SUBAHAN: I'll propose for MHC Under-21 Invitational...

Subahan Kamal 

Jais Sarday

MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal was perplexed on why the Johor HA president Datuk Md Jais Sarday came out with a statement hitting the parent body, as every matter pertaining to the Sultan of Johor Cup had been explained to the state.
  And after replying to all the allegations, Subahan said he will propose to the MHC Executive Board to organise their own Under-21 International Invitation next year.
  "I am shocked with the allegations made by the Johor HA president on MHC not being serious about preparing a team for the tournament, on sanction fees, on TV rights and on MHC officials not coming to Johor to watch the matches.
  "As all these had been explained to the JHA representatives who are also also on MHC.
  "For starters, JHA have yet to pay MHC the US$5,000 sanction fee that they had agreed to, prior to the tournament. So, I'm shocked that it has been brought up at the end of the tournament, as we had already explained the need for a sanction fee to the council and the JHA deputy president, who is also MHC vice-president, Datuk Manjit (Majid Abdullah) was present during the briefing.
  "I don't know what he briefed his president, or did he (Manjit) brief his president at all."
  On MHC not being serious in preparing a team for the SOJC, Subahan agreed in totality.
  "Yes, we were not serious about preparing an under-21 team for the SOJC but because this batch is not our focus right now. Maybe one or two will make the senior cut, but the rest will not be able to help Malaysia in the next junior world cup.
  "Yes MHC were not serious about this team because they did not qualify for the Lucknow (Junior) World Cup (in December).
  "The Technical Director (Terry Walsh) and the coaching set-up are more focused on the present Under-21 team coached by Nor Saiful Zaini and the various 1Mas Under-16 teams which will form the base for the next (JWC) qualifier and the tournament itself," said Subahan.
  Subahan then said the sanction fee, as well as money from TV rights is not for MHC, but to be channelled back to the states.
  "On Sunday, we gave Negri Sembilan HA RM50,000 for completing their League. This money came from our TV sponsors Astro and main sponsors Tenaga Nasional.
  "We had promised every state RM50,000 and have delivered to most after they organise their League. Johor HA negotiated with RTM directly for the SOJC TV rights while our partner is Astro.
  "That's their right, but had it been Astro, the money would have been channelled back to the states. I aim to give ever state RM100,000 for their development programmes before my term is over and one way to do it is to host our own Under-21 International tournament.
  "Johor (who collected RM1.4 million in sponsorship for the Sixth Edition of the SOJC), made at least RM1 million from the tournament and I believe when the MHC host their own junior invitational, we will be able to collect the same amount and this will in turn be channelled back to the states for development," said Subahan.
  The proposed name is MHC Under-21 International Invitational, and Subahan is dead serious about organising a rival to the SOJC.
  "And on MHC 'melepaskan batuk di tangga' (sending their representatives to the SOJC and not the big guns) on attending the SOJC, I would like to state that when I can make it, I do attend tournaments all over the country and overseas.
  "But when I can't due to my work schedule, as I am also a businessman and have to work for my bread-and-butter, my representatives attend.
  "For the SOJC, deputy president George Koshy and vice-president Datuk Ow Soon Kooi did go to Johor for the SOJC," said Subahan.

India dethrone Pakistan...

INDIA won the Asian Champions Trophy gold medal when they edged defending champions Pakistan 3-2 in a highly entertaining match in Kuantan Sunday.
  The India goals were scored by Rupinder Pal Singh (eighth), Yousuf Affan (23rd) and Thimmaiah Chandanda (51st).
  And Pakistan got their goals off Aleem Bilal (26th) and Ali Shan (38th).

Fourth consecutive bronze for Malaysia...

MALAYSIA won their fourth consecutive Asian Champions Trophy bronze medal when they beat South Korea 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out in Kuantan Sunday.
  It was the Fourth Edition of the ACT, and Malaysia held Korea 1-1 before winning the shoot-out confidently.
  In the final -- will send one more para -- one more para.
  After a poot shoot-out in the semi-finals against Pakistan on Saturday, Firhan Ashaari, Faizal Shaari and Nabil Fiqri were all Malaysia needed to win the bronze while the other two players were never needed.
  Goalkeper S. Kumar brought off three saves and was the hero of the moment.
  "It has been a tough tournament as we had to play seven matches in a packed schedule because the tournament rules were changed to the semi-finals format instead of the norm in the last three editions where the top-two teams after the round-robbin qualify for the final.
  "Malaysia (who finished second in the pool) would have been in the final if not for the change of format to semi-finals in a six-team tournament," lamented Kumar. who has been involved in many shoot-outs in his career.
  Kumar also said after watching the video of the Korea-India semi-finals shoot-out, he knew what to do yesterday.
  "I have been in many shoot-outs before and prepared for today (yesterday) by watching the Korea-India shoot-out. It helped me identify the strikers patterns and that's why I managed to stop all of them," said Kumar.
  The rain came pouring down as Malaysia and South Korea started their quest for bronze.
  Malaysia took the lead of Shahril Saabah in the 14th minute, his fourth goal of the tournament.
  However, South Korea equalised off skipper Jung Manjae off their first penalty corner in the 17th minute.
  Shahril was yellow carded 20 seconds from half-time, and Malaysia re-entered the pitch with 10-men and looking very jaded.
  The score stood in the next two quarters, and it went to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winners.
  RESULTS: Final -- India x Pakistan x; Third-Fourth: Malaysia 1 South Korea 1 (Malaysia win shoot-out 3-1).

SOJC: England challenge for hosts...

MALAYSIA confirmed their Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) squad at the 11th Hour, with ten players from last year's bronze medallists still remain standing.
  The hosts - the only team in Johor not bound for the Junior World Cup in Lucknow - are out on a missing to redeem themselves after failing at the Junior Asia Cup last year.
  Malaysia open their campaign against England Monday, at the Taman Daya Stadium, who boast of many players from last year's Great Britain side, before taking on Australia, Pakistan, Japan and New Zealand.
  "We will be out to prove that we are worthy alongside five countries which have qualified for the world cup," said team manager Yahya Atan.
  "These are the next batch of Malaysian players and in Johor they must indicate, that they want to be in contention for the senior team someday."
  Malaysia have named a number of players that competed in the Australian Hockey League, among them are Rizwan Azmi, Firdaus Omar, Lukman Nur Hakim, Nor Azmi Rahman and Syed Shafiq.
  MALAYSIA: Rizwan Azmi, Zaimi Mat Deris, Luqman Nul Hakim, Firdaus Omar, Najib Hassan, Najmi Farizal, Zalupidaus Mizun, Rozaini Baharom, Syed Syafiq Cholan, Amrirol Aideed, Arif Syafie, Ashran Hamsani, Rafizul Ezry, Firdaus Fauzi, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Nik Aiman Rozemi, Hafiizhuddin Zaidi, Akhimullah Anuar, Abdul Khaliq, Zulhamizan Awang.

Shoot-out nightmare...

MALAYSIA lost another golden chance when they were bundled out of the Asian Champions Trophy final in a penalty shoot-out in Kuantan Saturday.

  The score was tied 1-1 at regulation time, but Pakistan were better in the shoot-out to win 3-2 and play India in the final today.

  Faiz Helmi Jali, Shahril Saabah and Fitri Shaari failed to score and Malaysia will now play South Korea for the bronze.

  For the record, Malaysia have only won bronze medals in the last three editions.

  Malaysian coach Stephen Van Huizen admitted his players did not play their best.

  "Yes I admit the players were not up to the mark and have played much better against Japan and India. I hope this is a bitter lesson for them when they play in the World League (Round Two in Trinidad and Tobago next year) where they must get the job done at the crucial period," said van Huizen.

  The game was played in constant drizzle, but the 4,000-odd crowd refuse to leave their seats and cheered on their favourite sport.

  Goalkeeper S. Kumar was padded-up on Deepavali day, while striker Faizal Shaari rushed to Ipoh in the morning to welcome his first child, a son, to the world and was back in the evening to play for Malaysia.

  Their dedication and sacrifices did not go to waste as Malaysia took the lead off their first penalty corner itself.

  Shahril Saabah's drive in the 18th minute brought some relief into the game as it stood until the half-time breather.

  It never stopped raining, and the slippery pitch made strikers from both sides slip and fall. However, Pakistan came back into the picture when Abdul Khan nailed the equalsier from close range in the 34th minute, and it was enough to take the match into penalty shoot-out.

  In the other semi-finals, India had to bring out their best to deny a fighting South Korea in a tensed penalty shoot-out after the match ended 2-2.

  Talwinder Singh (15th) and Ramandeep Singh (55th) scored for India while Seo Inwoo (21st) and Yang Jihun (53rd) scored for Korea.

  In the shoot-out, India held their nerves to win 5-4.

  RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Malaysia 1 Pakistan 1 (Pakistan win shoot-out 3-2), India 2 South Korea 2 (India win shoot-out 5-4).

  Fifth-Sixth: China 4 Japan 3.

  SUNDAY: Final -- Pakistan v India (8.30pm); Third-Fourth: Malaysia v South Korea (6.15pm).