Stephen van Huizsen: I shoulder the blame..

By Azidan Nahar and Azlan Muhammad Zain
sukanteam@nstp.com.my

JAKARTA: National chief coach Stephen van Huzien said he will shoulder the blame of losing to Japan in the final of the Asian Games on Saturday.
  "I am fully responsible for the defeat, as my players gave everything they had in the match.
  "There were also some decisions (by the umpires) which did not side us," said van Huizen.
  However, he said such incidences do happen in sport, when the opponents rise their game, while those with a comfortable lead keep making mistakes.
  "It is very painful, it (the pain) will be with me forever, it (gold) was in our hands but we let it go," said van Huizen after the final.
  Malaysia were leading 5-2 at one stage, but allowed Japan to fight back and draw 6-6 before winning the shoot-out 3-1.
  Van Huizen said everybody in the squad is equally shattered, as they almost qualified for the Olympics.
  "If the Malaysian fans are disappointed we failed to win gold, imagine our feelings. We know the silver is still precious, but we wanted gold," said van Huizen.
  On the match, Van Huizen said he had reminded the players not to go for a big win, as a one-goal victory would be enough, but because of certain reasons as well as being nervous, everything fell apart.

Kumar shattered...

JAKARTA: National No 1 goalkeeper S. Kumar said his heart shattered into pieces after Malaysia lost 3-1 in shoot-out to Japan in the final of the Asian Games on Saturday.
  He did not hide his disappointment, as Malaysia had taken a 5-2 lead, before Japan fought back to draw level at 6-6 and then win the shoot-out.
  Japan, as hosts of the 2020 Olympics, did not need the gold medal as much as Malaysia did to qualify.
  "What else can I say? I am heartbroken. We played so well to take a 5-2 lead and at that juncture, I already started thinking that we will win gold and qualify for the Olympics.
  "We (all the players) need to accept the defeat and be happy with the silver medal. We should have killed off them match with our early lead, but we let Japan back into the match," he said when met after the sizzling final.
  Malaysia have yet to win gold in the Asian Games after 60 years of competing, and the script on Saturday was same as Guangzhou, China, in 2010 where Malaysia lost to Pakistan in the final. - BERNAMA

Malaysia throw away Olympic ticket

By Jugjet Singh

September 01, 2018 @ 10:57pm

PIC: Two-goal hero: Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin.

FIRST GOAL: Razie Rahim.

JAKARTA: After trying for 60 years, the Malaysain men's hockey team gave away a historical Asian Games gold medal to Japan on a silver platter.

  After taking a 5-2 lead, Malaysia let slip the golden opportunity when they allowed Japan to claw back at 6-6 and then win the shoot-out 3-1.
  Japan double qualified as hosts as well as Asian Games gold medallists.
  The national players never missed a beat in the first quarter, and the goal fest was started by Razie Rahim in the fourth minute but Tanaka Seren equalsied in the ninth minute off a solo effort.
 However Malaysia were in no mood to share the spoils.
 Two reverse stick goals from seasoned striker Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin in a spate of 60 seconds (both at the 11th minute) and Faizal Shaari's 17th minute penalty corner gave them some breathing space.
  Japan narrowed the gap when Malaysia started to look complacent with the lead, and Tanaka Kenta punished them for snoozing in the 22nd minute.
  It was a befitting final, as Malaysia threw caution to the wind and pushed dangerously looking for more goals, while Japan sat back and soaked in the pressure as they had already qualified for the Olympics as hosts.
  Malaysia settled down in the third quarter and even though Japan attacked relentlessly, the score stood and only 15 more minutes remained for a famous gold.
  And just for good measure, Malaysia increased the gap in the 49th minute with a deft deflection from Amirol Aideed to make it 5-2.
  Japan never gave up and goals from Fukuda Kentaro (52nd), Tanaka Kenta (53rd) and Yamasaki Koji (58th) made it 5-5.
  Razie Rahim made it 6-5 in the 58th minute, but with 17 seconds on the clock Japan equalised off Hiromasa Ochiai and took the match to shoot-out.
  RESULTS -- Final: Malaysia 6 Japan 6 (Malaysia lose shoot-out 3-1); Third-Fourth: India 2 Pakistan 1; Fifth-Sixth: South Korea 7 Bangladesh 0; Seventh-Eighth: Hong Kong 2 Kazakhstan 2 (Kazakhstan win shoot-out 3-2). 

Asian Games: Pakistan dead serious..

By Jugjet Singh

August 13, 2018 @ 6:47pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan arrived in Jakarta on Friday for a one-week Asian Games camp before they play Thailand on Aug 20.

  Even though the players had complained that they did not receive a cent for the past six months and wanted to boycott the Games, but cool heads prevailed and they are the earliest team to acclimatise for the Games.
  Malaysia will only travel on Aug 16, and play their first match against Kazakhstan on Aug 20.
  "I believe Pakistan and Malaysia have the same game plan -- to beat each other and top Group A. And their early arrival will give them more time to settle down and acclimatise to the weather and food.
  "For us, Jakarta does not pose any problems of acclimatisation and everything suits us just fine," said Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen.
  The good part about the schedule is that Malaysia and Pakistan will play three other matches first before clashing head-on.
  "We will first play Kazakhstan, followed by Thailand and Bangladesh and it will give us enough time to get used to the playing surface before we play, what I expect, to be our toughest match in Group B.
  "However, we will not take other teams lightly and need to go for goals as well, because if the Pakistan match ends in a draw, we need the advantage to top the group," said van Huizen.
  India are the early favourites, and Malaysia must avoid them at all cost in the semi-finals.
  The world No 5 are in Group A with South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka Hong Kong and Indonesia.
  Malaysia are ranked 12th, while Pakistan 13th in the world.
  "Ranking wise, India are far ahead and are one of the favourites to play in the final. Pakistan is just one rung below us, and that's why they have taken extra precaution to have a week-long centralised camp at the tournament venue itself.
  "We are also prepared, as both the teams have played each other many times and we know their strengths and weaknesses," said van Huizen.
   Both the teams last met at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia and the match ended 1-1. Malaysia went on to play in the fifth-sixth bracket and beat Scotland 2-1, while Pakistan played in the seventh-eighth bracket and beat Canada 3-1.

MHC's president and deputy will resign if men's team fail to play in 2020 Olympics

By Jugjet Singh

August 11, 2018 @ 5:53pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will not only lose their president, but also their deputy if the men’s team fail to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Shamala, who has been involved with hockey for over two decades, made the announcement during MHC’s annual general meeting (AGM) here.

"Our president has done a great job and I am very proud to be in his team.

"And so, to shoulder collective responsibility, I will also relinquish my post if the men's team fail to qualify for the Olympics," said Shamala.

The last time Malaysia featured at the Olympics was the 2000 Sydney edition where the men’s team finished 11th.

Stephen van Huizen's men have two routes to qualify for Tokyo. One is to win gold at the Asian Games, and the second is via the Hockey World Series which Malaysia will host the first part in April next year.

While it was a fresh statement from Shamala, Subahan has made his stand many times.

Shamala feels their stand will not add pressure to the team.

"We are making our stand because we believe the team have the ability to win the gold (at the Asian Games),” she added.