I LOST A SON - LISSEK

"I lost a great friend and a special player!

"When I became the Malaysian National Hockey Coach for Commenwealth Games 1998, I met Chua first time as a 'boy'. He was 18 years old and with limited skills,  but had a great heart for his sport. His small Chinese eyes became big when I talked with him about hockey and his chances to become a great player in future.

"His mother told me once: 'Mr Paul, what have you done with my son, he is crazy for hockey and he sleeps with his stick'.

"Yes, that was Chua and because he learned hockey late and was not ready with his skill and tactical understanding. By 1998 his enthusiasm and passion for his sport was extraordinary. 

"I was lucky those days with him in the 'Silver Medal Commenwealth-Team' one of the best Malaysian hockey team ever. 

"After the fantastic performance during the Commenwealt Games in KL 1998 Chua became a strong player and established member of Malaysian Hockey National Team and he was one of our strongest players during World Cup 2002 in KL and Asian Games 2002 in Busan.

"Chua also became a big name in International Hockey. World class defenders from Germany, Holland, Spain and Australia were discussing about the tall Malaysian striker with the pony-tail because he was the man who could score goals.

"The German Bundesliga Club Red & White Munich and their manager Hans Baumgartner requested Chua to play for their club in the German Bundesliga! After a few matches Chua was already known amongst the German top-class teams as one of the most dangerous strikers.

"Red-White Munich asked for Chua every year but Chua was already busy in other countries and played in many leagues all over the world to garner experience.

"Wherever he played and lived, he became a great friend to all of his foreign teammates because of his friendly attitude and his appearance. 

"They all referred to him as the boy with a pleasant smile.

"Chua was more than a player for me. You can be lucky as a Coach having him and as a father I would be very proud having him as a son.

I lost a player, a friend and a beloved 'son',

Paul Lissek
Former National Hockey Coach

 

"I was shocked after receiving the message and can´t believe that such a great athlete has passsed away so early and tragically.

 

"I met him for the first time prior to the 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and me and my team members where fascinated by his skills, fitness and friendly behaviour, always friendly and ready to chat after the match but a 100 % proud athlete and fighter during the matches.

"I know that he enjoyed his stay in Germany and developed as a person and player at the same time. His name and story will always be linked to our memories of Malaysia. The WC 2002 and the tragedy life always shows us not to live life.

"My thoughts are with his family, the whole team and staff members of Malaysia and i wish them all the best preparing for the Asia Cup. 

 

"Go and play with his heart and always take him with you in your thoughts and show your unbounded ambition to make him proud.

Accept my sympathies and my deepest condolence

Malaysia Boleh

Jamilon Mulders

Chief Coach

German National Womens Hockey Team

 

"I first saw Chua Boon Huat  at the Bukit Jalil Stadium during the 2002 Men's World Cup as as a commentator for the FIH world feed. 

"He had an arresting athletic onfield personality which reflected with his majestic maneuvers past most opposition midfields and defences. His trademark ponytail waltzed complimenting his stick skills and ball control. 

"Over the years he became better and more impressive and was looked up as the senior pro. He was the thinking player....an asset for any team. I am sure all his mates will play their hearts out to win the Asia Cup. This will be the greatest tribute to him.

Anupam Gulati

Former Hockey India CEO

and former Indian Journalist

 

"For me when as his first coach when Chua played for YNS. he was a raw diamond and  such a pleasant character always polite and smile on his face. 

"A versatile player who could play anywhere the team required him. He worked hard to build up his body from the thin teenager to one of the players who had physical attributes for international hockey. 

"He could adjust and reinvent his game to suit the change in the game due to rule changes and also from being a defender and midfielder to a goal proaching forward. 

"His understanding of the game positioning and timing in the attacking 23  and D was really good. When I coached him between 1998 to 2000 he was an exemplary player and one who I could depend on. The group between 1997 - 2002 was a good batch of players who were a close knit batch with Kuhan,Mirnawan, Keevan, Logan, Mike, Calvin, Roslan, Kalis, lum Saiful etc.

I was only back in 2010 by which time he was already drop from the team for reasons you are aware of in 2009. I would like to remember the good times early in his career when I was there up to 2002. Let's remember him for the great service to the nation and the sports of hockey.May his soul rest in peace.  When he came back after given a chance by Paul you could see a new Chua who was very focused and he was playing well and scored some good goals esp in the SAS. He was the leader on a mission n  passing on his experience n knowledge to the younger teammates.

Fate has taken him away at such a young age and while the team and the nation mourn his passing we take this
The team should take this period of grieve to bring them together and drive them to Focus all their energy effort t o play for him and win the Asia cup in his memory
That would be the best gift to honour him.

RETIRE THE NUMBER 3 FOR ASIA CUP

In what will be an unprecedented move, this blog calls upon the Malaysian Hockey Confederation to retire, albeit for the Asia Cup, the number 3 national jersey worn by Chua Boon Huat who died in a tragic accident on August 1.

Not only will the move honour Chua, who was the most capped player for Malaysia, but will also lessen the burden on the shoulder of any other player designated to wear that number during the Asia Cup that will be held in Ipoh from August 24 till September 1.

Chua had a great innings in terms of representing the nation and was proud of wearing the national jersey.

Infact the gesture by many to wear a t-shirt with the words "we love Chua Boon Huat" and the number 3 at the back during his funeral shows that it is something accustomed to the late Chua. 

And this blog hopes that the same T-Shirt will be worn by the Malaysian players when they walk onto the pitch for warm up before every match.

BLACKLISTED

Having highlighted the incomplete information from the National Juniors tour, I guess this bog has been blacklisted for I failed to receive the customary email from the Team Manager while the other members of the media did.

Oh well, its their loss not mine. Still I have friends in the international hockey fraternity that are willing to help out.

ENGLAND 5 (2)
Sam French 16 (PC)
Rob Farrington 24, 57 (FG, PC)
Luke Taylor 59 (PC)
Nick bandurak 63 (FG)

MALAYSIA 6 (3)
Zulhairi Hashim 6, 9 21, 68 (PC)
Azrul Hasbullah 53 (FG)
Rashid Baharom 69 (FG)

The final match of the NOW: Pensions Nations Plate was an eleven goal thriller which saw the Malaysian U21 side steal a 6 – 5 win against England U21s right at the end.

Malaysia were 2 – 0 up after just nine minutes with two almost identical goals from penalty corners, converted by Zulhairi Hashim. England pulled a goal back when Sam French finished off a well-worked penalty corner routine, however Hashim’s hat-trick came on 20 minutes after he fired home another penalty corner. Rob Farrington made it 3 – 2 going into the break with a powerful reverse stick strike from the top of the circle.

After half time, Azrul Hasbullah added to the Malaysian tally, making it 4 – 2, before three goals in seven minutes from England’s Farrington, Luke Taylor and Nick Bandurak gave the home side a 5 – 4 lead going into the final minutes. Hashim was on target again though from a penalty corner to bring the sides level again, before Rashid Baharom grabbed the winner late on to leave the final score at 6 – 5. 

With nothing to separate the two sides over the three match series, it went to a penalty shoot out to determine the winners. After five shuttles each and the scores still tied, it went to sudden death. Player of the series, Rob Farrington stepped up and calmly converted after Diccon Stubbings had saved the Malaysian shuttle before, securing a NOW: Pensions Nations Plate victory for England U21s. 

Speaking about the U21s performance across the series and the preparation for the U21 Junior World Cup in Delhi in December, Head Coach Jon Bleby said, "I think this series has been brilliant for our preparations and it’s great to play against the Malaysians who have such a different style of hockey to us. Winning the series on a shoot out was obviously an added bonus. I think Rob Farrington has had a really good series and he has a lot of potential in that midfield role; he's certainly one to keep an eye on in the future."

STRANGELY QUIET

It is really a shame that even with modern day technology, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation lacks the initiative to provide information on its teams that venture around the globe playing matches.

Though Team Manager Mirnawan Nawawi has done some form of service to the Journalists with regards to providing information on the National Juniors matches in their Europe trip, there is still vital info lacking with regards to the names of goal scorers of he opponents.

Malaysia were soundly beaten 5-1 in their second match against England, after a 3-3 draw on Thirsday. But unknown to many, the Malaysian v England matches are a curtain raiser before the England v Holland matches for the NOW Pension Nations Cup.

Read the full match report here. On any normal occasion I would have made the effort to go to Leeds since I am currently in London, and its a 2 hour train ride to Wakefield.

Even England Team Manager Andy Haliday extended an invite and prepared match tilts for Saturday and Sunday for me to witness the action live.

But as I have stated before and am now merely restating it - why should I do the job of others? Let the bigwigs and paid employees start doing some work and not just turn up when the team finishes on the podium.

Besides I am and was accused of creating the issue between Paul Revington and the others, a fact that non of them dare deny till today.

The second match of the NOW: Pensions Nations Plate saw a dominant England U21 side come away with a 5 – 1 victory against their Malaysian counterparts. 

Rob Farrington slotted home a well worked penalty corner routine and a powerful reverse stick strike from Nick Bandurak gave England a 2 – 0 lead going into the break.

The home side continued as they had left off in the second half and were soon 3 – 0 up when Andy Bull fired straight down the middle from a penalty corner. 

Malaysia pulled a goal back through Aminudin Mohd Gaffar but an own goal and a clever finish from Joe Sharp gave England a 5 – 1 victory and means they are one game up in the series after their 3-3 draw on Thursday. 

With the series advantage, England sit in a favourable position going in to the final match tomorrow at 12:00.

RIP CHUA FOR YOU ARE MISSED BY MANY

Picture shows HRH Raja Nazrin Shah paying his last respect to Chua Boon Huat. I am unable to attend his wake and funeral as am currently overseas tending to family matters after the demise of mu Mum last month.

The funeral will be held on Monday, 5th August at the Jelutong Crematorium in Malacca at 2pm.

CHUA DIES IN ACCIDENT

UPDATE:

Just received an email from Paul Revington and amongst others it reads as follows-

" I am mailing now to say sorry that you have lost one of your young stars, I am mailing to say thank you for creating Chua and for giving me the opportunity as a coach to spend time with a great athlete and warrior during my time in Malaysia. Not a day went by when I was not extremely thankful that Chua was in our locker room and on our side. I have admired Chua since I first watched him in the 2000 Olympics, then in Hobart 2001 and always secretly hoped I would get an opportunity to coach him. "

The social media is abuzz with news that 33 year old Chua Boon Huat died in an accident with a lorry at the LDP Highway at 3.00am today.

How ironic can fate be as Chua dons the number 3 jersey and died at 3.00am and was 33 years old.

It is a tremendous loss to Malaysian Hockey and to me.

I received a text message from national team manager George Koshy who was trying to verify if the tragic news was true.

The fact that only hours earlier Chua was at a breaking of fast function with the rest of his team mates made it look that it was a nasty joke.

But alas it was no joke and a legend of Malaysian hockey has met with an untimely death.

Chua and I go a long way back, all the way to 1995 when he turned out for Yayasan NS in the MJHL.

He holds the record of the most capped hockey international in Malaysia having surpassed Nor Saiful Zaini and S.Kuhan after been given a new lease of life in international hockey by coach Paul Revington.

A quiet and unassuming person, my last conversation with him took place just a day before the World League commenced in Johor Baru and he enquired about my Mums condition then.

Chua, or Apek as he is known in the hockey fraternity hails from Malacca and made his debut for the national team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Given a break by the then coach Paul Liseek, Chua has the distinction of playing in several overseas leagues, namely in Austria, Bangladesh, Germany, and England.

A bachelor who wanted to end his single life, Chua also ventured into coaching as he coached Pahang in the last Malaysian Games.

There is just so much I want to write about him but coming to terms with this tragedy is difficult especially since I am not in Malaysia at the moment and will not be able to pay my last respects.

To his family and loved ones, this is an untimely death, especially when Chua had made it clear to me that he was he'll bent to play on until the Rio Olympics.

Words are not flowing freely as I come to terms with this tragedy, praying that its not true.

I will indeed miss you my friend.

MHC TAKEN TO TASK

In what can only be considered as poetic justice, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation have been taken to task by one of their own. Read The Star for further details.

Now it will be interesting to see what MHC will do considering there is some truth to the allegations as the curculars and decisions are vague and create confusion.

If anything action ought to be taken on tgr MHC administration which clearly lacks direction, insight, wisdom and the inability to function effectively.

Since MHC could not even get its act right on the constitutional requirements, it has no business to lift an iota of a finger on the allegations lest be accused of acting in mala fide ( bad intentions ).