News 01 September 2014
All the news for Monday 1 September 2014
Asian tour ends
Women's development tour squad complete 11 match tour to China & Japan
In the 11th and final match of their Asian tour to China and Japan, the Australian women's development squad went down 3-1 to hosts Japan, a side ranked tenth in the FIH world rankings.
Australia started the game with greater intensity and purpose, forcing two penalty corners in the first quarter and scoring from the second. Madison Fitzpatrick sent a powerful drag flick high to the goalkeeper's left to give the Australians an early 1-0 lead. The girls in green and gold continued to press their advantage in the second quarter creating an outstanding opportunity to go two goals ahead with four minutes remaining in the half. Kathryn Slattery received a long incisive ball down the right side and then joined forces with fellow Western Australian Katy Symons in a passing combination that resulted in a clear shot at goal. Unfortunately for the Australians the ball slid outside the far post leaving the scoreline at 1-0 heading into the half time break.
The third quarter belonged to the Japanese. They hit back with two clever deflection goals taking Japan to a 2-1 lead before three-quarter time. They scored again in the final quarter and despite renewed energy and pressure from the Australians, Japan eventually won the final game of the series 3 - 1.
At the end of the match and the culmination of the tour, National Junior Coach Craig Victory said, “In the first half the girls played some of our best hockey for the tour. We found the spaces within their press and created some great opportunities to score. The second half was a much more even contest and our physical application began to waiver at the end of a long tour. Two critical defensive mistakes saw Japan win the contest.
"All in all it was an excellent tour and there were some outstanding individual and team efforts. The future of Australian hockey is looking very strong."
Many of the squad will now be looking forward to stepping out for their respective state sides in the 2014 Australian Hockey League, which takes place in Brisbane from 4-11 October.
Australian Women's Development Squad - Tour to China and Japan
Match 5 v Japan
Hiroshima, JPN
AUSTRALIA 1 (1)
Madison Fitzpatrick 14 (PC)
JAPAN 3 (0)
33, 43 (FG)
48 (FG)
Started: Kate Denning (South Perth, WA), Kirstin Dwyer (Mackay, QLD), Madison Fitzpatrick (Cabarita Beach, QLD), Jordyn Holzberger (Ipswich, QLD), Stephanie Kershaw (Townsville, QLD), Kazzia Lammon (Brisbane, QLD), Georgina Morgan (Armidale, NSW), Kathryn Slattery (Como, WA), Audrey Smith (Wynnum, QLD), Penny Squibb (Tambellup, WA), Katy Symons (Attadale, WA)
Used Sub: Murphy Allendorf (Mount Gravatt, QLD), Tamsin Bunt (Aylmerton, NSW), Jacqui Day (Mountain Creek, QLD), Kyra Flynn (Hillarys, WA), Gabrielle Nance (Adelaide, SA), Samantha Snow (Blackburn, VIC)
Did Not Play: Elizabeth Duguid (Darwin, NT), Ashlea Fey (Sunshine Coast, QLD), Mariah Williams (Teralba, NSW)
Hockey Australia media release
Regulars, new faces and those who could be back soon
JONATHAN COOK
While the 32-player South Africa men’s senior hockey squad that was named Saturday at the conclusion of the Greenfields Men’s Interprovincial (IPT) in Durban had many of the regular faces, as well as a host of new ones, there were also some missing who may well have been selected had it not been for injuries that ruled them out of IPT.
The SA squad was only picked from players who actually played in Durban this past week.
It was made clear by the SA Hockey Association that injured players such as South Africa captain Austin Smith and national players Jonty Robinson and Robin Jones are to be considered by the selectors once they are fully recovered from injury. Smith and Jones were in Durban supporting their teams at IPT.
The trio did not play at IPT on medical advice and while their skills were missed, one of the most enjoyable aspects of watching all five days at the annual IPT is the emergence, development and confirmation one gets when a promising player first catches the eye and then continues to deliver during the week before underlining your hunch on Finals Day that this young talent deserves an opportunity to take the next step up to South Africa’s flagship national team.
Of course, they have all – to a greater or lesser extent – been making waves at age-group level through their teens and young adulthood, but senior Men’s IPT so often tells which of the players are still boys in their hockey maturity and who is ready to embark on the challenging journey to senior international level.
Just a few of the young talents who confirmed their promise in Durban and were recognised by the senior SA selection panel through their inclusion in the senior SA squad include North West goalkeeper Chad Durrheim, Western Province defender Daniel Bell, midfielder Marc Fourie of history making IPT winners WP Peninsula (Pens), the Western Province Hockey Union’s “B” team, Fourie’s Pens team-mate, Keenan Horne, who was voted Most Promising Player of IPT, and Mondli Dlamini, chosen as B Section Player of IPT, who was one of the KZN Mynahs stars in their winning promotion from the second-tier competition to next year’s elite A Section event.
Other new faces in the senior SA set-up include Jason Briggs, Gareth Heyns both Southern Gauteng), Richard Curtis, Ross Hetem, Leneal Jackson, Damian Kimfley (all KZN Coastal Raiders), Cam Mackay (KZN Coastal Mynahs), Chad Cairncross (Eastern Province) and Richard Pautz (Northern Blues).
SA Hockey Association media release
Asian Games: Gold in sight for Pakistan hockey, says Imran
By Nabil Tahir
“The confidence level of the players is high and we are aware of the Games’ importance because only a gold can take us to the Olympics.” said Muhammad Imran. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI: Pakistan hockey team captain Muhammad Imran feels the country can win a gold medal at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4.
Pakistan has been clubbed alongside India, China, Sri Lanka and Oman in the 10-nation men’s hockey competition.
“Being the defending champions, we are one of the favourites for the Games,” Imran told The Express Tribune.
“However, we cannot show signs of complacency against any team as they have been playing internationally and are in rhythm with the new 15-minute format.”
Talking about their match with India he said, “The game against them has always been a do-or-die situation but for us it will be like any other game, without the additional pressure.”
Pakistan’s tally at the Games includes eight gold, two silver and four bronze medals out of the 14 field hockey tournaments featured in the mega event, with the exception of the 2002 edition, where the nation came fourth.
Expressing his belief in the team and the training schedule, Imran was certain that they have the potential to bag the gold this year.
“Our training has been very good and I am confident that we will achieve our target,” he said. “The confidence level of the players is high and we are aware of the Games’ importance because only a gold can take us to the Olympics.”
The team selected for the tournament comprises a lot of young players who have immense talent. However, the captain believes they lack experience and practice due to cancelled events, which would be the biggest hurdle in the team’s campaign.
The players are to report to camp commandant Shahnaz Sheikh on Monday for the final phase at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad; however, they are facing problems due to the ongoing political situation in the capital.
Meanwhile, Sheikh stated that he had planned a single league starting from September 4 to September 8 to give the team some much needed practice. But due to the political situation they have asked the management to fly-off to Incheon early on September 10 so that they can play four to five matches there.
The Express Tribune
Canterbury dominate Ford NHL opening weekend
Photo courtesy CMG Sports Action Images
The Canterbury Men and Women are both undefeated and on top of the standings after the opening weekend of the Ford National Hockey League.
Backing up from wins on their home turf yesterday, the Canterbury Cavaliers and Cats travelled to Timaru where they both overwhelmed their Southern counterparts.
The Cavaliers were pushed hard by last year’s finalists Southern Dogs, but managed to score a late goal through captain Nick Haig to come away with a tight 1-0 win.
It was easy going for the Cats, who put together a 9-1 demolition job on the Southern Storm with Olivia Merry, Sian Fremaux and Cass Reid all scoring twice while Sophie Cocks, Rachel McCann and Jordy Grant also added to the score sheet.
Both Canterbury sides conclude opening weekend on maximum points going into tournament week which runs from 6-14 September at North Harbour Hockey Stadium.
Meanwhile, at Lloyd Elsmore Park Auckland had mixed results with the men thrashing Northland 8-1 thanks to a Jared Panchia hat-trick, while Stacey Michelsen scored a double to guide the Northland Women to a 3-1 result over the Aucklanders.
The North Harbour sides also saw success against Midlands today, with the women holding on for a 2-1 victory and the men coming away with one point from a penalty shoot-out win after the game was drawn 1-1 at fulltime.
The Round 2 action was rounded out in Paraparumu where the Capital Men cruised past Central 5-1 and the Central Women held on to beat Capital 3-2.
CLICK HERE for full results and standings after Round 2
Hockey New Zealand Media release
15-minute quarters seem to speed up hockey
By David Leggat
Black Sticks midfielder Stacey Michelsen helped her Northland team to two victories in the K Cup competition at the weekend. Photo / Getty Images
Hockey's new rules got a qualified thumbs-up from one of the country's leading players after the opening round of the national league at the weekend.
Chief among the changes brought in from September 1 by the International Hockey Federation was trimming the game from two 35-minute halves to four 15-minute quarters.
Black Sticks midfielder Stacey Michelsen helped her Northland team to two victories in the K Cup competition, over North Harbour and Auckland, at the weekend and noticed the change. "The biggest difference is how you come out and start the first quarter," she said last night.
"We decided we really wanted to come out quite aggressively. You are getting that break 15 minutes in which we hadn't got [previously]. I think the game will increase in speed and the 15 minutes [periods] allows that."
One concern was whether the change would lead to more stop-start play, and reduce the flow. Michelsen agreed there was a degree of risk on that score.
"Particularly if you're doing high rotations within the quarters, which a lot of teams would do to ensure they can keep everyone running as much as possible during the 15 minutes.
"I don't think it will necessarily disrupt the flow but it will change tactics a lot, giving coaches the opportunity to change players more easily if they need to, as opposed to having to wait until halftime to talk to the whole team."
In terms of post-game fatigue, Michelsen felt it was similar to a 70-minute match. In Northland's case, any fatigue would have been soothed by delight at yesterday's 3-1 win over Auckland, Michelsen scoring two of the goals.
Canterbury's women also laid down a marker over the opening two rounds with wins over Capital 3-1 and then clubbing Southern 9-1 in Timaru yesterday.
Challenge Cup defending men's champions Auckland rebounded from a 4-1 loss to Southern in Dunedin on Saturday by belting Northland 8-1, three goals coming from Black Sticks attacker Jared Panchia and two from Sam Miskimmin.
North Harbour had an opening 5-2 win over Northland, and they followed that with a penalty shootout win over Midlands in Hamilton yesterday, after the game finished 1-1.
The New Zealand Herald
Pakistan Hockey camp delayed
Islamabad - Pakistan hockey team head coach Shahnaz Sheikh announced Sunday the last phase of national team training camp will start in a day or two due to prevailing situation of the capital. Shahnaz while talking to The Nation said the players were due to report at Pakistan Sports Complex on Sunday noon but I advised them against traveling as situation was not ideal.
“I know we have already well behind others as all the other Asian teams have completed their preparations and had played in a number of high-profile events while on the other hand we have failed to play a single international event for the last 10-months. Our proposed visit to Spain was also called off. Now to cover the loss we are racing against time. I had requested Pakistan Hockey Federation to at least arrange 4-team single league series involving Pakistan Green, Army, Navy and combined team of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. It was earlier decided the matches will start from September3 but now we have reschedule dates. The matches will now be played on Sept 4 and 5 and we will take rest on September 6. Daily two matches will be played, while the final between the top two teams would be held on September 8.” “I had requested PHF to at least made arrangements for team's departure on September 10 to Korea. One week is not enough for defending Asian Games gold but we could gain match practice while playing matches against Korea, Bangladesh and Japan there.
Both president Akhtar Rasool and secretary Rana Mujahid are in Malaysia to contest Asian Hockey Federation elections. Rana was contesting on vice president slot and Akhtar was vying for executive board and both gentlemen returned unopposed which is a good news for Pakistan hockey. We have tried our best to prepare team in last 4-months and I am quite satisfied with the way my players had responded and now I only hope and pray that our hard work and boys efforts will pay in best possible manner and they will manage to successfully defend their Asian title,” Shahnaz concluded.
The Nation
AHF congress to enlarge scope and identity of the sport
S. Thyagarajan
Manpreet Singh declared best junior men's player. File photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
The Asian Hockey Federation Congress here on Sunday agreed to enlarge the scope and identity of the sport in the continent with focus on constant development. This, the AHF hoped, will be achieved with the full support and co-ordination with the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Adopting a new constitution framed in conformity with the statutes of the FIH, the delegates expressed optimism that hockey is poised for a bigger growth in the continent, which the forthcoming Asian Games at Incheon is expected to initiate by conducting the event in a four-quarter system.
Earlier, in the last council meeting, Tan Sri Alagendra, who laid down office as Secretary-General after a 16-year tenure, acknowledged the contribution of all the member countries towards new areas of development and appealed to the new committee to take forward the good work executed by the AHF in the previous years. He was confident that the Asian countries would shine more at the world-level competitions.
The meeting observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to the late Azlan Shah, President, AHF.
The FIH President, Leandro Nagre, who attended the congress with the CEO, Kelley Fairweather, underlined the role of Asian countries in the promotion of the sport over the years.
Negre’s praise for HI
Mr. Negre paid handsome tributes to Hockey India for coming up with innovative tournaments and hosting several competitions. Narinder Batra, who retained his post as Vice-President the Council, was present at the meeting along with Ms. Norman, CEO, HI.
Mr. Fairweather presented the FIH’s strategic program for the next ten years for making hockey more global in its reach. “We need 200 countries” he observed during the course of the presentation.
With the agreement to reach a consensus achieved successfully in the back-room meetings, there was no election for the posts of Vice-Presidents and Council members. Prince Abdullah Tuanku Ahmad Shah of Malaysia and Fumio Ogura of Japan were elected as President and Treasurer respectively. Thyyab Ikram will be the CEO.
India’s Manpreet Singh was declared the best junior men player for the year and We Heung Yu of Chinese Taipei the junior woman. Pakistan’s Mohammad Shafique and Akhane Shibata of Japan were chosen as the players of the year for men and women.
AHF office bearers (2014-18): President: Prince Abdullah Tuanku Ahmad Shah (Malaysia); Vice-Presidents: Chaiyapak Siriwat (Thailand), Narinder Batra (India), Berikkazy Seksenbayev (Kazakistan), Rana Mujahind (Pakistan) and Ms. Shin Jung Hee (Korea); Treasurer: Fumio Ogura (Japan). CEO: Thyyab Ikram (Macau).
Council: Abdul Rahim Ariff (Malaysia), Mathavan Devadas (Singapore), Bahram Shafie (Iran), Akhtar Rasool (Pakistan), Sumith Edirisinghe (Sri Lanka), Abdul Rashid Sikdar (Bangladesh), Li Gao Chao (China), Shamala Subramaniam (Malaysia), and Masako Kamisuki (Japan).
Honorary Life President: Tan Sri Alagendra.
The Hindu
Withdrawals at AHF congress
By Jugjet Singh
THE 30 countries of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) showed its brotherhood spirit at its congress in Kuala Lumpur yesterday when all the posts were won unopposed.
When nominations closed on Aug 21, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah became the AHF president unopposed, and so did incumbent treasurer Fumio Ogura of Japan.
And yesterday, several withdrawals saw only five vice presidents and 10 council members remaining, hence no need for the members to cast their ballots as it was the “magical” numbers needed.
For Malaysia, Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad and Manjit Majid Abdullah withdrew their nominations, while incumbent council members S. Shamala and Datuk Rahim Ariff were returned unopposed.
Outgoing acting president Tan Sri P. Alagendra, who served as AHF secretary general for 18 years, vacated his seat with dignity as FIH president Leandro Negre was present to bestow him a special award.
Alagendra was also made an AHF honorary president for life.
“First of all, I would need to get a better idea about the strength of the AHF, after which the priority would be to make the region stronger as Asia is now far behind Europe and Oceania.
“There is plenty to do to take Asian teams into the top six in the world, and also help countries which are still at a development state,” said Tengku Abdullah.
He is also the FA of Malaysia as well as Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president. Tengku Abdullah is also a member of the FIH Executive Board.
“I still stand by my decision now to seek re-election (in November) as the MHC president and I have a few names as replacement, but can’t reveal them at this juncture.
“Also, by becoming the AHF president, I become an automatic FIH EB member, so I will request the FIH to name another Asian candidate into their EB to take over my elected position,” said Tengku Abdullah.
AHF vice presidents: Chaiyapak Siriwat (Thailand), Seksenbayez Berikkazy (Kazakhstan). Narinder Batra (India), Rana Mujahid Ali (Pakistan), Shin Jung Hee (S. Korea).
Council members: Datuk Rahim Ariff (Malaysia), S. Shamala (Malaysia), Mathavan Devadas (Singapore), Bahram Shafie (Iran), Akhrat Rasool (Pakistan), Sumith Edirisinghe (S. Lanka), Zuhair Alajmi (Oman), Abdur Rashid Sikder (Bangladesh), Li Gao Chao (China), Masako Kamisuki (Japan).
New Straits Times
Alagendra calls it a day after 20 years
By S. Ramaguru
Tan Sri P.Alagendra (centre) received the AHF Award for Excellence as Datuk Mohd Rahim Arilf (right) received the AHF Member of Honour while Dr S.Shamala received the President's Award by the Asian Hockey Federation Congress at the Concorde Hotel on Sunday. - RICKY LAI/ The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Tan Sri P. Alagendra has finally called it a day after 20 years of being at the helm of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
He was the AHF secretary general from 1994 and acting president since June following the demise of the late Sultan Azlan Shah.
Alagendra, 85, believes that the AHF, under new president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, will move forward and “the numerous plans that have been laid will bear fruit”.
“I think it is fair to say that the late Sultan Azlan Shah has bequeathed the new president and his executive council with a working organisation that should stand the AHF in good stead,” said Alagendra, who was also made an honorary life president of the AHF by the Congress on Sunday.
“We have organised numerous competitions with emphasis on age-group development. The setting up of the AHF Academy in Ipoh is one of the highlights of our era.
“I believe it will help develop coaches, umpires and technical officials throughout the region.”
Tengku Abdullah praised Alagendra for his untiring efforts in helping develop Asian hockey.
Alagendra, along with the late Sultan Azlan Shah and long-serving vice-president Datuk Seri M. Ueda were honoured with the AHF Award for Excellence.
Two other Malaysians – Datuk Abdul Rahim Ariff (AHF Member of Honour) and Dr S. Shamala (AHF President’s Award) – were also honoured during the Congress.
Also present at the AHF Congress were the FIH president Leandro Negre and FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather.
The Star of Malaysia
