Whitsun Cup: Inexperience cause of friendly defeat...

THE MALAYSIAN Under-16 team lost 2-0 to the German Under-16 team in a friendly in Mannheim Friday, but had plenty of chances to seal off the match.
  Inexperience saw them bungle five penalty corners, and five open play sitters.
  The boys were selected after the recent National Under-16 tournament, and underwent a four-day training in Ipoh during the Azlan Shah Cup.
  In Mannheim, they will play against Netherlands, German Under-16 and German Under-17.
  They start with Germany Under-16 Sunday, for the Whitsun Cup.
  The match was played in 20 minute halves and Germany Germans scored a goal in each half via quick counter-attacks.
  According to coach Nor Saiful Zaini, the scoreline was a little too flattering towards the hosts.
   "We had five clear chances to score but poor finishing, inexperience and a really good goalkeeper stood in the way of any possible turnaround. The Germans were physically bigger but we held our own against them. 
  "We also had five penalty corners to Germany's one but failed to convert any. Overall, I am happy with the performance and look forward to the tournament Sunday", said Saiful.
 This is an invitational tournament where Malaysia were left out for the last two editions. However, Malaysia finished second behind Germany in the Whitsun Cup when it made its debut in 2010.
  MALAYSIAN Under-16: Goalkeepers: Hamiz Ahir, Helmi Fazli; Defenders: Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin, Zulfitri Zin, Arif Syafie.
 Midfielders: Pavandip Singh s/o Gurdip Singh, Amirul Hamizan, Akram Hakkam, Granson Noel, Faiz Aiman, Zafri Afiq, Syarman Mat Tee.
 Forwards: Haridzmi Nizam, Noor Firdaus Rosdi, Muhibuddin Moharam, Syamin Naim, Saifuddin Azli, Akhimullah Anuar.
  Coach: Nur Saiful Zaini; Assistant Coach: Sufian Mohamed.

Ranking points for Asian Champions Trophy

THE Fourth Edition of Asian Champions Trophy finally received  recognition as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will accord it world ranking points.

  Ranking points have become paramount, as the World League format to qualify for World Cups and Olympics relies heavily on it when teams are tied on the same placing.

  Malaysia finished sixth in the World League semi-finals in Antwerp, but Argentina World League sixth placed New Zealand went to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because they were higher ranked.

  The decision by the FIH Executive Board, which met in April, was conveyed to the Asian Hockey Federation on May 12.

  "This is great news for Asian teams and it will surely make the tournament more competitive as well raise its profile," said Malaysian Hockey Confederation CEO K. Logan Raj.

  "From our perspective, gaining valuable ranking points will surely boost our chances of moving up the world rankings."

   With a higher profile, it can be rest assured that this years Asian Champions Trophy, slated from Oct 20-30 in Kuantan, could see a more closely challenged event, thus giving Asian hockey the much needed boost.

  The other five teams which will compete in Kuantan are India, Pakistan, South Korea, China and Japan -- based on the top-six finish in the last Asian Games.

  The ACT, incepted in 2011, was not accorded ranking points and teams started to take it lightly by sending their development squads.

  Prior to this teams in Asia could only gain ranking points from continental tournaments like the Asian Games or Asia Cup.

  And for the second-tier Asian teams, the FIH confirmed that an Asian Champions Challenge will be held where ranking points will also be accorded.

  Malaysia ranked 13th in the World, held world no 8 New Zealand 3-3 twice in the Azlan Shah Cup pool and bronze medal matches, indicating that the team's rankings are well below their playing level.

  The first edition of the ACT was held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, in 2011 followed by Doha, Qatar, in 2012 and Kakamigahara, Japan, in 2013.

  Malaysia finished third in all three ACT's, which did not offer any ranking points then.

Razak Cup: Razie power for Police...

NATIONAL skipper Razie Rahim and midfielder Nabil Fiqri are set to play for Police in Division One of the 54th Razak Cup on May 21-29 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
  Razie and Nabil, both stalwarts in the national team, joined Police Inspector's training on May 8 and are supposed to be out of touch with hockey for nine months, but special arrangements have been made for them to play in the Razak Cup.
  Police became the Division Two champions last season, and their promotion to Division One could see them land a medal with a strong cast.
  Three other former internationals Kelvinder Singh, Jivan Mohan and Baljit Singh Sarjab; who have completed their Inspector's trainings; together with former international Megat Azrafiq will be the main pillars of Police again.
  Baljit almost 'single handedly' handed Police the Division Two title and promotion with 17 penalty corner goals last season.
  But this season, they will have Malaysia's No 1 penalty corner flicker and top defender Razie for goals.
  "I have not been informed about Razie and Nabil's situation as they have just joined training and would need a release letter to play in the Razak Cup.
  "However, if they are allowed to play, Police will be able to give a stronger challenge in Division One," said former national coach Gurmit Singh.
  Gurmit, with Sarjit Singh, coached the national squad for the 2008 Kakamigahara Olympic Qualifier.
  Police are in Group A with defending champions Malacca, Johor and Pahang. In Group B are silver medallists Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan and Terengganu.
  In Division Two, Group A consists of Selangor, Kedah, Perlis and Penang. In Group B are Kelantan, Armed Forces, Sabah and Sarawak.
  The women's Razak Cup will also be held simultaniously, and Polcie are again the 'big winners' as natinal players Farah Ayuni Yahya and Noor Hasliza Ali, who also joined Inspectors training on May 8, will be released to play.
  The women's Group A is made up of Pahang, Sarawak, Police, Johor, Selangor; Group B: Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembila, Armed Forces, Terengganu, Sabah; Group C: Malacca, Penang, Perak, Kedah.
  The women's Razak Cup will make its debut, in what is actually a name change from the previous Raja Noora Ashikin Cup.

MHC: Report Card by Satwant Dhaliwal

Read part 1 of the Hockey Report Card here http://malaysianhockey.blogspot.com/2016/05/report-card-friday-13-part-1.html

MHL: Magnificent Seven barred...

MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) coaching committee chairman Datuk Ow Soon Kooi said Sunday none of the coaches dubbed as the 'Magnificent Seven' will be allowed to coach or play for teams in this years Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).

  The seven are National seniors coach Stephen van Huizen, his assistant Lim Chiow Chuan; women's chief coach K. Dharmaraj, his assistant Lailin Abu Hassan; National Development team head coach Wallace Tan, Women's Development squad head coach K. Gobinathan and 1Mas Director Tai Beng Hai.

  In reiterating this stand, Soon Kooi said that this condition was already made known to the coaches in January.

  "They know MHC's stand and I believe all will adhere to the decision," said Soon Kooi.

  "The seven have a role to play during the MHL as they will have to monitor the performances of their respective players as well as scout for talent.

  "I hope the coaches will understand the situation and I hope their clubs too realise that as full time coaches with MHC they have to adhere to the regulations."

  Teams that will be affected by this rule are KL Hockey Club (Dharmaraj and Chiow Chuan), Sapura (van Huizen and Beng Hai) as well as Uitm (Gobinathan).

  While these seven cannot coach or play, some others will be allowed to coach or play in the MHL.

  Amongst those who are still expected to play are Roslan Jamaluddin (KLHC) and Amin Rahim (TNB).

  Roslan is the goalkeeper coach for the National Development Squad while Amin is the assistant coach of the team.

  It will be interesting to see who will now handle high profile teams such as KLHC and Sapura, as this season, clubs not only have to scout for foreign players during the Olympic period, but also for calibre coaches to handle high profile clubs.