India appointed Australia's Michael Nobbs as men's national team coach, handing him a five-year contract that will see him in charge up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Hockey India said that committee members were unanimous in choosing 57-year-old Nobbs, who played for his country at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
"The selection was based on several factors: his experience, organising capabilities and the presentation he made before us," SAI director-general Deepak Kumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"What weighed in his favour is the fact that the Australian style of hockey is similar to ours and we have decided to continue with that."
Nobbs, who said he was "very excited, honoured and privileged" at the appointment, beat top Dutch former players Roelant Oltmans and Jacques Brinkman for the position.
India has been looking for another foreign coach since Spaniard Jose Brasa's contract expired after last year's Asian Games and national coach Harendra Singh failed to deliver results at last month's Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
Nobbs will be paid $Aus 10,000 ($10,500) a month with a 10-percent increase if the team qualifies for next year's London Olympics and a further hike if the team does well there, the SAI said.
Eight-time Olympic champions India failed to qualify for Beijing in 2008, ending their run of playing in every Games since 1928.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
SECOND WIN OVER CLUB SIDE
Malaysia defeated Atletic Terassa Hockey Club 6-2 up register their second win in successive days in their Europe Playing Tour.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
FIRST WIN IN EUROPE TOUR
Malaysia registered their first win in their playing tour in Europe after defeating Real Club de Polo 4-2 in Barcelona yesterday.
Goals by Nabil Fiqri Mohd Nor, Hafifihafiz Hanafi, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Azami Adabi ensured the win in a match where Malaysia took a 2-0 lead only for Real de Polo to draw level through the efforts of Roger Padros who scored twice for Real Club de Polo
Malaysia were very much in control for much of the match but allowed their opponents to come back from 2-0 down to 2-2 but lifted their game in the last 15 minutes to score two goals.
"If we had capitalized on our lead and chances we would have been able to give more rest to our starting players and more playing time to our bench instead of having to put in more energy and effort to get the win," said stand in manager Stephen van Huizen.
Malaysia opened scoring in the 9th minute when Tengku Ahmad stole the ball on the right goaline and passed it to Hafifi who drew the goalkeeper and made a pass to Nabil for a tap in.
The second goal came in the 29th minute as Izwan took a reverse hit shot at goal but was saved by the goalkeeper. The ball fell to Firhan who kept his composure to set up pass to Hafifi to score.
Real de Polo reduced the deficit in the 30th minute. The Malaysian players were expecting a free hit for a foul but it not given and off a counter and long pass that was not trapped cleanly by Mohd Madzli Ikmar, the Spanish forward Roger Padros had a clean run into the semi circle the pull to S. Kumar's right in 1 v 1 situation and hit into goal.
And it was 2-2 in the 55th minute for despite dominating play and well in control Malaysia conceded the equalizer.
A high hit into semi circle was well trapped by Baljit Singh but the advantage given to the opponents and as a result we lost possession resulting in reverse hit by Roger Padros from the top of the semi circle that beat Kumar.
Malaysia went 3-2 ahead in 58th minute after a long pass from Madzli found Tengku Ahmad who dropped back to collect after some good running from the midfielders created the opening in the centre.
Tengku Ahmad went on a run to left side of the semi circle evading two defenders and hitting a reverse hit shot that goalkeeper padded but not cleanly and the ball crept into goal.
In the 67th minute Izwan received pass , cut in from the right flank and played a square pass to left side to Hafifi who pushed a hard ball to the far post for Azami to score.
Goals by Nabil Fiqri Mohd Nor, Hafifihafiz Hanafi, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Azami Adabi ensured the win in a match where Malaysia took a 2-0 lead only for Real de Polo to draw level through the efforts of Roger Padros who scored twice for Real Club de Polo
Malaysia were very much in control for much of the match but allowed their opponents to come back from 2-0 down to 2-2 but lifted their game in the last 15 minutes to score two goals.
"If we had capitalized on our lead and chances we would have been able to give more rest to our starting players and more playing time to our bench instead of having to put in more energy and effort to get the win," said stand in manager Stephen van Huizen.
Malaysia opened scoring in the 9th minute when Tengku Ahmad stole the ball on the right goaline and passed it to Hafifi who drew the goalkeeper and made a pass to Nabil for a tap in.
The second goal came in the 29th minute as Izwan took a reverse hit shot at goal but was saved by the goalkeeper. The ball fell to Firhan who kept his composure to set up pass to Hafifi to score.
Real de Polo reduced the deficit in the 30th minute. The Malaysian players were expecting a free hit for a foul but it not given and off a counter and long pass that was not trapped cleanly by Mohd Madzli Ikmar, the Spanish forward Roger Padros had a clean run into the semi circle the pull to S. Kumar's right in 1 v 1 situation and hit into goal.
And it was 2-2 in the 55th minute for despite dominating play and well in control Malaysia conceded the equalizer.
A high hit into semi circle was well trapped by Baljit Singh but the advantage given to the opponents and as a result we lost possession resulting in reverse hit by Roger Padros from the top of the semi circle that beat Kumar.
Malaysia went 3-2 ahead in 58th minute after a long pass from Madzli found Tengku Ahmad who dropped back to collect after some good running from the midfielders created the opening in the centre.
Tengku Ahmad went on a run to left side of the semi circle evading two defenders and hitting a reverse hit shot that goalkeeper padded but not cleanly and the ball crept into goal.
In the 67th minute Izwan received pass , cut in from the right flank and played a square pass to left side to Hafifi who pushed a hard ball to the far post for Azami to score.
Monday, June 27, 2011
RAZAK CUP - CONFUSION REIGNS
The Razk Cup used to be a premier hockey tournament , a fact that many are aware of, even those running the Malaysian Hockey Federation currently.
And there was this so-called effort to re-brand the tournament, with a major sponsor brought in as well as changing the format to a zonal qualifying system.
But events over the last two months have shown that it has failed on both fronts.
The fixtures have been changed so many times that one needs a diary to keep abreast with the latest happenings as so far as the fixtures ate concerned. And the main stream media too seem fed up with the constant changes that they do not carry news.
There is an official website for the Razak Cup as there is an official MHF website. But both are not updated regularly.
Remember the botched up Southern Zone qualifier between Negri Sembilan and Malacca that never took place in Batu Pahat?
Well that match has now been played at the Tun Razak Stadium last Saturday with Malacca registering a 6-2 win.
But one will not find any mention of the match on the website, similiar to the fact that nothing of the various national teams progress or participation are mentioned in the official MHF website.
Rather MHF takes pride in advertising for a golf event!
Moving on to the fixture confusion, the North Zone qualifiers will be played on the weekend of July 8-10 and not as stated in the website.
And the East Zone has now suddenly re-appeared as Terengganu want in.
But aren't there two Terengganu players, namely Mohd Shahrun Nabil and Fitri Saari already representing Kuala Lumpur?
So what will become of them now? What about the fact that they played the qualifiers for KL and can Terengganu lay claim on them?
Confused? Well we are all....
And there was this so-called effort to re-brand the tournament, with a major sponsor brought in as well as changing the format to a zonal qualifying system.
But events over the last two months have shown that it has failed on both fronts.
The fixtures have been changed so many times that one needs a diary to keep abreast with the latest happenings as so far as the fixtures ate concerned. And the main stream media too seem fed up with the constant changes that they do not carry news.
There is an official website for the Razak Cup as there is an official MHF website. But both are not updated regularly.
Remember the botched up Southern Zone qualifier between Negri Sembilan and Malacca that never took place in Batu Pahat?
Well that match has now been played at the Tun Razak Stadium last Saturday with Malacca registering a 6-2 win.
But one will not find any mention of the match on the website, similiar to the fact that nothing of the various national teams progress or participation are mentioned in the official MHF website.
Rather MHF takes pride in advertising for a golf event!
Moving on to the fixture confusion, the North Zone qualifiers will be played on the weekend of July 8-10 and not as stated in the website.
And the East Zone has now suddenly re-appeared as Terengganu want in.
But aren't there two Terengganu players, namely Mohd Shahrun Nabil and Fitri Saari already representing Kuala Lumpur?
So what will become of them now? What about the fact that they played the qualifiers for KL and can Terengganu lay claim on them?
Confused? Well we are all....
Sunday, June 26, 2011
DEFEATS IN SINGAPORE AND MOSCOW
It was a bad day at the office for Malaysian hockey as the two teams, the Project 2013 and Nat U18 teams suffered defeats in Moscow and Singapore respectively.
The U18 side lost 3-1 in the final of the AHF U18 Tournament to South Korea.
The Koreans too a 2-0 lead in the first half but Malaysia pulled one back just before the break.
However Korea added the third to condemn Malaysia to a second runner-up finish as they did in the inaugural tournament in Myanmar two years ago.
In Moscow, it was slightly a different script as the Project 2013 side came back from 0-2 down to hold Ukraine to a 2-2 draw in the 3/4 placing playoff, thanks to two penalty corner goals by Mohd Nor Faez Ibrahim.
However lack of experience in the penalty shootout cost the Malaysians dearly as the lost the ensuing shootout 3-0 to finish last.
For the record they had beaten Ukraine 3-2 in the group match on Saturday.
Russia emerged champions when they edged Azerbaijan 3-2 in the final.
The U18 side lost 3-1 in the final of the AHF U18 Tournament to South Korea.
The Koreans too a 2-0 lead in the first half but Malaysia pulled one back just before the break.
However Korea added the third to condemn Malaysia to a second runner-up finish as they did in the inaugural tournament in Myanmar two years ago.
In Moscow, it was slightly a different script as the Project 2013 side came back from 0-2 down to hold Ukraine to a 2-2 draw in the 3/4 placing playoff, thanks to two penalty corner goals by Mohd Nor Faez Ibrahim.
However lack of experience in the penalty shootout cost the Malaysians dearly as the lost the ensuing shootout 3-0 to finish last.
For the record they had beaten Ukraine 3-2 in the group match on Saturday.
Russia emerged champions when they edged Azerbaijan 3-2 in the final.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
KOREA STANDS IN MALAYSIA'S WAY
The National Under 18 squad participating in the AHF U18 Junior Asia Cup have a chance to create history when they take on South Korea at the Sengkang Sports & Recreational Centre in Singapore on Sunday.
With defending champions Pakistan sent packing by the Koreans, the path to the top of the podium is clear for the young Malaysians who have done well despite not having the best of the U18 players here.
Malaysia defeated Singapore 2-1 in the semifinals on Saturday and were given a tough time by a team that showed tremendous tenacity and good technical skills.
Only their lack of experience and somewhat strange tactical play cost them the opportunity to create an upset.
Malaysia relied solely on the brilliance of skipper Mohd Fitri Saari, who is easily one of the outstanding players in the tournament.
The fact that Malaysia were at sea when Fitri was yellow carded five minutes from time would have given the Singapore bench food for thought as to why they opted not to mark Fitri out of the game in order to stand a fair chance of upsetting the Malaysians.
And going by what Malaysian coach K. Gobinathan had to say after the match, it was clear that Malaysia are over relying on Fitri.
"We may have made the final but we are still way off in performing at the required standard at the international stage," said Gobinathan.
"We lack players that can think while the match is in progress and today was one our worst performances.
"The players just froze as for most of them it was the first time they were playing in a major tournament at such a crucial stage. So they were tensed throughout the match."
Malaysia were awarded four penalty corners but failed to get a single shot on goal from the penalty corners.
"We have players who cannot push, stop or flick properly so how can we take advantage of the set piece situation," was the curt reply from Gobinathan.
"It is obvious that we will have a tough time against the Koreans in the final but I am optimistic that we have what it takes to win the title.
"We drew at the group stage but having played them once, our players will be more confident in the final."
Malaysia scored in 10th minute through Fitri who capitalized on poor clearance by the Singapore defence off an initial penalty corner attempt to send a reverse stick shot into the corner.
And in the 51st minute Malaysia went 2-0 ahead when Muhammad Haziq Samsul went on a darting run on the right before his reverse stick hit went into goal through the pads of Singapore custodian Samudra Ong.
And Singapore reduced the deficit through Nur Ashriq Ferdaus Zulkepli with 45 seconds remaining.
For the record two years ago Malaysia lost 4-3 to Pakistan in the final in Myanmar.
With defending champions Pakistan sent packing by the Koreans, the path to the top of the podium is clear for the young Malaysians who have done well despite not having the best of the U18 players here.
Malaysia defeated Singapore 2-1 in the semifinals on Saturday and were given a tough time by a team that showed tremendous tenacity and good technical skills.
Only their lack of experience and somewhat strange tactical play cost them the opportunity to create an upset.
Malaysia relied solely on the brilliance of skipper Mohd Fitri Saari, who is easily one of the outstanding players in the tournament.
The fact that Malaysia were at sea when Fitri was yellow carded five minutes from time would have given the Singapore bench food for thought as to why they opted not to mark Fitri out of the game in order to stand a fair chance of upsetting the Malaysians.
And going by what Malaysian coach K. Gobinathan had to say after the match, it was clear that Malaysia are over relying on Fitri.
"We may have made the final but we are still way off in performing at the required standard at the international stage," said Gobinathan.
"We lack players that can think while the match is in progress and today was one our worst performances.
"The players just froze as for most of them it was the first time they were playing in a major tournament at such a crucial stage. So they were tensed throughout the match."
Malaysia were awarded four penalty corners but failed to get a single shot on goal from the penalty corners.
"We have players who cannot push, stop or flick properly so how can we take advantage of the set piece situation," was the curt reply from Gobinathan.
"It is obvious that we will have a tough time against the Koreans in the final but I am optimistic that we have what it takes to win the title.
"We drew at the group stage but having played them once, our players will be more confident in the final."
Malaysia scored in 10th minute through Fitri who capitalized on poor clearance by the Singapore defence off an initial penalty corner attempt to send a reverse stick shot into the corner.
And in the 51st minute Malaysia went 2-0 ahead when Muhammad Haziq Samsul went on a darting run on the right before his reverse stick hit went into goal through the pads of Singapore custodian Samudra Ong.
And Singapore reduced the deficit through Nur Ashriq Ferdaus Zulkepli with 45 seconds remaining.
For the record two years ago Malaysia lost 4-3 to Pakistan in the final in Myanmar.
PROJECT 2013 REGISTER FIRST WIN
The Project 2013 squad registered it's first win in the Four Nation Invitational in Moscow when they defeated Ukraine 3-2 in their final preliminary stage match today.
The Malaysian win denied Ukraine a place in the final as Azerbaijan held Russia to a 5-5 draw that enabled both teams to make it to the final tomorrow.
Malaysia, who scored through Syamim Yusof and Mohd Sabri ( two penalty corners ) will play Ukraine again on Sunday to determine the 3/4th placing.
In their earlier two matches, Malaysia lost 2-7 to Azerbaijan and 3-7 to Russia.
The Malaysian win denied Ukraine a place in the final as Azerbaijan held Russia to a 5-5 draw that enabled both teams to make it to the final tomorrow.
Malaysia, who scored through Syamim Yusof and Mohd Sabri ( two penalty corners ) will play Ukraine again on Sunday to determine the 3/4th placing.
In their earlier two matches, Malaysia lost 2-7 to Azerbaijan and 3-7 to Russia.
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