Welcome to the Fieldhockey.com Archives

Daily Hockey news updated @ 10:00 GMT

News 02 March 2014

All the news for Sunday 2 March 2014


FIH announce international World Indoor Rankings

Men and women's rankings allow for transparent pooling for all international FIH events


(Photo: Frank Uijlenbroek)

The FIH has announced the first Indoor World Rankings for both men and women’s indoor hockey. The new rankings will allow for a transparent way of allocating teams to pools for International FIH events and will be updated at the completion of every FIH Indoor World Cup, and each year’s Indoor Continental Championships. 

The Rankings were developed using the last three Indoor World Cups and Indoor Continental Championships as the basis for the assessment. Previous Indoor World Cups have shown that Europe is the powerhouse of Indoor Hockey and this is reflected in the rankings, however it is pleasing to see countries from across the globe breaking into the top 10. It proves that hockey is truly represented at the highest level across the world. The women’s rankings are dominated by European nations, with Germany, Netherlands and Belarus making up the top three. Australia is the highest ranked country from Oceania in 9th, with Argentina and Uruguay from Pan America joint 10th.

World Rank  Country  CF  2011      2007      2003      2009 - 2012      Total Points 
      World Cup      World Cup      World Cup      Continental Cups       
      Rank  Pts  100%  Rank  Pts  50%  Rank  Pts  25%  CF  Rank  Pts   
1  Germany  EUR  1000  1000  750  375  500  125  EUR  750  2250 
2  Netherlands  EUR  800  800  1000  500  400  100  EUR  600  2000 
3  Belarus  EUR  700  700  650  325  325  81  EUR  700  1806 
4  Ukraine  EUR  750  750  700  350        EUR  500  1600 
5  Czech Republic  EUR  600  600  11  350  175  350  88  EUR  450  1313 
6  Poland  EUR  650  650              EUR  650  1300 
7  Austria  EUR  550  550  550  275  275  69  EUR  400  1294 
8  Spain  EUR        800  400        EUR  550  950 
9  Australia  OCE  500  500  600  300  225  56  OCE      856 
10  Argentina  PAHF  450  450              PAHF  325  775 

The men’s rankings follow a similar suit, with European nations taking up the first six places with Germany again ranking number 1 in the world. Canada and Australia are the only non-European countries in the top 10 in 7th and 9th place respectively.

World Rank  Country  CF  2011      2007      2003      2009 - 2012      Total Points 
      World Cup      World Cup      World Cup      Continental Cups       
      Rank  Pts  100%  Rank  Pts  50%  Rank  Pts  25%  CF  Rank  Pts   
1  Germany  EUR  1000  1000  1000  500  1000  250  EUR  750  2500 
2  Poland  EUR  800  800  800  400  800  200  EUR  375  1775 
3  Austria  EUR  750  750  600  300        EUR  700  1750 
4  Russia  EUR  700  700  650  325  450  113  EUR  500  1638 
5  Czech Republic  EUR  500  500  700  350  500  125  EUR  650  1625 
6  Netherlands  EUR  650  650        650  163  EUR  600  1413 
7  Canada  PAHF  10  400  400  550  275  600  150  PAHF  325  1150 
8  England  EUR  600  600              EUR  450  1050 
9  Australia  OCE  550  550  500  250  550  138  OCE      938 
10  Spain  EUR        750  375        EUR  550  925 

FIH site


Germany tops both in men, women Hockey Indoor World Rankings

Lausanne- Germans lead the table in the first Indoor World Rankings for both men and women indoor hockey. The new rankings will allow for a transparent way of allocating teams to pools for International FIH events.The Rankings were developed using the last three Indoor World Cups and Indoor Continental Championships as the basis for the assessment. Previous Indoor World Cups had shown that Europe was the powerhouse of Indoor Hockey. However it is pleasing to see countries from across the globe breaking into the top 10.

The Nation



Tickets for FIH Champions Challenge & 5 Nations now on General Sale



Tickets for the FIH Champions Challenge and Men's 5 Nations being staged in Glasgow from 23 April-4 MAy are now on General Sale.

Featuring some of the world's top international players and nations, this is your chance to support Scotland in their preparations for Glasgow 2014 and watch the best international hockey at the venue for the Commonwealth Games.

Tickets for both competitions can be purchased via EventBrite, including Adult and Concession tickets.

So let's get right behind the two Scotland teams as they take on the world's best.

Eventbrite - FIH Champions Challenge I (Women) & 5 Nations (Men)



For further information, including FAQs and competition schedules, please visit the FIH Champions Challenge and Men's 5 Nations page.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Robinson on form as Beeston beat Olton


Beeston's Sophie Robinson (r), Julie Stowe

Sophie Robinson scored five as Beeston hit nine goals without reply against Olton and West Warwickshire in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.

It took Robinson (pictured) just four minutes to find the net with her first and she went on to complete a hat-trick inside the first 27 minutes.

Hannah Wraith scored a brace with Suzy Petty and Annique Slagter also getting in on the action. Fittingly, it was Robinson who rounded off the scoring with a 69th minute strike.

Leaders Canterbury maintained their great record when they beat rivals Leicester 1-0 at Polo Farm.

Player/coach Jen Wilson’s 15th minute goal proved decisive, as Canterbury kept their fourth clean sheet in a row to remain four points clear.

Surbiton scored a 3-1 win on the road with an Abi Robinson double helping them to victory over University of Birmingham.

Reading held their play-off status with a 5-3 win over Sutton Coldfield, with five different players getting on the scoresheet.

Another team with play-off ambitions are Clifton and they did their chances no harm with a fine 5-2 win against Bowdon Hightown. Zoe Leach scored two important goals with Els Mansell, Harriet Pearce and Josie Rixon also on target.

Alyson Billington was the hero for Buckingham as she scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over Slough. The result means that Buckingham return to the top of the Investec Conference West at the expense of Slough.

Holcombe still top the Investec Conference East after beating Horsham 4-0, while East Grinstead remain second following a 2-1 win at Wimbledon.

It was top against bottom in the Investec Conference North and there was no upset as Brooklands Manchester University beat Doncaster 3-0. Elsewhere, second-placed Wakefield beat Kendal 6-1 with Sally Walton scoring a hat-trick.

League Finals Weekend

The winners of the Investec Women’s Hockey League and the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League will be crowned over two action-packed weekends at Reading Hockey Club in April. The top four Premier Division teams qualify for their respective finals weekends, laying off against each other to be crowned league champions.

The men’s finals will take place on the 5-6 April while the women will battle it out a week later from 12-13 April. Tickets are now available to purchase for both weekends, please visit www.englandhockey.co.uk/tickets

Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, March 1 2014):

Investec Women's Premier Division: Beeston 9, Olton & West Warwicks 0; Canterbury 1, Leicester 0; Clifton 5, Bowdon 2; Sutton Coldfield 3, Reading 5; University of Birmingham 1, Surbiton 3.

Investec Women's Conference East: Harleston Magpies 3, Sevenoaks 1; Holcombe 4, Horsham 0; Ipswich 0, Chelmsford 3; St. Albans 3, Old Loughtonians 2; Wimbledon 1, East Grinstead 2.

Investec Women's Conference North: Brooklands Poynton 3, Doncaster 0; Stourport 3, Boots 1; University of Durham 3, Ben Rhydding 2; Wakefield 6, Kendal 1; Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 2, Loughborough Students 2.

Investec Women's Conference West: Barnes 3, Isca 1; Exe 0, Trojans 4; Gloucester City 1, Oxford Hawks 2; Slough 0, Buckingham 1; Swansea City 1, Bristol Firebrands 1.

England Hockey Board Media release



'Two hats' not an issue

By JUGJET SINGH

MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) coaching committee chairman Manjit Majid Abdullah and his men see no harm in National Juniors head coach Arul Selvaraj wearing two hats.

Arul, who is also the head coach for UniKL Hockey Club, was lambasted by Old La Sallians Association of Klang (OLAK-PKT) team manager Joseph de Silva, who claimed that his players were almost pinched by Arul in an unethical manner.

De Silva said Arul, in a telephone conversation, had asked for three of his best Olak boys to play for UniKL in Division One of the Malaysia Hockey League which begins on March 16 with the final slated for May 18.

The Olak team manager felt it was unethical for a National Juniors coach to also scout for players for his club, as there might be conflict of interest later.

"A few years back, the coaching committee was of the opinion that National Juniors coaches should not coach club sides, but we have changed our stand last year and now they are allowed," said Manjit.

Manjit and his committee are of the opinion that since there is no clause stopping a Juniors coach to train a club in his contract, there should be no problems arising at this point.

"I think the misunderstanding between a club coach and Arul should be settled by holding a joint-discussion with the competitions committee.

"The competitions committee can answer questions on this matter, and they can also advise all the clubs on what to do when such a matter arises in future," said Manjit.

Arul had said: "I'm a professional, so even though I coach a club side, I will only pick the best when it comes to national duty and there is no conflict of interest between selection for my club or my country."

However, since the matter has been brought up by de Silva, the Olak manager since 1995, the relevant bodies must make sure that player-pinching at the highest level does not happen.

"No doubt, schools and clubs are the ones who nurture and turn players into national material, and so when their boys get pinched, there is bound to be some issues. But let's work together for the sake of the country," said Manjit.

New Straits Times



Only one quarter-final match 'still alive'

THE return leg of the Milo Cup quarter-finals will see only one tie which is "still alive", UniKL Young Guns against Politeknik-KPM at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Three teams: Olak-PKT, SSTMI Thunderbolts and Petaling Jaya City Council all have healthy cushions from their first leg on Friday.

Politeknik-KPM, the Division Two playoff champions, were a little jaded in the first leg, but have the players to turn the tables on UniKL who won 3-2 on Friday.

During pre-season, UniKL Young Guns were touted as the team to beat in the Milo Junior Hockey League.

But things went horribly wrong for them as not only were they soundly beaten to the Division One League title by defending champions SSTMI Thunderbolts (4-1), they are also struggling in the chase for the Milo Cup.

Also missing is UniKL's 12th man -- their supporters group who provide the morale boost from the stands that drove the team forward in previous seasons.

"We struggled for large parts of the first leg and this probably was due to the fact that the players were too eager to seal the match early," said UniKL Young Guns manager Mohamed Faiz Isa.

"Conceding the early goal put further pressure on the team and that compounded matters. Only in the final 10 minutes did we play hockey we are capable of.

"For the return leg, we need to tread with caution and not allow them to score as that will boost their confidence."

Faiz said that he was optimistic UniKL will make the last four and their performance will improve.

The other last-eight matches are just formalities, as SSTMI Thunderbolts hold an 8-0 lead over MS Pahang Juniors. BJSS trail PJCC 4-1 and Malacca High School also trail Olak-PKT 4-1.

"We are a young side and considering that, making the last eight was a good achievement," said MS Pahang coach Benedict Arrias.

"Let's be honest, Thunderbolts are a class act and we hope that one day our players, too, will play with the same confidence as our quarters opponents do."

For BJSS, they are not prepared to throw in the towel yet. "We need to score an early goal to get back into the match," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.

"We made far too many mistakes in defence and could have avoided the heavy defeat had we played with more confidence. Still I believe that we can bounce back if we show determination from the first whistle."

TODAY -- Quarter-finals return leg: Bukit Jalil Sports School (1) v Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (4) (4pm, Pitch II); Politeknik- KPM (2) v UniKL Young Guns (3) (4pm, Pitch I); MS Pahang (0) v SSTMI Thunderbolts (8) (6pm, Pitch II); Olak-PKT (4) v Malacca High School (1) (6pm, Pitch I).

l Note: All matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. First leg scores in parentheses.

New Straits Times



Right on track: Politeknik Johor

By S. Ramaguru

KUALA LUMPUR: Politeknik Johor believe they are on the right track to build a strong hockey team for the future.

In 2010 they made their debut in the MHC-Milo-NSC Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and subsequently went on to win the Division Two title. This year, they emerged Division Two champions again after beating Bukit Jalil Sports Schools (BJSS) 2-1 in the final.

And earlier last month, the Pasir Gudang-based team reached the final of SUKIP (Institute of Higher Learning Games) where they lost 0-1 to Universiti Malaya.

“Ours is a long-term plan and we are taking one year at a time to develop the team. The success this year has shown us that we are indeed heading in the right direction. But there is a lot of hard work ahead. We want to be the hockey development centre for the Education Ministry,” said Mohamed Rafi Solaiman, Politeknik Johor’s head of the sports unit.

“Our players come from all the polytechnics in the country and we also encourage new students who are interested in furthering their hockey career to join our college. We have a year-round training programme. And we allow our players to play for other clubs in local or national competitions.

“The players can only improve by playing quality matches. If they get a chance to compete in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), we will encourage them to take up the offer with other clubs.

“So far, we have only taken part in the MJHL. But we hope to field a team in Division One of the MHL next season. We want to be ready for the challenge and that is why we also take the opportunity to play in state leagues and competitions. There is nothing like competition to hone the players’ skills,” added Rafi.

Former international forward Chairil Anwar is one of the coaches who is helping Politeknik Johor be a force in hockey.

On Monday, the senior Politeknik team will represent Malaysia in the Hockey Festival in Doha at the invitation of the Qatar Hockey Association.

“It is a good chance for us to further expose our players,” said Rafi.

At present, Politeknik Johor have to train at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium as they do not have an artificial turf.

Rafi hopes that one day they will get their own artificial pitch.

“Our budget comes for the Education Ministry and it is not that big. But we have managed so far and we will try to be innovative. We are here to stay,” he added.

Politeknik Johor have made the quarter-finals in the MJHL. They trail favourites Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) 2-3 after the first leg on Friday. On Sunday, the two teams will play the second leg at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

“Whatever happens in the quarter-finals today, we are still pleased to have come this far. The team can only get better in the future. We will play in Division One of the MJHL next season. We are actually excited about the prospect of playing against the bigger teams on a regular basis,” said Rafi.  

The Star of Malaysia



Crunch time for UniKL

KUALA LUMPUR: Former champions Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) have a fight on their hands when they take on Politeknik Johor in the MHC-Milo-NSC Malaysian Junior Hockey League(MJHL) quarter-finals, second leg at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

UniKL could only manage a 3-2 win in the first leg, leaving the battle for a semi-final berth wide open. The other three teams – SSTMI-Thunderbolt, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak)-PKT – are virtually through to the last four.

Thunderbolt were the biggest winners in the first leg on Friday, whipping MSP Pahang Juniors 8-0.

Both MBPJ and Olak-PKT were 4-1 winners over Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) and Malacca High School respectively.

The good news for UniKL is that Politeknik Johor will not have skipper Lukman Nul Hakim for Sunday’s return leg. Lukman has to sit out the match due to a one-match suspension after picking up a green card in the first leg.

But Politeknik Johor, the Division Two champions, will throw caution to the wind and aim to go for an all-out attack.

“We have nothing to lose and playing in the quarter-finals is already a bonus for us,” said Politeknik Johor team manager Mohamed Rafi Solaiman.

“In the first leg, we had the lead but our players’ poor fitness let us down. But we have to admit that UniKL are a good team with good talented players. All we can do is to try our best and upset the odds,” he added.

UniKL team manager Mohamed Faiz Isa warned his team against taking Politeknik Johor for granted.

“We have not performed to our potential and that is why we have been struggling in our matches.

“We were lucky to get a win in the first leg but it is just not enough. There are still dangers ahead and one wrong move can hurt us. I am sure our players can rise to the occasion tomorrow. But we must ensure that they do not get to score an early goal as that will give them a big boost.

“If we can kill off the match early, then we should win the match,” said Mohamed Faiz.

For defending champions Thunderbolt, they are likely to field their reserves for Sunday’s match.

Said Thunderbolt team manager Adam Izamry Idrus: “Yes, we are quite safe and we will try out the fringe players to give them a run-out before the semi-finals. My biggest worry is injury to key players at this stage. We want to go for the double and as such we want to make sure we have a full squad to rely on in the later stage of the tournament.”

The Star of Malaysia

Fieldhockey.com uses cookies to assist with navigating between pages. Please leave the site if you disagree with this policy.
Copyright remains with the credited source or author