Thursday, February 28, 2013

BALJIT, ISMAIL AND AMIN DROPPED



Baljit Singh, Ismail Abu and Mohd Amin Rahim were the surprise exclusions when the squad for the Azlan Shah Cup was named today by Paul Revington.

But the trio have a chance to fight for two more spots available as Revs will name the players after the two friendlies next week.

The duo are however in the 22 strong squad named to face New Zealand in two friendlies in Malacca on March 4 and 5.

AZLAN SHAH CUP SQUAD

S.Kumar, Roslan Jamaluddin, Mohd Razie Rahim, Azlan Misron, Jivan Mohan, Faisal Saari, Faiz Helmi, Chua Boon Huat, Sukri Abdul Mutalib, Mohammad Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin,Mohd Fitri Saari, Shahrun Nabil Abdullah, Azammi Adabi, Marhan Mohd Jalil, Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor, Tengku Ahmad Tajudin Abdul Jalil

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

MALAYSIA REWARDED FOR SAVING GRACE

For coming to the rescue of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) several times, the world body is paying tribute by offering Malaysia to host at least one international event per year commencing from 2013.

In announcing this FIH President Leandro Negre said that the Malaysian Hockey Confederation had often assisted FIH at the eleventh hour, the latest being the Semi Finals of the World Hockey League this June.

"When Germany withdrew, the FIH was looking for a host and this was communicated to Malaysia and they had no hesitation to offer to host the event," said Negre who met the Malaysian media in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

"In the past when we had to find a replacement host for the Champions Trophy due to the reluctance of teams to go to Pakistan, it was Malaysia that helped saved the day as well.

"In the past we have had this arrangement of hosting at least one event with India and Netherlands. And from next year Malaysia will be included as well. It is not because they rescued us but also the fact that this country has tremendous faciliies for hockey."

The semis of the world league to be held from June 29 to July 7 in Johor Baru will feature Germany, South Korea, Pakistan, England and Malaysia. Three other teams will be determined by the FIH after the Round Two competition comes to an end.

The other semi final of the WorlD league will be played in Netherlands from June 12.

Malaysia is bidding to host the 2014 Champions Challenge 1 and going by what Negre revealed should have no problems securing the tournament when a decision is made by the FIH this September.

Negre said that the FIH was also appreciative of the fact that HRH Sultan Azlan Shah has been holding the Azlan Shah cup for the past 22 years and it was such a terrific tournament that has seen top teams participate.

"We at FIH are always looking forward to the Azlan shah cup and hopefully there will be a permanent slot in the world calendar of events," added Negre.

"Currently the window available is from june to August and this I am sure will be receptive to all teams, especially in Europe.

"Thus our hope is that the organisors of the annual Sultan Azlan Shah will try identify a permanent month for the tournament to be organised so that teams from Europe will be able to participate."

The Azlan Shah Cup is normally held in May but this time around it has been moved to March as the World League semis are in June while the Asia Cup, the World Cup Qualifier is in August.

The FIH President also touched on the 2018 World Cup stating that 16 teams will particiate and that he hoped in future World Cup the numbers can be increased to 24 teams.

"Ublike football, we are unable to fix a permanent month for the World Cup due to the climate between the northern and southern hemisphere," added Negre.

"But the members of FIH need to address this and come out with a solution that is acceptable to all for the betterment of the sport."

Negre also touched on the match fixing and doping scandals that have engulfed other sports like football and cycling.

"Football is football and cycling is cycling. And in that same breath hockey is hockey. We never faced a problem with regards to match fixing and hopefully will never have too," said Negre.

"Even in doping it has never been a case of performance enhancing drugs as no one player can change the game when relying on such drugs in team sports. But we have had doping cases and thankfully it was all cases of recreational usage and not performance enhancing.

"We have stringent rules and will continue to monitor for such activities and hopefully hockey does not have these issues."

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

INDIA BACK IN THE AZLAN SHAH CUP

Contrary to news reports filtering out of India, it can now be confirmed that India will participate in the 22nd edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup that commences on March 9 at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

A SATURDAY AFTERNOON WASTED

There is some similarities between the Malaysian Hockey Confederation and NATO. Not that the two have something in common in terms of their jurisdiction but NATO at one time was labeled No Action, Talk Only.

Well that is the same with MHC, who is just providing lip service rather then Improving the standard of hockey or governing the sport in a more professional and accountable fashion.

Just look at what happened today and readers will understand better that MHC is just lip service.

They held a long long long overdue Executive Board Meeting, the last one was held in June last year, so effectively NO meeting for the last EIGHT months.

Nevermind the fact that the Media was not informed NOR were they invited for the meeting, but this blogger was IGNORED even though waiting for TWO hours at the hotel.

NO official offered any explanation and the President was whisked away into the lift, not stopping for a few minutes to answer some pertinent questions despite the fact that the lot had tea for almost 25 minutes at the end of the meeting.

Do I feel slighted? I could not care less, hence since there is NO official announcement made after the meeting on decisions taken, let me reveal one startling fact - THAT THETE WAS A MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE TABLED AT THE MEETING AND HE WHO
E LOT JUST KEPT QUIET.

There we go, now I shall try to recover my wasted Saturday and let the OFFICIAL MHC Website and the wagon full of OFFICIALS at the meeting reveal the decisions.

And yes, he MHC Deputy President was obviously upset that I rebuked her on the PROCEDURE issue that she ignored me when in the lift though I greeted her. No big loss to me really, as I await their cannons and loaded guns against me.

Give it your best shot, and for gods sake do not miss please for from now on I will not hold my horses as two can play this game.

Friday, February 22, 2013

FIJI HIT FOR A DOZEN



Malaysia recorded their third win from four games to remain very much in with a chance of finishing in the top two of the women’s Hero Hockey World League Round Two and possible qualification for round three as they got the better of Fiji.

They were scarcely troubled in this tie as Nadia Abdul Rahman was in exceptional form, first in midfield and then down the right wing.

After just 30 seconds, her side showed their intent, Nadia's switch to Kannagi Arumugam bouncing off the post.

They went ahead in the sixth minute when Fazilla Sylvester Silin finished off from Nobaini Hashim’s cross. Nadia scored the second before two goals from Nor Azlin Sumantri completed the first half scoring.

After the break, Nadia completed her hat trick while Siti Noor Amarina Ruhani also scored three times. Fazilla, Juliani Mohamad Din and Siti Rahmah Othman also weighed in for a comprehensive victory.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

A WAKE UP CALL


Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas and went bankrupt many times before he built Disneyland. 

Winston Churchill failed sixth grade and had a lifetime of defeats and setbacks until he became Prime Minister of England when he was 62. 

Abraham Lincoln failed in business and lost nine times in his political career before becoming president of the United States. 

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he finally succeeded with the Ford Motor Company.

But can we allow that much of liberty when our sport that had tasted success in both administration and on the field in the past is starved off it in the last two decades?

Success holds you accountable for the costs of your actions. You contribute to this general well-being by accepting the failures as well as the successes that come your way.

If failure is viewed as an isolated occurrence, rather than an integral part of progress, it stands naked in the spotlight.

Fingers point and its judgments fly. When alone, away from the big picture of progress, failure appears harsh and unfair.

Although you could endure a brutal beating of criticism or an unhealthy round of self-condemnation, it is natural to protect yourself from such failure. However, avoidance of failure eventually impedes your progress.

There's no need to whitewash failure or to pretend that failure is an unmitigated blessing.

Hence the MHC President should not seek to find solace by saying that we have a bright future ahead of us when week in and week out his administration becomes the butt of jokes in the hockey fanbase.

The truth hurts, if we all look into the state of affairs in a fair and just manner with the interest of the sport at heart.

Mind you there would be startling revelations but the inquiry will not happen. Why, because we cannot accept criticism with an open mind.

However, a proactive response to failure is impossible as long as you see failure only in negative terms.

Failure serves an indispensable function in the production of any great success. It provides information and motivation for people who respond appropriately to its lessons.

Failure is part of the steering mechanism that directs an individual toward prosperity.

Preventing failure is equivalent to removing the steering wheel from a moving vehicle.

Failure will be seen as undesirable. Unless it's given the respect it deserves. That's not to say that you should be fond of failure.

Rather you can learn to embrace its purpose as an understated and unappreciated side of progress.

Rich lessons are the fruit of failure and you can extract them at will.
 
Failure isn't a permanent condition unless it's regarded as such by those unwilling to ensure their own progress.

Put failure in the right perspective, it’s an opportunity for regrouping and evaluation while accepting the experience as part of the journey of success.

Perception is everything and your perception of failure is your reality!
 
Progress depends on a constant supply of small failures.

Unless failure is understood and respected as an integral part of success, it will remain widely perceived as unnecessary and objectionable.

Thus put aside differences, work together towards one common objective, that is to stand tall beside the President, let there be no camps no master puppet, no power crazy officials, no barriers, no politicking, and above all no infighting as the whole 54 of the MHC Council close ranks for the betterment of Malaysian Hockey.

There are bound to be bad and rotten apples, just leave them to their devices, let them go crazy in the quest for power, and show them the door through the electoral process which is a year away.

But if all this does not work, get rid of the President for he does not need this so caled officials who cannot stand solidly behind our national flag, for they not only betray the sport, but the King and country.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

INDIA MADE TO STRUGGLE BY MALAYSIA




India’s cutting edge helped them see off Malaysia in the key game of day two of the Hero Hockey World League Round Two 2013 in Delhi, moving into a share of top spot with Japan.

Vandana Katariya gave India the lead in just the eighth minutes into the tie when she got a great touch in front of the goalkeeper and post-woman to ramp up Joydeep Kaur’s swept penalty corner. Her side enjoyed the better of possession and territory from there but it was Malaysia who created the clearer openings.

Nor Azlin Sumantri broke free from the halfway to go one-on-one with Yogita Bali but the goalkeeper did not fall for her dummy and the striker slipped the ball wide. A sliding Nurul Nabihah Mansor could not redirect a first time shot on target while Sumantri was clean through again only for the half time hooter to end her run forward.

India, by contrast, were more clinical. They conceded a corner 50 seconds into the second half but Bali saved well, helping to launch a swift counter-attack which ended with Anupa Barla laying on a perfectly weighted pass for player of the match Katariya to dive onto, artfully chipping over the grounded Farah Ayuni Yahya. Another corner effort was deflected into side-netting, many of the crowd deceived by the ripple of the net, believing it to be 3-0.

Again, Malaysia had a clear sight of goal when Rabiatil Adawiyah Mohamed was left unmarked but Bali saved and Fazilla Sylvester Silin fizzed across the face of goal with the follow-up. But, again, India made their pressure tell when Rani rounded on a chance six yards out and duly smashed home.