AUSSIE OPENER AT WORLD CUP

WORLD CUP POOLS ANNOUNCED

Following the conclusion to the inaugural edition of the men’s Hockey World League competition in New Delhi, India, the FIH can now reveal the pools for this summer’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.

Pool A will consist of the 2010 World Cup champions Australia (World Ranking: 1), England (4), Belgium (5), India (8), Spain (10) and Malaysia (13), while Olympic champions Germany (2) will face hosts, the Netherlands (3), New Zealand (6), Korea (7), Argentina (11) and South Africa (12) in Pool B.

The pools for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup are based on the current FIH World Rankings, which have been updated to include the ranking points earned by the teams that competed in this month’s Hero Hockey World League Final. The results have triggered some changes to the rankings, with Australia taking back the number 1 ranking spot from Germany who have been top of the table since their Gold medal performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

This year’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup promises epic clashes bringing together twelve of the world’s greatest teams and players for the toughest, most skillful and entertaining international hockey imaginable. Serving as the climax of the world hockey calendar, the Hockey World Cup provides a unique chance to achieve sporting immortality in The Hague.

The women’s Pools were announced in December and can be found athttp://www.fih.ch/en/news-4889-pools-announced-for-women-s-rabobank-hockey

The announcement of the Rabobank Hockey World Cup match schedule will be made next Friday (31^stJanuary 2014) in The Hague.

KOSHY APPOINTED SPORTS ADVISORY PANEL MEMBER

Former National Sports Council Director General Dato Wira Mazlan Ahmad was the surprise inclusion as a member of the Sports Advisory Panel in the list released by Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy also named for Chief Secretary to the government Tun Ahmad Sarji as the Chairman of the SAP, an all powerful panel that is provided for an an advisory panel under the Sports Development Act 1997.

Others named in the panel is veteran sports writer and current Malay Mail Group Editor Dato Syed Nadzri Syed Harun, KLRC owner Dato Sri Andrew Kam, national hockey team manager George Koshy, Olympic Council of Malaysia Deputy President Tan Sri Mohd Noor Rahim and OCM Vice President Dato Low Beng Choo.

Also to be included is a representative each from Sabah and Sarawak as provided for in the Sports Development Act 1997.

The appointment of Mazlan will surely be a jolt for some top officials at the National Sports Council who have failed to use his expertise in providing input to help arrest the declining standards of sports of late.

" I hand picked those appointed based on their ability and knowledge both in sports as well as in their respective professions, " said Khairy.

"They will play an important role in helping me draw up guidelines and policies as well as look into issues plaguing sports in the country.

" I believe that with the formation of the SAP, things will move faster as now I can draw on experienced officials like Tun and Mazlan to help me."

They are appointed for a two year term. The last SAP was headed by Dato Nik... ( fill up pls )

"I am honoured to have been picked by the Minister to serve on this committee. I was a bit surprised when the Minister himself contacted me to ask me if I was keen to serve," said Mazlan,

"The Panel comprises professionals in several fields, all with vast knowledge in sports.

"By appointing Tun Ahmad Sarji as Chairman I must say that Khairy has uplifted the status of the SAP."

Koshy and Andrew are credited with running successfully their clubs, KLHC and KLRC respectively.

While KLHC have dominated the Malaysian hockey scene, KLRC produced Malaysia's first World Junior Champion Zulfadli Zulkifli.

Koshy is a Chartered Accountant and joint partner of Ernest & Young, while Andrew is a barrister at law and also Director of Peninsular Gold Sdn Bhd.

Syed Nadzri has vast knowledge in sports as he was a top notch sports journalist in the 70's and has kept abreast with the current happenings in sports.

RAZIE HEADS FOR HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE

Defender Mohd Razie Rahim becomes the third Malaysian player to play in the Hockey India League after his services were acquired by Dabur Mumbai Magicians.

Razie is expected to leave for Mumbai this week and will join his national team mate Faizal Saari who plays for the same team at HIL.

One of the most consistent defenders in the national team, the stint is expected to further improve his performance.

More details later but you read it here first, not in the main stream media nor on MHC website or any sports TV station...

STATEMENT BY PAUL POTTER, OOPS REVINGTON

My word, former national coach Paul Revington expects the media and hockey fans to believe these reasons. There is a Brutus involved, who is it...

REVS LEAVES, FOR SURE THIS TIME

National coach Paul Revington has done it once again.

For he has quit as coach of the team, four months before the World Cup scheduled for May 31 till June 15 at The Hague.

Revington had shocked the nation by resigning two weeks before the World League Semis in Johor Baru in June.

However he rescinded the resignation following a meeting with Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He then led Malaysia to qualify for the World Cup, a feat last achieved in 2002.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation will hold a Press Conference on Monday where Revington is to outline his reasons for quitting.

A meeting between coaches and Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was held on Sunday afternoon where the resignation of Revington via a letter dated last Friday was discussed.

Present at the meeting were NSC Director General Dato Seri Zolkples Embong, national team manager George Koshy and MHC Secretary Dato Johari Abdul Aziz.

Revington when contacted by Mailsports confirmed his resignation.

"Yes I have quit. It has to do with health reasons. I cannot reveal more until the press conference," was all the South African was willing to reveal.

" I am heading back to Cape Town eventually (at the end of the notice period) to have some downtime and reassess my path as a coach.

"But with Sandy due in March (with twins) she will deliver here before we depart.

" The final decision to resign was made last week."

MHC is expected to announce the appointment of K.Dharmaraj as the Chief Coach and Arul Selvaraj will move to the National Juniors as Chief Coach.

Besides the World Cup, Malaysia will play in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh fromMarch 13-22, the Champions Challenge in Kuantan from April 26 to May 4 as well as two 4 Nation Tournaments in Europe prior to the World Cup.

RIP ZAHAR

Zahar Epi, a former Malaysian national Junior goalkeeper passed away this morning at the Seremban General Hospital after a prolonged battle of health complications.

The 52 year old Zahar hails from Tampin and kept goal for NS after being spotted playing for Tunku Besar Seconday School.

Zahar worked in PKNNS after leaving school and we travelled together before he settled down and eventually moved to Seremban.

One memory that I wish to share with friends is how Zahar met his wife. She used to wait for a lift from her colleague at the Esso Station in Tampin while Zahar and me used to wait for our lift across the road.

After a few weeks Zahar took the decision to approach her like a gentleman and love blossomed.

That was Zahar, bold, brave and charming, and he displayed his qualities on the hockey pitch in between the posts as well.

My regret is that we hardly kept in touch after I moved to KL to work but will forever cherish our moments together for we shared many stories travelling up and down from Seremban to Tampin.

You will be missed my friend, and my condolences to the family whom I hope to meet someday soon.

I know words will not soothe not ease the pain of losing a loved one, and really time never heals, but keep your faith as god will guide us through these dark moments.

"A-BOARD" ISSUE AT PANTAI

The Milo Junior Hockey League got to a rather poor start, with issues of the pitch taking away the highlight from the performances on the pitch.

At the KLHA Stadium in Pantai, the A-Boards of the title sponsor MILO were conspicuously missing as the administrators of the stadium, KL Hockey Association told the Organisors, Malaysian Hockey Confederation to seek approval from Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur before putting up the A-Boards.

As this was only communicated an hour before the match, it was not possible for MHC to get the said approval and MHC Competitions Executive Hashim Mohd Yusof said that it will be reported accordingly to the Technical Committee that meets Monday.

 

For more read www.mjhl.com.my

DEFIANT Perak

Failing to merge the men's and women's bodies in the state may cost Perak Hockey Association the host job for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup this year.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) had stipulated in their council meeting on Aug 18 in Malacca that the states which have not merged in accordance with the MHC constitution will no longer be considered as affiliates and are not allowed to host any tournaments.

At that time,  Perak, Selangor and Terengganu had yet to adhere to regulations following the merger of the Malaysian Hockey Federation and the Malaysian Women Hockey Association.

However, Terengganu and Selangor went on to meet the deadline. 

"The decision of having Dec 31 as the final deadline was taken at the MHC council meeting in Malacca in August, and I need to check with Perak HA on their status," said MHC secretary Datuk Johari Abdul Aziz.

"Perak HA cannot host any tournaments in accordance with our constitution.

"I am not at liberty to decide their fate as that's for the council or executive board to determine."

The status of Perak hockey not being merged was confirmed by Sports Commissioner Ahmad Shapawi Ismail.

"I really do not see what the problem is about merging as Selangor and Terengganu, who initially had issues, managed to merge without any fuss,"said Shapawi.

With the deadline over yesterday, it will be interesting to see the MHC carry out their threat or allow Perak HA to be continued to be run by two different entities — the men headed by Datuk Rahim Md Ariff, while the women are led by MHC deputy president Raja Puan Sri Noora Ashikin.

The Azlan Shah Cup also seems to have lost its glitter following the decision of the organisers to invite teams ranked lower than Malaysia for the 2014 edition.

New Zealand and Argentina declined the invitation while India, who had initially confirmed their participation, withdrew two weeks ago.

Malaysia could have invited the likes of Japan and China but did not do so, opting to invite South Africa instead who are also likely to decline as they will be in Kuantan for the Champions Challenge 1 in April.

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