News 31 January 2014
All the news for Friday 31 January 2014
Hockeyroos v Netherlands
Late Paumen goal thwarts Hockeyroos fightback
Match 2 - Thursday 30th
Despite twice fighting back from a goal down to find themselves level with The Netherlands shortly after half time, the Hockeyroos succumbed to a late penalty corner goal from Maartje Paumen as they went down 3-2 in the second of four uncapped practice matches in South Africa.
Paumen’s ninth minute opener might have put the Hockeyroos on the back foot but Georgia Nanscawen’s goal six minutes later restored parity. Kim Lamers put the Dutch back in front before half time but a goal from Emily Hurtz three minutes into the second half made it 2-2. And that was how it stayed with the match heading for a draw before Dutch set piece expert and two-times World Player of the Year Paumen scored the winner from a penalty corner three minutes from time.
At the mid-way point of the four games against The Netherlands, Head Coach Adam Commens said, “Our aim coming into these matches was to challenge ourselves against the world’s number one team. In the first couple of games we’ve learned a lot about our players and the areas of our game we need to work on.
“I think it’s important when you’re preparing for the World Cup that you challenge yourself against the best you can, as we are against the Olympic Champions. We’ve seen in the last two games why they’re the world’s best but having said that, we’ve trialled a number of different players in different positions.”
The Hockeyroos meet the world number ones again on Saturday and Sunday.
Hockey Australia media release
Delhi Waveriders makes short work of Kalinga Lancers
Uthra Ganesan
Rupinder Pal Singh (third from left) is congratulated by teammates after scoring. Photo: Sandeep Saxena
Delhi Waveriders had been desperate to find its rhythm in the second edition of the Hockey India League, and its first home match, against bottom-placed Kalinga Lancers, provided the perfect occasion.
The Waveriders took full advantage, winning 5-0 to go top of the table with 11 points from three games, along with Jaypee Punjab Warriors.
Last year’s runner-up, Waveriders, were the dominant side all through. With some of the best players in its ranks, including India captain Sardar Singh, the host was always the favourite. But the manner of its victory would be a concern for the other franchises.
The Waveriders toyed with the opposition, making it appear a bunch of amateurs in a professional league.
Like a well-oiled machine, Waveriders built their attack around Sardar, with Gurbaj Singh and Simon Child providing the necessary support from either side of the midfield.
Former India captain Arjun Halappa put his experience to good use, creating openings upfront. The attacks came at will, and the defence and goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi were hardly tested.
Rupinderpal Singh opened the scoring in the 13th minute, converting the game’s first penalty corner.
He got another in the 30th minute while Lloyd Norris Jones, Matt Gohdes and Danish Mujtaba got one each.
For the Lancers, it was similar to the drubbing they had suffered in their first game. The Indian players in their ranks were just not up to the mark.
It was sad to see someone like Prabodh Tirkey, once considered a successor to the hugely talented Dilip Tirkey, stand clueless in the defence.
The only bright spot for the newcomers to the competition was the performance of the foreign stars. Captain Kiel Brown tried his best to bring some sharpness to the attack.
Ryan Archibald, along with Argentine Gonzalo Peillat, tried to give his team stability in the middle but the Lancers just didn’t have enough firepower.
The result makes Waveriders’ next match — at the same venue against Punjab Warriors on Friday — all the more crucial.
The result: Delhi Waveriders 5 (Rupinderpal Singh 2, Matt Ghodes, Danish Mujtaba, Lloyd Norris Jones) bt Kalinga Lancers 0.
The Hindu
Waveriders outclass Lancers in Hockey India League
NEW DELHI: A dominant Delhi Waveriders started their campaign at home in style, beating a clueless Kalinga Lancers 5-0 in a Hero Hockey India League match on Thursday.
Watched by the team's co-owner and movie star John Abraham and cricketer Yuvraj Singh, the Waveriders entertained the crowd with a confident show to take home full points. The win put them on the top of the table with 11 points. The Lancers remained at the bottom with no points from two matches.
Delhi came to the match having suffered a setback against Ranchi Rhinos in an away game three days ago, their first loss in the tournament. The team, which lost only one match in the league stage in the first edition, was determined to make the most of the home support by going all out against the brand new team in the competition.
But lack of coordination between their players in the early part of the match denied them a chance to take early lead. Though they dominated the first quarter, most of their attacks lacked the sting to trouble the Lancers' defenders.
The strikers got into the groove once Rupinder Pal Singh opened the floodgates by scoring from the first penalty corner of the match in the 11th minute. After that, they started to create more chances and were rewarded when Matt Gohdes came up with a spectacular goal in the 20th minute.
Rupinder added one more to his tally to give Delhi a commanding 3-0 lead by the end of the second quarter. Danish Mujtaba and Lloyd Norris Jones scored two field goals in the third quarter to virtually secure the match for the hosts.
The Lancers, trained by Indian team's chief coach Terry Walsh, struggled to put their act together against a side that improved substantially as the match progressed.
Kalinga had their odd chances but failed to take them due to poor finishing. The Waveriders will play Jaypee Punjab Warriors at home in their next match on Friday.
The Times of India
Waveriders thump Lancers, join Warriors at the top
Chander Shekhar Luthra
Delhi Waveriders registered their second win of the Hockey India League with a 5-0 rout of Kalinga Lancers at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Thursday.
Playing their first home game, the 2013 finalists — led by national skipper Sardar Singh — were determined to put behind their narrow defeat to Ranchi Rhinos. They did just that.
It took Delhi 13 minutes to earn their first penalty corner when Kalinga’s Manjeet Kullu committed a foul in the penalty area. Young drag-flicker Rupinder Singh made no mistake while finding the unmarked left corner to make it 1-0. There was no looking back and the hosts put up an even better show in the second quarter. In the 21st minute, Matthew Gohdes dribbled past two Kalinga defenders before slotting the ball in. And when Rupinder scored his second of the match with yet another short corner, there was hardly any doubt as to who would join Jaypee Punjab Warriors at the top of the table with 11 points.
Delhi kept much of the possession in the remaining two quarters and won 5-0.
Stopwatch: Delhi Waveriders 5 (R Singh 13 & 39, M Gohdes 21, D Mujtaba 48, L Jones 53) beat Kalinga Lancers 0
DNA
Waveriders App
John Abraham's Delhi Waveriders launches mobile app for iPhone and Android users, becomes first Indian hocket team to do so
Tasneem Akolawala
The app also has an open Fan Wall for users to post message and discuss with fellow fans about the team and matches.
Delhi Waveriders becomes the first Hockey India League team to launch a mobile application to reach out to its strong fan-base.
The mobile app will be available for iPhone and Android users and can be downloaded for free from iTunes and Google Play Store.
Fans will be updated about information on the team players, stay up to the minute on the latest match news, view scores, standings, schedules, trades, roster moves and stats for each member in the team.
The app also has an open Fan Wall for users to post message and discuss with fellow fans about the team and matches.
The Delhi Waveriders mobile app would be linked with their Facebook and Twitter page, where the fans can also post messages and upload pictures, giving the users to be in touch with the team at all times.
Amar Sinha, CEO, Delhi Waveriders said, “This is an endeavor by DWR to ensure that the fans can stay connected with the team 24/7 and transform the passive game-viewing experience into an interactive sports experience. This application is a first by any HIL team and helps engage with the youth who are always on the go. “
“As more than 50% of the youth under the age of 26 are inclined towards mobile apps, the Delhi Waveriders app is the perfect tool for them to stay in touch with the team. The mobile app is a true presentation of the team slogan “Live Hockey, Love Hockey”. Mr. Sinha further added.
The app is developed by Snaplion.
Key features of the app:
* Latest news about the team
* Player profiles, images and videos
* All the important DWR home and away game schedules
* Live, real-time updates from DWR and open forum for fans to post messages!!
* Match videos, Press Meets, Major announcements, etc.
* Google Map integration to get you to all the stadiums in time for the starting whistle
* Player and match pictures
The app will soon also allow fans to book their HIL tickets on their phone via the DWR app.
The hockey team is co-owned by John Abraham, who is also the brand ambassador of the team.
DNA
Australia's senior hockey player Jamie Dwyer slams India's style of play
Five-time Player of the Year, Australian Jamie Dwyer said that the Indian team do not have a game plan on most occasions and they can not go on the field expecting to win every match like that.
New Delhi: Australia's most decorated hockey player Jamie Dwyer, a five-time Player of the Year, feels the Indian team is not smart enough against the world's top sides.
As eight-time Olympic champions India are trying to regain their lost glory, Dwyer said they cannot expect to turn up on the field and win everyday.
"You can't just turn up on the field and win. You need to have a game plan, you need to be fit and fast enough to last the duration. That is something India are not doing at the moment," Dwyer told IANS Thursday on the eve of the match between Punjab Warriors and Delhi Waveriders in the Hockey India League (HIL).
The 34-year-old Dwyer, who leads Punjab, stressed that India must focus on doing the basics right. He was surprised that Indians were not paying attention to simple things like trapping and passing.
"You don't have to do anything fancy to succeed in hockey. I have seen how Indians practise and they don't pay much attention to trapping and passing the ball. Top teams like Germany, Australia and the Netherlands are very strong in their basic skills," said the Australian forward.
Asked about India's obsession with Australian coaches, Dwyer jokingly said it looks like a fascination to him as well. India recently replaced Australian Michael Nobbs with compatriot Terry Walsh.
"On a serious note, Terry is a good coach and I hope India can find a suitable style of play under him. They need to improve mentally more than anything else," he said.
Australia rested Dwyer for the recently held World Hockey League Final where the Dutch were crowned champions. The Queensland-born player has been part of the Australian team which won the coveted World Cup (2010) and Olympic gold (2004).
Dwyer was non-committal about playing his fourth Olympics in Rio but confirmed that he will be available for selection for the World Cup and Champions Trophy later in 2014.
"Rio is too far, mate, and I am not getting any younger. Let's see how my body holds till then," he signed off.
NDTV Sports
Now Harvinder withdraws from training squad
By Aftar Singh
A file picture of Harvinder Singh (right). He is sacrificing hockey for studies as he will be pursuing an internship for six months this year.
KUALA LUMPUR: Forward Harvinder Singh is the third player to withdraw from the national hockey training squad.
Last week, defenders Engku Malek and Azreen Rizal Nasir pulled out of the training team.
The Kuala Lumpur-born Harvinder, who is pursuing a degree in accountancy at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has to undergo about six months of internship from next month.
Harvinder, who is the younger brother of former national midfielder Kelvinder Singh, will begin his internship with accountancy firm Ernst & Young here on Feb 10.
Harvinder was among 45 players initially called up for national training early this month after undergoing a week-long fitness test.
Although he passed the fitness test, Harvinder has decided to sacrifice hockey for his studies.
“I love to play hockey for the country and was looking forward to representing Malaysia in tournaments this year.
“But I have to undergo six months of internship this year otherwise I would not be able to graduate next May,” said Harvinder.
“I have been called up for national training a few times but I have only played for Malaysia once in the nine-a-side hockey tournament in Perth last October. It was not even a proper hockey tournament.
“My hopes of playing for the national team this year will not materialise now because my internship will only conclude in July.
“By the time my internship is over, the players would have played four major tournaments. However, I hope to be called up for national training next year,” said Harvinder, whose elder brother Kelvinder is now a Police Inspector at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in KL.
National chief coach K. Dharmaraj said that it is unfortunate Kelvinder has to go for his practical this year. He added that if the 24-year-old stays fit, he will be called up for training next year.
Dharmaraj said that Engku Malek withdrew because he is overweight and needs to lose a few kilograms while Azreen also pulled out because of an internship.
Azreen is pursuing a degree in sports science at UPM.
The national team will kick off the season at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from March 13-23.
The other tournaments lined up for the year are the Champions Challenge 1 in Kuantan from April 26-May 4, World Cup in The Hague (May 31-June 15), Glasgow Commonwealth Games (July 23-Aug 3) and the Incheon Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4).
The Star of Malaysia
Open system to pick next Juniors
The selection process for the Malaysian Project 2016 will be an open concept as officials of the team will look at talented players playing in the ongoing Milo Junior hockey League.
Team manager Mirnawan Nawawi said that coach Arul Selvaraj is already watching players in action and making selections.
However Arul will not be able to cover all the teams hence Mirnawan hopes that coaches in the MJHL will extend their cooperation by extending names of talented players that can be considered.
"It will not greasy for Arul to watch all the teams, henceI hope coaches of teams in the MJHL will extend their support by providing names of talented players in their team for us to monitor and have a look at," said Mirnawan.
"We hope to have our first camp in middle of March during the Azlan Shah Cup and we are in the midst of finalising things.
"At present we are given a quota of 25 players but hope to increase it to 35 players for the first session."
Mirnawan said that they were in the midst of finalizing the plan fortune team before submitting it to the NSC and MHC for approval.
"When drawing up the list we also must take into account players who were in the last juniors training camp that are eligible for the next juniors, " added Mirnawan.
Shahril Saabah and Meor Mohd Azuan Hassan are two players who are currently in the national senior training squad who can play in the qualifiers.
There are also some players who did not make the grade for the last Junior World Cup are also eligible for the next juniors are are certain inclusions into the training squad.
Mohd Azwa Rahman, Nor Azrul Abdul Rahman, Mohd Aminuddin Mat Zain are three players that can play in the2016 Junior World Cup while Mohd Haziq Shamsul can only play in the Asia Cup next year that serves as a qualifier.
MalaysianHockey.com.my
Hockey5 teams named for Vanuatu qualifier
Hockey New Zealand has selected a men’s and women’s team to compete at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament from the 8-11 March in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
One of six hockey qualifying events worldwide, the tournament will feature men’s and women’s sides from Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu with the top two finishers able to be selected by their respective Olympic committees to compete at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China from 16-28 August. It is the first time in Vanuatu’s history, that Port Vila is to be the host of an Olympic event.
Unlike the traditional eleven-a-side game, the format for both the qualifier and the Youth Olympic Games will follow the new Hockey5 format introduced by the International Hockey Federation. With only five players on the field at any one time as well as side boards and no penalty corners, the game will be fast and exciting while also making it more viable for smaller countries to compete.
The player funded men’s and women’s programme relies on players to follow a strength and conditioning programme and train on-turf from their home region over the next six weeks. Head coach for the men’s side, Dave Kosoof said it will be a real learning curve for everyone to play a different format of the game.
“The key thing for me will be making sure the players fitness levels are right up there as it will be so quick - the whole time players are on the field they're going to need to be involved in the game. Because it is played on a half field, defensive moments will be turned into attacking moments in a matter of seconds, which will make it exciting,” said Kosoof.
“Our aim is to finish in the top two and qualify for the Youth Olympics. I expect as an absolute minimum that we will be in the final, but having said that if we face Australia in the final we will always want to get one over the Aussies in any trans-Tasman clash,” said Kosoof.
Women’s head coach Caryn Paewai is also gunning for qualification and will be looking forward to teaching her team some Hockey5 strategy.
“The team need to have confidence in what they are doing and so we will be teaching them about this format of the game. The aim is to make sure that they are winning games back on back and being smart and disciplined about how we play,” says Paewai.
“With this particular format, we need players who have the right attitude and can perform at a high level again and again, we need that competitiveness to give it everything.”
“It is a pretty exciting opportunity, the girls won bronze at the last Youth Olympics and from that they gained a lot, so hopefully this team will have a similar experience,’ says Paewai.
The New Zealand teams for the qualifying tournament have been selected based on performance at the 2013 National Under-18 Tournament and training camps. If the team is successful at the qualifiers, then the 2014 National Under-18 Tournament will be the selection event for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
Hockey New Zealand is currently recruiting a team manager to manage both teams during the qualifier.
Please click here for further information.
Hockey5 – NZ Women
2014 Youth Olympic Games Qualifier, Vanuatu, 8-11 March
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu
Name, Region, Age, Position
Isla Bint, Auckland, 21/7/1997, Goalkeeper
Tayla White, Auckland, 8/11/1996, Defender
Catherine Tinning, Canterbury, 6/4/1996, Midfielder
Casey-Mae Waddell, Central, 28/3/1997, Midfielder
Su Arn Kwek, Auckland, 28/3/1996, Striker
Tyler Lench, Auckland, 8/6/1997, Striker
Bridget Kiddle, Capital, 25/7/1996, Midfielder
Frances Davies, Midlands, 18/10/1996, Midfielder
Ella Hyatt-Brown, North Harbour, 4/11/1997, Defender
Freya Hawes, Capital, 5/5/1996, Striker
Hockey5 – NZ Men
2014 Youth Olympic Games Qualifier, Vanuatu, 8-11 March
Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu
Name, Region, Age, Position
Fynn Edwards, North Harbour, 18/3/1996, Goalkeeper
Dylan Thomas, Central, 14/2/1996, Striker
Aidan Sarikaya, Midlands, 3/7/1996, Defender
Hamish McGeorge, Midlands, 3/5/1996, Defender
Richmond Lum, Auckland, 15/5/1996, Striker
Joseph Robertson, Capital, 30/9/1996, Striker
Dominic Newman, Canterbury, 7/11/1996, Midfielder
Kalyan Jeram, Auckland, 18/3/1997, Midfielder
Ethan Martin, Midlands, 12/11/1997, Defender
Mackenzie Wilcox, Central, 7/8/1996, Midfielder
Hockey New Zealand Media release
QPCC, Fatima flick off outdoor season
Queen’s Park CC will flick off the defence of its Trinity Men’s Division title against bitter rival Fatima when the T&T Hockey Board Outdoor League season begins at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua from 7 pm.
Last year, the Parkites won the title ahead of Courts Malvern and Paragon and will be keen to start their defence witha win.
Also on tonight, the Mixed Veterans Division gets going from 8.45 pm with defending champions Malvern facing Shape.
Tomorrow and Sunday, matches will continue in all divisions, inclusive of the Under-19 boys and girls, Trinity men and women and the Champion Divisions.
Today:
Trinity Men: QPCC vs Fatima, 7pm
Mixed Veterans: Malvern vs Shape, 8.45 pm
Tomorrow (Saturday Feb 1)
Under-19 Girls: Notre Dame vs Raiders, 11 am
Under-19 Boys: Notre Dame vs Raiders, 12.30 pm
Trinity Women: SC Magnolias vs Ventures, 2 pm
Men’s Championship: Notre Dame vs Malvern, 4 pm; QPCC vs Fatima, 7 pm
Women’s Championship: Malvern vs Harvard Checkers, 5. 30pm
Sunday Feb 2:
Under-19 Girls: Paragon vs Ventures, 12. 30am
Under-19 Boys: Courts Malvern vs Shape, 2pm
Trinity Men: Paragon vs Shape, 4 pm
Women’s Championship: Paragon vs Ventures, 5.30 pm
The Trinidad Guardian
Paul, O’Brien trick Debe hockey boys
...QRC wins again
Nigel Simon
St Mary’s College’s Maleik Ross scores on the near post, past Debe High goalkeeper Joseph Johnson while team-mate Jarryon Paul watches on in their T&T Hockey Board Secondary Schools Outdoor League Boys’ Open Division match at St James Barracks, Western Main Road, St James, on Wednesday. St Mary’s won 12-0. Photo: Anthony Harris
Jarry Paul and Jordi o’Brien both scored hat-tricks as St Mary’s College mauled Debe High 12-0 in the Boys’ division of the T&T Hockey Board Secondary Schools Outdoor League at St James Barracks, Western Main Road, St James on Wednesday.
Paul got his goals in the third, 29th and 35th minutes while O’Brien completed his treble in the sixth, 22nd and 24th minutes for the “Saints” who were beaten, 3-1 by Fatima College in their opener.
Zachary Clarke, Che Modeste, James Attieh, Craig Cockburn and Maleik Ross added one each in the lopsided win for the “Saints” who led 4-0 at the half-time interval of the 40-minutes match.
However, at the top of the table is Queen’s Royal College which followed up its 3-0 blanking of South East Port-of-Spain
with a 6-0 thrashing of newcomers, Woodbrook Government Secondary.
Leading the way for the Royalians were Ghardel Elcock (1st, 39th) and Kristien Emmanuel (27th, 30th) with two goals each while Jadel Poon-Lewis and Lyndell Byer, chipped in with one apiece.
Today, SEPoS girls and boys teams will hope for better fortunes when they come up against Providence Girls and Fatima, from 3.15 pm and 4.15 pm respectively
For the schools which have recently become involved in the TTHB’s Development Program the TTHB will host its Secondary Schools Minor-League Tournament on Friday March, 21, 2014 from 8am to 5pm at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua, for schools in the North, West and East Zones and at Debe High School, Debe for schools in the South and Central Zones.
The sponsors of this league are the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago and Blue Waters
Results:
Wednesday:
Boys:
St Mary’s 12 (Jarryon Paul 3rd, 29th, 35th, Jordi O’Brien 6th, 22nd, 24th, Zachary Clarke 16th, Jean-Luc Hinds 20th, Che Modeste 25th, James Attieh 26th, Craig Cockburn 33rd, Maleik Ross 34th) vs Debe High 0
QRC 6 (Ghardel Elcock 1st, 39th, Kristien Emmanuel 27th, 30th, Jadel Poon-Lewis 18th, Lyndell Byer 29th) vs Woodbrook Gov’t Sec 0
Today’s
Girls: SEPoS vs Providence, 3.15pm
Boys: SEPoS vs Fatima, 4.15pm
The Trinidad Guardian
Hockey coach confident of hitting target
Arin Kumar
Fiji Hockey Federation national under-18 coach Tai Smith speaks to the media with Fiji's Chef de Mission to the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, Carl Probert during a press conference at the FASANOC office in Suva yesterday. Picture: JONACANI LALA
NATIONAL under-18 hockey coach Tai Smith is confident of meeting their target of $80,000 for their trip to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Oceania Qualifiers that will be held in Port Vila, Vanuatu, in March.
She said the side was in dire need of funds for the trip and while the Fiji National Sports Commission had given them a grant, it's the player levy contribution that was still pending.
She said the side had been fundraising for the trip and trying to collect spending money.
"The players have been raising funds as individuals and as a team and they have been receiving good support so far," Smith said.
"We are trying our best to convince potential sponsors to support us and, hopefully, someone will come through."
Smith said the team had been preparing well and would name the final travelling squad on February 9.
"The second half of January, the national HPU and the national team coaches were assisting the players and coaches with preparations.
"They are assisting with the pre-tournament competition and this will improve our game plan and address all areas that need improving."
Fiji's chef de mission to the YOG Carl Probert said they had seen increased interest and participation from youths, not only from Suva but from the Western Division and Levuka for the trials for the teams.
"If they do qualify for the YOG, more funds will be made available to the national U18 hockey side for preparations," he said.
The Fiji Times