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Graduates ... Nabil (left) and Razie.
KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) received a new lease of life when their two ace Policemen finally graduated, and returned to the hockey pitch.
National No 1 penalty corner flicker Razie Rahim and midfielder Nabil Fiqri graduated into inspectors from Pulapol on Feb 4, and on Wednesday they helped demolish UitM-KPT 9-1.
Razie scored a brace in his first Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) outing this season.
The win, and double champion Terengganu Hockey Team's 1-1 draw against Tenaga Nasional, has placed both the teams on 23 points after nine matches.
THT only lead the standings by a 15-goal margin.
KLHC had registered both the players, but could not field them in the first leg as they had to undergo a nine-month training to become inspectors.
"Razie and Nabil are experienced players and their entry into KLHC could not have come at a better time. Now I believe we have a fighting chance to lift the League title," said KLHC manager Ahmad Anuar Sham.
With Razie in defense and penalty corners, and Nabil in midfield, KLHC are the team to beat in the Premier Division now.
"We not only need to win, but score as many goals as possible to catch up with THT. However, I believe the title will be decided in the last match of the League on Feb 19," said Anuar.
That's the day KLHC will meet THT in the second leg. In the first leg, the match ended 2-2 with KLHC claiming the Charity Shield 6-5 on penalties.
Only the draw counted for points, while the shoot-out was for the Shield.
National seniors coach Stephen van Huizen still has his eyes on both the players, who last represented the country in the Asian Champions Trophy in October last year where Malaysia finished third.
"Both the players have been coming for fitness training even when they were in Pulapol for their Police training. They are an asset and will be considered for the Dhaka World League (Round Two, from March 4-12).
Both KLHC and THT are expected to win full points against Maybank and UiTM-KPT respectively today.
TODAY: UiTM-KPT v Terengganu HT (Tun Razak, 6pm), TNB Thunderbolts v Tenaga Nasional (SSTMI, 5pm), SSTMI v UniKL (SSTMI, 7pm), Kuala Lumpur HC v Maybank (KLHA, 6pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
T'GGANU HT 9 7 2 0 49 5 23
KLHC 9 7 2 0 43 14 23
UNIKL 9 6 1 2 24 10 19
TENAGA 9 4 3 2 22 14 15
MAYBANK 9 3 1 5 19 27 10
THUNDERBOLTS 9 3 1 5 18 31 10
UITM-KPT 9 0 1 8 11 45 1
SSTMI 9 0 1 8 5 45 1
Media Advisory
MHC has received an offer from FIH to play in the Dhaka HWLR2 instead of the T&T HWLR2. Upon consultation with the respective bodies which include the coaches, Technical Director, Coaching Chairman and members of the EB, and taking into consideration various matters that generally contribute to our decision-making processes, MHC would like to officially inform that the Men's National Team will be heading to Dhaka to participate in the Men's Hockey World League Round 2. The tournament will take place from the 4th to 12th March and feature the following teams:
1. Egypt
2. China
3. Oman
4. Bangladesh
5. Sri Lanka
6. Fiji
7. Ghana
Kindly be informed. We look forward to giving our best at the tournament.
JOHOR Hockey Association (JHA) have invited top junior sides for the Seventh Edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup to be held on Oct 22-29.
A star studded field of Argentina, Great Britain, Germany, India and Australia have been contacted to play at the Taman Daya Stadium against the hosts.
"We are extending invites to these teams as they had expressed interest in participating this year," said JHA Deputy President Datuk Manjit Majid Abdullah.
"These are top junior teams and it will help boost the image of the tournament. We have also received interest from a few other countries and will keep our options open and invite them should any of these five decline."
Among the countries on the reserve list are New Zealand, Japan, Pakistan and Egypt.
Manjit said that they were also looking at other teams like South Africa, Spain or Belgium for the tournament.
Should India accept the invite, they will be making a return after a years absence.
Australia are the defending champions and Malaysia as well as Great Britain have emerged as champions before.
THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) called Premier Division managers for a meeting yesterday to prepare for 'all-weather' leading to the World League Round Two.
After Canada withdrew for the Dhaka, Bangladesh, World League Round Two recently there is a possibility that Malaysia might move from their initial venue in Trinidad and Tobago to Bangladesh.
But the MHC are still tight-lipped about any changes in venues.
"No we have not received any news from the FIH (International Hockey Federation) on a change of venue. This meeting was called to request for national players in the Premier Division to attend training every Mondays.
"The teams agreed, and there were no further issues," said MHC CEO K. Logan Raj.
National men's coach Stephen van Huizen also said he does not know about any change in venue, and is just preparing for the World League.
"I have no news about the change in venue for the tournament, and in fact even my players have asked me the same question but I could not answer their queries.
"The only difference between both the venues is the travelling time of about 30 hours to Trinidad and Tobago while its about four hours to Dhaka.
"Also, in Trinidad and Tobago, we are grouped with European and Caribbean sides while in Dhaka it will be basically Asian teams," said van Huizen.
However, the hasty meeting might be to prepare a team early for Dhaka as the tournament dates would become closer if there is a change in venue.
Malaysia are slated to play their WL in Trinidad and Tobago on March 25-April 2.
But if they replace Canada, Malaysia will play in Dhaka on March 4-12.
The Malaysia Hockey League Premier Division matches end on Feb 26, and the Dhaka tournament is just a week after that.
In a news report, Bangladesh Hockey Federation secretary general Abdus Sadeque said: "It is very sad that Canada have withdrawn from the tournament on security grounds, which we learnt on Monday through the FIH (International Hockey Federation).”
In Dhaka Canada were in Group A with Fiji, Oman and Bangladesh, while in Group B are China, Egypt, Ghana and Sri Lanka.
While in Trinidad and Tobago Malaysia are in Group A with Barbados, US and Chile. In Group B are Japan, Switzerland, Russia and the hosts.
A street shot of Dhaka -- the venue for World League Round Two.
THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are scrambling against time to accept an invitation to play their World League Round Two match in Dhaka, instead of the scheduled Trinidad and Tobago venue.
This came about after Canada pulled out of the Dhaka WL on March 4-12 citing security concerns.
Malaysia were supposed to play their WL in Trinidad and Tobago on March 25-April 2.
Yesterday, Premier Division Malaysia Hockey League team managers received calls to attend a meeting on Monday evening to discuss this sudden move -- with an option to shorten the MHL which ends on Feb 26 -- just a week before Dhaka.
In a news report, Bangladesh Hockey Federation secretary general Abdus Sadeque said: "It is very sad that Canada have withdrawn from the tournament on security grounds, which we learnt on Monday through the FIH (International Hockey Federation).”
“We are taking this matter to the FIH because we have already given our security plans to them which include security from airport to the hotel, from the hotel to the stadium and security inside the team hotel.
"One of our vice presidents briefed the FIH on the detailed security plan,” Sadeque said.
“The FIH report has mentioned that Bangladesh have efficiently organised the England cricket team's Tour. It would have been better had the 11th-ranked team in the world Canada would have come as well.”
In Dhaka Canada were in Group A with Fiji, Oman and Bangladesh, while in Group B are China, Egypt, Ghana and Sri Lanka.
While in Trinidad and Tobago Malaysia are in Group A with Barbados, US and Chile. In Group B are Japan, Switzerland, Russia and the hosts.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation CEO K. Logan Raj said its still a wait-and-see situation.
"We have yet to receive anything from the FIH on the matter, but it looks like if we have to play in Bangladesh there are many factors to considerate.
"First, the dates are too close and we need to adjust many things. Secondly, looking at the teams in both venues, there is not much of a difference and in the end a decision will be made to make sure we qualify for the World League Semifinals," said Logan.
While Logan was non-committed, it was understood that Malaysia will be playing in Dhaka instead of Trinidad and Tobago.
For the record, in the last World League Round Two in Singapore, Malaysia thrashed Poland 8-0 in the final but still failed to advance to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because they finished sixth in the World League Semifinals in Belgium.
And Canada qualified for the Olympics by finishing fourth in the Argentina World League Semifinals.
