3, New Zealand 5 Pakistan 3, Malaysia 1 Australia 5.
April 10: Japan v New Zealand (4pm), Australia v Pakistan (6pm), Canada v India (8.35pm).
Otherwise, the national players played well to contain more than a dozen deadly attacks from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics favourites.
"I have no complaints on this match as my players gave their best but lost out in a three-minute lapse of concentration. My players also did not defend the entire game but came out and played good hockey upfront.
"The next match against Canada on Tuesday will be after a two-day rest and I believe we will make amends to keep ourselves afloat in this tournament," said Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen.
Australia skipper Mark Knowles, who will be playing in his fourth Olympics in Brazil said: "Well this is what we wanted. We got a very good crowd, and a team which was willing to fight with us all the way."
And he felt the they are on the right track to play in the final: "Ten goals in two matches (they also beat India 5-1) and we are heading in the right direction to play against tough sides like Pakistan and New Zealand."
The Azlan Shah Stadium was filled to the brim, with fans sitting and standing elbow-to-elbow. The cheering, drums and vuvuzelas were deafening, as they cheered on the hosts who held Australia at bay in the first quarter.
It was 15 minutes of 'hell' as Australia took at least eight shots at the Malaysian goalmouth, but stout defending, and good goalkeeping by Hairi Rahman stopped the World No 1.
And Malaysia did not disappoint their fans, as off their first penalty corner in the 24th minute, Razie Rahim scored and the cheering almost brought down the roof.
However, Australia quickly re-grouped after that, and a mis-hit by Jacob Whetton in the 26th minute handed them the equaliser.
At the half-time break, world No 13 Malaysia held the World No 1 at 1-1.
However, after missing many chances, Australia finally got their world class act together and scored three quick goals to seal the match in the third quarter.
Two of the goals were scored inside one minute. In the 40th minute, Flynn Ogilvie scored their second goal, and just after the re-start, Matt Ghodes made it 3-1.
And in the 41st minute, Ogilvie nailed the fourth goal off an easy tap.
The three-goal blitz was an unkind cut to the national team, who played well for most of the match.
Thomas Craig made it 5-1 in the 50th minute.
In another match, defending champions New Zealand made a third-quarter surge to beat Pakistan 5-3.
The New Zealand goals were scored by Stephen Jenness (11th), Simon Child (19th), Nic Woods (39th, 42nd), Kane Russell (43rd),
Pakistan got their goals off Arslan Qadir (8th, 52nd) and Irfan Junior (23rd).
Canada won their first match of the tournament when they beat Japan 3-1.
The Canada goals were scored by Mark Pearson (34th), Gabriel Ho-Garcia (35th) and Scott Tupper (45th).
The Japan consolation was scored by Hiroki Sakamoto in the 42nd minute.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 2 2 0 0 10 2 6
N ZEALAND 3 1 2 0 9 7 5
CANADA 3 1 1 1 5 5 4
MALAYSIA 3 1 1 1 8 11 4
PAKISTAN 2 1 0 1 6 6 3
INDIA 2 1 0 1 3 6 3
JAPAN 3 0 0 3 5 9 0
RESULTS: Japan 1 Canada 3, New Zealand 5 Pakistan 3, Malaysia 1 Australia 5.
April 10: Japan v New Zealand (4pm), Australia v Pakistan (6pm), Canada v India (8.35pm).
New Zealand 5 Pakistan 3
Defending champions New Zealand made a third-quarter
surge to beat Pakistan 5-3 in the 25th Edition of the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh.
The New Zealand goals were scored by Stephen Jenness (11th), Simon Child (19th), Nic Woods (39th, 42nd), Kane Russell (43rd), Pakistan got their goals off Arslan Qadir (8th, 52nd) and Irfan Junior (23rd).
Canada won their first match of the tournament when they beat Japan 3-1.
The Canada goals were scored by Mark Pearson (34th), Gabriel Ho-Garcia
(35th) and Scott Tupper (45th).
The Japan consolation was scored by Hiroki Sakamoto in the 42nd minute.
surge to beat Pakistan 5-3 in the 25th Edition of the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh.
The New Zealand goals were scored by Stephen Jenness (11th), Simon Child (19th), Nic Woods (39th, 42nd), Kane Russell (43rd), Pakistan got their goals off Arslan Qadir (8th, 52nd) and Irfan Junior (23rd).
Canada won their first match of the tournament when they beat Japan 3-1.
The Canada goals were scored by Mark Pearson (34th), Gabriel Ho-Garcia
(35th) and Scott Tupper (45th).
The Japan consolation was scored by Hiroki Sakamoto in the 42nd minute.
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