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Monday, December 21, 2009
STARTLING AND SHOCKING
Having spoken to some senior players who were at the World Cup Qualifiers, I am amazed that majority of them are not happy with the decisions of MHF. Await what they are unhappy about in a day or two, Merry Christmas.
Friday, December 18, 2009
WHAT A SHAM
I would like to ask MHF officials to have their kids stand in the rain for two hours and not provide them with raincoats.
This was the scenario of the so called new look MHL which I have rightfully renamed the circus .
The poor chap in the picture as well as the rest of the ball pickers during the KL Hockey Club v TNB match at Tun Razak Stadium had to endure the match in a steady down pour and MHF could not provide them with a RM5 ringgit raincoat.
Luckly the match was not live as then the rest of Malaysia would have witnessed this inhuman act. But only 37 members of the public saw it.
There was something like 197 persons at the stadium but take away 120 being players and officials of the other four teams and around 20 odd MHF officials or Technical Officials plus parents and families that will make up another 20 persons so that leaves it at 37 fans.
This was the scenario of the so called new look MHL which I have rightfully renamed the circus .
The poor chap in the picture as well as the rest of the ball pickers during the KL Hockey Club v TNB match at Tun Razak Stadium had to endure the match in a steady down pour and MHF could not provide them with a RM5 ringgit raincoat.
Luckly the match was not live as then the rest of Malaysia would have witnessed this inhuman act. But only 37 members of the public saw it.
There was something like 197 persons at the stadium but take away 120 being players and officials of the other four teams and around 20 odd MHF officials or Technical Officials plus parents and families that will make up another 20 persons so that leaves it at 37 fans.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
WHY THE DELAY IN APPOINTING DHARMA?
While the MHF is dragging its feet in selecting a foreign coach for the senior national team, their reluctance in naming K. Dharmaraj as the next National Juniors Coach is cause for alarm.
Dharma has proven his ability, with the team doing well under his guidance over the past year, so rightfully MHF should have no problems in endorsing him as the coach responsible towards the preparation of the juniors for the Junior Asia Cup in 2011 which will serve as the qualifiers for the 2013 Junior World Cup.
The Coaching Committee should convene a meeting to discuss the names of the 3 foreign coaches (which was what the MHF Secretary said in a recent press statement) and at the same time be allowed to deliberate on the coaches for the various teams.
But strahely MHF is silent on this matter and Dharma has no manager to raise this issue with the MHF top management as his team was without an influential or rather top MHF official since Mirnawan Nawawi stepped down as Manager in September this year.
I wonder why the MHF opted to have a Vice President as Assistant Team Manager to the World Cup Qualifiers but no senior official in Myanmar for the AHF Under 18, which ironically was an important tournament as it served as a qualifier for the Youth Olympics in Singapore next year.
December must surely be a bad month for Dharma, as not ony has MHF not given him his due recognition, but also denied him the opportunity to coach KL Hockey Club.
Dharma has proven his ability, with the team doing well under his guidance over the past year, so rightfully MHF should have no problems in endorsing him as the coach responsible towards the preparation of the juniors for the Junior Asia Cup in 2011 which will serve as the qualifiers for the 2013 Junior World Cup.
The Coaching Committee should convene a meeting to discuss the names of the 3 foreign coaches (which was what the MHF Secretary said in a recent press statement) and at the same time be allowed to deliberate on the coaches for the various teams.
But strahely MHF is silent on this matter and Dharma has no manager to raise this issue with the MHF top management as his team was without an influential or rather top MHF official since Mirnawan Nawawi stepped down as Manager in September this year.
I wonder why the MHF opted to have a Vice President as Assistant Team Manager to the World Cup Qualifiers but no senior official in Myanmar for the AHF Under 18, which ironically was an important tournament as it served as a qualifier for the Youth Olympics in Singapore next year.
December must surely be a bad month for Dharma, as not ony has MHF not given him his due recognition, but also denied him the opportunity to coach KL Hockey Club.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
DUTCH MANTRA FOR INDIA
It was an opportunity lost for many a hockey official, coach and player. At a time when Indian hockey is suffering for want of good governance and lack of vision, Marc Lammer's ‘talk' at the Global Sports Summit organised by FICCI at its New Delhi auditorium on Wednesday was just too good to miss. Unfortunately, no one worthwhile from the hockey fraternity was present. And, former Olympian and coach Jagbir Singh, a speaker on the panel, was absent as well.
Professional advice doesn't come for free. And here was Lammers, a man who guided The Netherland's ladies hockey team to the gold medal at the Beijing Games this summer, speaking at a sports and business seminar. In a 20-minute speech that left the motley audience transfixed, Lammers dwelt on what it takes to make a champion outfit.
At a time when Indian women have qualified for the World Cup, Lammer's ‘free' talk could have been like gospel to India's hockey officials. Alas, the famous coach was only heard by a bunch of media people, corporate honchos and students who are unlikely to make any long-lasting impact on the game.
Saying Spaniard Jose Brasa was doing a good job with the men's team, the savvy Dutch coach said India's women had tremendous potential but the "environment" had to be created for them. "They are not only skilful and women are better to teach," says Lammers, whose association with the Holland national side is now part of Dutch hockey folklore.
The Dutch mindset may not work in India, but Lammers suggests: "think in possibilities and not in difficulties," indicating not to make excuses due to lack of finances.
Currently training coaches in China and the United States, Lammers is keen to work in India after 2012. "I don't think a foreign coach is necessary to train the players. It is important to coach the coaches and the parents," says Lammers. He shared behind-the-scenes ‘secrets' of the Dutch ladies and what went in making them into Olympic champions.
Simple and practical, Lammers says, "It is important to work on your strengths rather than your weaknesses," adding: "discipline, creativity and hard work," are the keys to success.
Lammers will be back in India during the World Cup in February next year and says Champions Trophy winners Australia will be the favourites. "India's only advantage will be playing at home," he added.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
WORLD CUP DRAW
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has released the pools for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup, to be played in
Defending World Champion Germany is the top seed in Pool A and will meet
Host
Following the pool phase of the Hero Honda FIH World Cup, the best two ranked teams of each pool will proceed to the semifinals.
The match schedule for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup will be released before the end of December 2009.
Hero Honda FIH World Cup, 28 February-13 March 2010:
Pool A:
Pool B:
MALAYSIA 15 IN FIH RANKING
Malaysia is currently ranked 15th in the latest World Rankings released by FIH.
However ranking points for the 18 teams in the World Cup Qualifiers will only be added upon the completion of the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi next March.
The Chinese men team entered the Top Ten of the ABN AMRO World Rankings after the points of the ABN AMRO Champions Trophy, the BDO Champions Challenge I and the Champions Challenge II were added.
The top nine of the men’s ABN AMRO World Rankings didn’t change. Germany is still the leader, followed by Australia, Spain, Netherlands and Korea. China moved up three places and is ranked tenth now. South Africa climbed from the 15th to the 13th position. Argentina lost its place in the Top Ten and is ranked 14th now.
The next update of the ABN AMRO World Rankings is scheduled immediately after the Hero Honda FIH World Cup.
Please click here for direct access to the ABN AMRO World Rankings
However ranking points for the 18 teams in the World Cup Qualifiers will only be added upon the completion of the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi next March.
The Chinese men team entered the Top Ten of the ABN AMRO World Rankings after the points of the ABN AMRO Champions Trophy, the BDO Champions Challenge I and the Champions Challenge II were added.
The top nine of the men’s ABN AMRO World Rankings didn’t change. Germany is still the leader, followed by Australia, Spain, Netherlands and Korea. China moved up three places and is ranked tenth now. South Africa climbed from the 15th to the 13th position. Argentina lost its place in the Top Ten and is ranked 14th now.
The next update of the ABN AMRO World Rankings is scheduled immediately after the Hero Honda FIH World Cup.
Please click here for direct access to the ABN AMRO World Rankings
BIG FIGHT LOOMING
The picture above tells us a lot about what is going on within the corridors of power of MHF. A big battle looms ahead of the MHF elections which will be held before the fasting month next year. The campaigning has started, but we shall leave it at that for the moment.
What is more interesting is that a RM3 million submission for development of hockey was made in Penang last Sunday. Wow hockey is big money these days, RM3 million for development, RM1.5 million for foreign coaches and not forgetting it was RM7 million for the MHL submitted by a company. More on these later, for a storm is brewing within MHF and I am gonna watch Storm Raiders for some sense while others start counting the billions of cents they will make.
What is more interesting is that a RM3 million submission for development of hockey was made in Penang last Sunday. Wow hockey is big money these days, RM3 million for development, RM1.5 million for foreign coaches and not forgetting it was RM7 million for the MHL submitted by a company. More on these later, for a storm is brewing within MHF and I am gonna watch Storm Raiders for some sense while others start counting the billions of cents they will make.
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