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All the news for Sunday 10 December 2017

Odisha Men's Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017 - Day 10

Results Day 9

5th / 6th Place BEL v ESP 1 - 0 Official
Semi Final  AUS v GER 3 - 0

Fixtures Day 10 (Time GMT +5:30)

17:15 Bronze Medal IND v GER
19:30 Final ARG v AUS    

FIH Match Centre

Mighty Kookaburras meet Argentina in final of Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017


Jeremy Hayward was on target as Australia defeated Germany to reach the event final in Bhubaneswar. Copyright: FIH / World Sport Pics

Bhubaneswar, India: The final of the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017 will be a mouth-watering clash between the respective world and Olympic champions, with Australia set to meet Rio 2016 gold medallists Argentina in the championship match on Sunday.

Australia overcame stern resistance from Germany to emerge with a 3-0 win to maintain their hopes of defending the Hockey World League title that they won in Lucknow two years ago, setting up a clash with Los Loenes, the top ranked team in the game.

The Pool B meeting between Australia (FIH Hero World Ranking: 2) and Germany (WR: 5) finished with the scores locked together at 2-2, hinting that their semi-final rematch could also be a close one.

However, Germany’s chances of success were hampered by the fact that they were missing five players from their squad, with one being injured and the others being unable to play due to illness.

Despite having only 13 players fit for action - one of which was reserve goalkeeper Mark Appel, who was used as an outfield substitute - Die Honamas produced a startling performance, matching their opponents in the opening period and coming close to opening the scoring with a penalty corner that was brilliantly saved by the outstretched foot of Australia goalkeeper Tyler Lovell.

Germany’s depleted squad somehow reached half time with the match scoreless but found the third and fourth quarters tough going as the constant Australian running began to take its toll on Germany's rapidly tiring legs.

Germany’s stubborn resistance finally broke with three minutes of the third quarter remaining, with Dylan Wotherspoon smashing a glorious backhand strike into the bottom corner from a tight angle following a period of dominance from the mighty Kookaburras.

Jeremy Hayward moved his side even closer to a place in the competition final with a trademark penalty corner drag-flick goal early in the final quarter before Germany went for broke, replacing their goalkeeper with an outfield player in order to have one last attempt to crack open Australia's defence. It was a tactic which almost paid dividends, with Australia blocking out two penalty corner efforts before a rapid counter-attack killed the game.

Tom Wickham was the scorer of Australia's third goal, tapping into an empty net to leave Australia one victory away from defending their Hockey World League title.

“I think we can be proud of our performance today”, said Germany’s Philipp Huber, who was named Man of the Match, presented by Odisha New Opportunities after the game. “We came into the game thinking that we had nothing to lose. It was tight sometimes, and we thought if we could score a corner maybe we could get ahead but it wasn’t to be.”

Earlier in the day, Belgium’s Red Lions ended their Hockey World League Final campaign on a positive note with a 1-0 victory over Spain to claim a fifth place finish in the competition.

The Red Sticks of Spain hit the post on two occasions in the match and could count themselves unlucky to finish as the losing side, but a brilliant precision strike from Sebastien Dockier in the fourth minute proved to be the difference.

Speaking after the game, Spain’s Josep Romeu - who was named Man of the Match, Presented by Odisha New Opportunities - said: “We were not happy with how we played against Belgium in the pool match. We had our chances to win today but it did not quite work out.”

The final day of action takes place on Sunday 10th December with host nation India facing Germany in the bronze medal match at 17:15 Indian Standard Time (UST+5.30). That contest will be followed title match, with reigning world and Hockey World League champions Australia taking on Olympic champions at 1930.

It promises to be a thrilling day’s play that will provide a fitting end to a terrific event in Bhubaneswar, the host city of next year’s Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018.


RESULTS – DAY 9

5-6 - Belgium 1, Spain 0.
Man of the Match, presented by Odisha New Opportunities: Josep Romeu (ESP)
Junior Player of the Match, presented by ONGC: Victor Wegnez (BEL)

Semi-Final - Australia 3, Germany 0.
Man of the Match, presented by Odisha New Opportunities: Philipp Huber (GER)
Junior Player of the Match, presented by ONGC: Lachlan Sharp (AUS)

Upcoming fixtures (All times Indian Standard Time - UTC +5.30)

Sunday 10th December 2017
17:15: Bronze medal match - India v Germany
19:30: Final  - Argentina v Australia

Final Standings
1:
2:
3:
4:
5: Belgium
6: Spain
7: Netherlands
8: England

#HWL2017

FIH site

Kookaburras Seal HWL Final Spot With Germany Win

Ben Somerford



The Kookaburras have qualified for the FIH Men’s World League Final decider after a resounding 3-0 win over Germany in the semi-finals in Bhubaneswar on Saturday night (local time).

Second-half goals from Dylan Wotherspoon, Jeremy Hayward and Tom Wickham sealed the win.

Australia, who are reigning World League champions, will face Argentina in the final at 1am AEDT on Monday.

The match had been deadlocked at 0-0 at half-time before the Kookaburras scored three second-half goals to secure their place in the final.

Germany, depleted by injuries, had caused Australia danger in the first half, with goalkeeper Tyler Lovell keeping them at bay.

The Kookaburras responded in the second half, with Eddie Ockenden forcing a good save from Tobias Walter in the 35th minute after good lead-up play from Junior Player of the Match Lachlan Sharp.

Australia hit the lead in the 42nd minute when Daniel Beale found Wotherspoon, who produced an expert reverse stick finish to give the Kookaburras the lead.

The Kookaburras doubled their lead in the 48th minute when 100-gamer Jeremy Hayward fired home a deflected drag flick from a penalty corner.

Germany rallied in the light of the deficit, but Australia sealed the win when Aran Zalewski broke forward and found Tom Wickham to convert from point blank range to secure the win.

The result seals Australia spots in the decider as they seek to defend their World League title which they won in the 2015.

Hockey Australia media release

Kookas Out To ’Write Their Own History’ In HWL Final

Ben Somerford



Kookaburras coach Colin Batch says his side are out to “write their own history” ahead of the FIH Men’s World League Final decider against Argentina in Bhubaneswar.

World number two Australia, who are the reigning World League champions, take on the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallists and world number one Argentina from 1am AEDT on Monday live on Fox Sports.

The Kookaburras side which missed out on a medal in Rio has vastly changed, with Batch taking over as coach last December.

Batch said the new group wasn’t burdened by Australia’s rich history of success but was determined to create their own story.

“We’re hoping to write our own history,” Batch said.

“We’re going out to win tournaments not to defend tournaments.

“We’ve approached it in a positive way all along knowing we’ve got a lot to learn.”

Batch added: “We’ve turned ourselves from a developing, emerging team. We’ve moved past that and we want to become a very good team.

“I think this tournament will be the end result of 12 months of hard work.”

Like Australia, Argentina were unconvincing during the pool phase, finishing third in Pool A with one draw and two losses, before storming through the knockout stage.

Batch said the Lions, who defeated India in Friday’s other semi-final, were full of quality and was wary ahead of the final.

“The conditions on Friday night were extremely heavy and Argentina played the conditions beautifully,” he said.

“They did the basics, basic game plan, didn’t play the ball too often in the middle, used the high ball effectively.

“We haven’t played Argentina. They’re the only team in the top sector who we haven’t played so it’ll be great be to finish the year off playing against them.”

The match will be televised live on Fox Sports. Follow @Kookaburras and #HWL2017 on Twitter for live commentary of the final.

Hockey Australia media release

Australia gets past depleted Germany

The Indians will look to finish the tournament on a high

Uthra Ganesan


Australian players greets to the audience after won the semi final match against Germany in the Hockey World League Final matches in Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar. Photo: Biswaranjan Rout

Out of the race and with its shot at the title gone, there is little more than pride at stake for host India when it takes on a depleted Germany in the playoff for its second successive bronze medal of the competition here on Sunday.

Rain dominated the proceedings as India failed to breach the Argentine citadel in the semifinal of the Hockey World League Final here on Friday night but anything less than a third-place here would be considered a failure for the team that won its first major medal after 33 years in the previous edition two years ago.

The only advantage for India would be an extra day of rest compared to its opponent, which stumbled to a 3-0 loss in the other semifinal against defending and World champion Australia on Saturday night. That, along with a team struggling to put together a proper playing XI due to a combination of illness and injury and an expected full house backing it to improve the standards compared to the previous outing between the two sides in the league stage here.

That was arguably India’s worst performance in the tournament so far and the host would be hoping to avenge the defeat. Interestingly, the last time the two teams clashed for a podium finish in a major FIH event was way back in 1996, when Germany thrashed India 5-0, also in front of home fans in Chennai.

Several from that Indian side — goalkeepers Ashish Ballal and A.B. Subbaiah and defender-turned-MP Dilip Tirkey among them — would be in the visitors’ gallery here on Sunday, hoping to see a reversal of fortunes. Ballal considers the German team the “best” in the competition, and Subbaiah is a fan of their attack as well as defence.

In 2015, a determined India downed The Netherlands in shootouts in Raipur. The Bhubaneswar crowd would be hoping for a similar high to finish off the tournament.

On Saturday, with the weather being perfect for play despite warnings of rain, Australia upped its game when it mattered most to enter its second successive final in the competition, but not without a fight against a side that had just 13 players available for the game!

Getting worse

Germany, having already lost Timur Oruz to injury in the earlier stages, was further depleted as five of its members were down with fever since Friday night, including captain Martin Haner and the talented Christopher Ruhr. Four players didn’t take part in the game while substitute skipper Mats Grambusch took the field despite being under the weather.

That meant Stefan Kermas only had 13 players to rotate throughout the game, even bringing on second goalkeeper Mark Appel as a kicker-back for the last 10 minutes. Despite the meagre resources, the Germans played their hearts out to keep the Australians at bay for a major part of the game before Dylan Wotherspoon stuck the opener in the 42nd minute.

With Australia keeping up the intensity and pushing hard for more goals, it was hardly an equal contest against a tiring opponent which, however, refused to give up. The Germans earned five penalty corners and tried to conserve energy by holding the ball more, staying far back in defence and hoping for the PCs to work. They didn’t, but the first-time semifinalists could be proud of their performance.

Earlier in the day, Belgium defended Sebastien Dockier's fourth-minute goal against Spain with all its legs to finish fifth.

The results: Semifinal: Australia 3 (Dylan Wotherspoon, Jeremy Haywards, Tom Wickham) bt Germany 0.

5-6 place: Belgium 1 (Sebastien Docker) bt Spain 0.

The Hindu

Aus blank injury-hit Germany 3-0

Australia-Argentina final tonight; India-Germany to fight for bronze

Indervir Grewal


Niklas Bruns of Germany and Tristan White of Australia (yellow) vie for the ball during the semifinal at Bhubaneswar on Saturday. PTI

Australia beat a handicapped Germany 3-0 to set up the title clash against Argentina in the Hockey World League Final. Germany, already one man short after Timur Oruz returned home due to injury, played with 13 men as four of their players were taken ill on Friday night.

Germany played without captain Martin Haner, Christopher Ruhr, Julius Meyer and Marco Miltkau. Stand-in captain Mats Grambusch said they were not aware of the nature of the illness. Coach Stefan Kermas said it was not too serious but the four were in no condition to play.

With two goalkeepers in the team, there was only one outfield substitute player. “We had only one substitution,” said Grambusch. “The team showed a lot of courage and determination.”

Despite the handicap, Germany held on till the 42nd minute when Dylan Wotherspoon put Australia ahead with a reverse shot. It was still an even contest with Germany pushing for the equaliser. But sensing that the Germans were tiring, Australia upped the ante. They earned a penalty corner in the 48th minute and Jeremy Hayward’s drag-flick was deflected high into the net off a German stick.

With 10 minutes still to go, Germany took a brave decision to withdraw their goalkeeper for an extra outfield player. They put pressure on Australia’s defence, but without a substitution, their growing weariness became evident. In the last minute, a counterattack saw Aran Zalewski run past one tired German defender and shoot at goal. But the goal was given to Tom Wickham, who had gotten the last touch.

With Germany playing hosts India in the bronze medal match on Sunday, Grambusch hoped the four players would be able to return. “Right now, I am not thinking about that (tomorrow’s match). I am frustrated. My legs are dead,” said Grambusch.

There have already been reports of a few English and Dutch players falling ill with stomach issues.

The Tribune

Australia beat Germany 3-0; to face Argentina in final

Feroz Khan

BHUBANESWAR: Australia defeated a depleted Germany 3-0 to enter their second consecutive final of the Hockey World League Final on Saturday. Goals from Dylan Wotherspoon (42'), Jeremy Haywards (48') and Tom Wickham (60') helped the defending champions set up a summit clash with Argentina which will be played on Sunday.

The defeat means Germany will now square off against hosts India in the bronze medal match also to be played on Sunday. A combination of injuries and illness meant Germany started the match with just 13 players with two of them available as substitutes. However, despite being short of manpower and tiring legs, the four-time Olympic champions matches Australia shot for shot.

The first two quarters were evenly contested and despite repeated incursions from either side, they ended goalless. Germany won as many as five penalty corners but either their drag-flickers failed or the Australian rushers defended well to keep them from scoring. But to their credit, every time they made a circle entry, they made it count with a shot on the goal. And their spirited effort kept Australia quiet for the better part of the game. Mark Appel, their goalkeeper, was playing as an outfield player because of them being short of players - four of them suffering from fever.

The capacity crowd acknowledged their effort but soon Australia broke through their wall. Dylan Wotherspoon received a ball inside the D on the left and Tobias Walker came forward to block the angle. The Australian no. 7 beat the German goalie with pace and the ball went between his legs to crash inside the cage. Six minutes later, the Kookaburras doubled their lead converting a penalty corner after Jeremy Edwards' flick ricocheted off Niklas Bruns to sail over the goalkeeper.

And with just over 10 minutes remaining, Germany opted for an 11th outfield player in their desperation for goals. Phillip Huber with the goalkeeping privileges made an excellent tackle to stop Lochlan Sharp from scoring. But Australia got their third goal in the final minute with Tim Wickham getting the final touch in front of an open goal.

The Times of India

Team showed great fighting spirit despite four players were down with fever: Germany coach

Feroz Khan

BHUBANESWAR: On Friday, four Germany hockey players fell ill and therefore did not take the field against Australia in an all-important semi-final clash of the Hockey World League Final on Saturday.

Along with captain Martin Haner, Christopher Ruhr, Marco Miltkau and Julius Meyer missed the Australia clash due to high fever and a depleted Germany faced Australia with just 12 [plus goalkeeper Mark Appel who played as on outfield player] fit players. That meant, Germany were forced to defend deeper and they put up a superb show keeping prowling Australian attackers at bay in the first half. It was only in the final minutes of the third quarter that Dylan Wotherspoon broke their spirited defense to put Australia on the path to a 3-0 win.

Germany beat India 2-0 in the round-robin stage but their coach Stefan Kermas says that counts for nothing if he cannot have all his players fit and available. "It's not about confidence but what team can play tomorrow. It makes a bit of difference. If Germany plays with only 16 players we sure will be a confident team. But to play with 12 players for 60 minutes is really difficult," he told TOI Sports after the match.

Germany next face India on Sunday in the bronze medal match and Kermas isn't sure whether he will be able to field a full-strength squad against the hosts. "I don't know. We will take a look tonight and I am not sure that they can play [tomorrow]. I think two of them have really high fever. They are ok but not match fit," he said.

Echoing Argentina coach Carlos Retegui, the 38-year-old said he is also unhappy with the scheduling of the tournament saying some teams have got more rest days than other. He gave example of Sunday's bronze medal match where they will be facing India who had an off-day on Saturday.

"I was really disappointed about the schedule as I and Argentina coach had said before. The final also has the same [problem]. For the bronze medal match where one team has one day of rest and the other doesn't, it is kind of unfair. It doesn't matter whether a team gets three or four days' rest but it's about the question of zero days off and one-day rest. So, I'm not happy about it," he said.

Kermas rued the absence of the four players but said he was proud of the way his men responded in the semi-finals. "Four of our guys were ill today. We had a fever attack and had to make our goalkeeper [Appel] as an outfield player. We tried to defend a little bit deeper, focused on counterattacks. I was really happy that we had 0-0 scoreline for most part of the game. We got penalty corners but didn't score. Apart from that I am really proud of my team because of the great fighting spirit they showed tonight," he said after the match.

The Times of India

Stats Speak: Head to head of today’s matches in  Bhubaneswar

By B.G.Joshi (India) and John  Sanders(Australia)

Australia vesus Argentina  at a glance

 India versus Germany  at a glance

 Fieldhockey.com

Peillat shoots Los Leones to final date with Australia


©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

Argentina will meet Australia in the final of the Hockey World League on Sunday following Gonzalo Peillat’s single corner goal to defeat India in their semi-final on Friday.

Mannheimer HC’s Peillat fired home a rocket two minutes into the second quarter for a narrow lead that they would hold through to the final whistle.

“I’m very proud of our performance today as it was tough out there”, said Argentina goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi after the match. “We played a smart game, scored a good goal and defended really well.”

Regarding the reliability of Gonzalo Peillat from penalty corner situations, who scored from his only opportunity, Vivaldi said: “The last two games, he hasn’t had any chances, and we know it is really important for our system that he gets those opportunities. Today we get one corner and he scores, so we are really happy as a team and also for him.”

The Kookaburras, meanwhile, saw off an understrength Germany who could only field 13 players – including goalkeeper Mark Appel outfield – due to illness.

Australia overcame stern resistance from Germany to emerge with a 3-0 win to maintain their hopes of defending the Hockey World League title that they won in Lucknow two years ago.

Despite the limited resources, Die Honamas produced a startling performance, matching their opponents in the opening period and coming close to opening the scoring with a penalty corner that was brilliantly saved by the outstretched foot of Australia goalkeeper Tyler Lovell.

Germany’s depleted squad reached half time scoreless but found the third and fourth quarters tough going as the constant Australian running began to take its toll on rapidly tiring legs.

Germany’s stubborn resistance finally broke with three minutes of the third quarter remaining, with Dylan Wotherspoon smashing a glorious backhand strike into the bottom corner from a tight angle following a period of dominance from the mighty Kookaburras. Jeremy Hayward and Tom Wickham sealed the deal.

“I think we can be proud of our performance today”, said Germany’s Philipp Huber (another Mannheim player), who was named Man of the Match. “We came into the game thinking that we had nothing to lose. It was tight sometimes, and we thought if we could score a corner maybe we could get ahead but it wasn’t to be.”

The Netherlands finished seventh with a 1-0 win over England while Belgium beat Spain 1-0 for fifth. For the Belgians, they won four out of five games and were unbeaten in normal time throughout the competition, making for a frustrating final outcome.

India will seek their first normal time win of the competition in the bronze medal match on Sunday when they play Germany.

Euro Hockey League media release

India aim for second successive bronze

Feroz Khan

BHUBANESWAR: Call it a twist of fate or just plain unlucky. Both India and Germany in the space of 24 hours have learnt that no matter how much you prepare for a game, in the absence of the cruel element called 'luck', things can go awry in no time. India, after a mixed round-robin stage, made a resounding comeback to dump tournament favourites Belgium in a heart-stopping quarterfinal of the Hockey World League Final. Next in line was Argentina whose only defeat of a successful Rio Olympics came at the hands of India. On Friday, in the first semi-final, India were forced to face two rivals - Argentina and rain. And they took more time to adapt to the latter. Consequently, they lost 0-1, a slim margin which they so spiritedly tried overcoming in the final quarter.

A day after India's defeat, Germany faced Australia in the second semi-final. They were hit by health issues much before they had even left their team hotel for the Kalinga Stadium. Four of their top players including captain Martin Haner were under the grip of high fever rendering them unfit to play. They were forced to play regular goalkeeper Mark Appel as an outfield player. They fought hard, just like India. They managed to hold a prowling Kookaburras for a majority of the contest but something had to give and it was the Germans who blinked first. They eventually lost by a margin of 0-3.

Who is to say what would have happened had the rain not affected India's match and Germany had fielded a fully fit squad in their respective semi-finals.

The two teams might have felt undone by the elements not under their control but they do have a chance to sign off the tournament on a high. Sunday gives them a chance to wipe off the bittersweet memories of their last matches. India, though seem to be the better placed of the two to finish on a winning note. This is despite India putting up their worst performance of the tournament so far against Germany in a 0-2 defeat earlier in the HWL Final. A crucial factor that can work in favour of India is the fact that Germany are still not confident whether they will be able to field a full squad on Sunday and are afraid they might be left to contest a crucial match with a depleted squad second day in a row.

Putting these factors aside, it should not take anything away from India who have vastly improved after failing to record a single win in the pool stage. They beat the best team of the ongoing tournament - Belgium - and will end as the only team to do so. They battled rain, cold winds and water-logged pitch, to impress in a semi-final defeat to Argentina despite conditions not allowing them to play their best hockey.

They conceded just one penalty corner against the Olympic gold medallists but unfortunately their rivals converted it which eventually made the difference. They attacked and attacked from the third quarter and came close to breathing life in the match. Alas, that wasn't to be the case.

What's certain is that the crowd will again pack the stadium to back them as they have done before, even under heavy rains and cold winds. Now is the chance for hosts to finish the year on a positive note and they know Germany are a defensive team. They like to sit deep so the strategy will revolve around breaking their wall, concede less penalty corners and then their own defence will have to keep improving which they have after a horror show against England and then Germany [in round-robin phase].

This will be India's final match of the year and their aim will be to finish with a medal before they embark on a busy year that will see them competing in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Cup.

The summit clash, later Sunday, fittingly, is between the world's current top two teams. Defending champions and world no. 1 Australia will be aiming to keep the title with them, winning the HWL Final for the second time in a row before it gives way to Hockey Pro League. While world no. 1 Argentina will aim to win another major title to cement their status as the numero uno of world hockey.

The Times of India

India take on Germany for bronze medal; Argentina face Australia in summit clash



Bhubaneswar: Out of the title race after a heart-breaking loss to Argentina, a demoralised India will have to regroup quickly if they hope to do an encore in the Hockey World League (HWL) Final when they take on a depleted Germany in the bronze medal match, on Sunday.

Germany lost their semi-final 0-3 against World Champions and title holders Australia at the Kalinga Stadium.

Dylan Wootherspoon (42nd), Jeremy Hayward (48th) and Tom Wickham scored for Australia against a German side, which had only 13 players at its disposal today after four of them were ruled out of the match due to fever.

The Germany were already down to 17 men before today's match as one player had returned home after suffering injury during the course of the tournament.

Germany did not get the services of some of the key players like Martin Haner, Julius Meyer, Christopher Ruhr and Marco Miltkau on Saturday as they were down with fever since last night. Such was Germany's plight that they had to play reserve goalkeeper Mark Appel as a field player.

Australia will now play Argentina in the summit clash of the tournament, scheduled to be held Sunday evening.

After having lost 0-2 to Germany in the pool stages of the tournament, the Indians would be hoping to avenge the defeat. And come Sunday, the hosts can breathe a little easy against the Germans, who are bound to field a depleted side again because of fever and injury.

Having finished third in the last edition of the tournament in Raipur in 2015, India desperately wanted to go one step further this year but their dreams were crushed by the experienced Olympic champions Argentina, who displayed calm and cool temperament under difficult playing conditions to hold on to their solitary lead in the semifinals.

The ongoing HWL Final is Asian champion India's biggest tournament before next year's Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and coach Sjoerd Marijne and his men would be eager to make the most out of the opportunity with a morale-boosting result in their favour.

Luck did not favour the hosts in the semi-final as torrential rains wreaked havoc on Friday and made the pitch wet and waterlogged, thereby making life difficult for the Indians, who struggled to play their natural counter-attacking hockey against the Argentines.

Even though India had the better match statistics in terms of ball possession, shots on goal and circle penetrations, they failed to break the resolute Argentine defence.

The close defeat, that too, in difficult playing conditions will definitely be hard to digest for the Indians but they cannot afford to get bogged down by that and let it affect them mentally.

The conditions might not have been favourable but India created a handful of scoring chances against Argentina that included two back-to-back penalty corners but they continued to misfire time and again in the tournament.

Sunday's match will also be the last time for India to impress upon the hockey crazy fans of the temple city before next year's World Cup, as the stadium not only witnessed capacity attendance on all days but also braved intermittent rain and windy conditions to support the home team on a wet day.

All in all, India have a great chance to reclaim their bronze medal on Sunday against a bruised and battered German side.

Earlier in the day, Olympic silver medallist Belgium beat Spain 1-0 to finish fifth in the eight-nation tournament.

Sebastien Dockier scored the only goal of the match from a field effort in the fourth minute.

Firstpost

Belgium beat Spain 1-0 to finish fifth

Feroz Khan

BHUBANESWAR: Belgium defeated Spain 1-0 in a classification match of the Hockey World League Final on Saturday. A first-quarter strike from Sebastian Dockier helped them finish at fifth spot, ahead of Spain - a team they had thrashed earlier in the tournament during the league stage.

The playoff was a chance for Spain to avenge a 0-5 hammering at the hands of Belgium in the round-robin stage. Belgium began the way they are known for - press hard. Sergi Enrique and company were forced to sit deep but the Spaniards were compact in defence, keeping the world no. 2 at bay.

But the Olympic silver medallists were no unrelenting. They kept on pressing and soon Nicolas de Kerpel disposed Spain and rain in with intent to pass the ball from the right flank to Dockier who in quick time controlled and hammered the ball inside the cage, putting Belgium ahead in the fourth minute. Despite an early lead, the Red Lions continued their aggression and kept their hunt for another goal before Spain got their act together. After struggling to clear the ball from their half, they finally pushed ahead with youngster Enrique Gonzalez at the centre, creating two chances to score.

They even won two penalty corners but the first one was easily blocked and they tried a variation with the second, looking from a deflection with a slider but Loick Luypaert blocked the move. Right after the start of second quarter, it started raining and suddenly the value of 1-0 lead by Belgium who topped pool A before losing to India the quarters, increased in case the conditions become difficult, as was the case on Friday when both Netherlands and Argentina recorded 1-0 victories each. But it wasn't as heavier, so the conditions didn't change dramatically. However, the first half ended with Belgium holding on to their lead.

Spain looked a lot better in the second half. They created more opportunities with Belgian goalkeeper making two good saves. However, the finishing wasn't up to the mark. There was a clear chance in the third quarter that went abegging. They had another chance in the final quarter when Alvaro Iglesias sent a cross from the backline but evaded a diving Gonzalez and Pau Quemada who were right in the front of the cage. They were playing without a goalkeeper in the final moments but failed to find the equaliser.

The Times of India

Superstitious Belgium players try sneaking into Kalinga Stadium at midnight


File image of Belgium hockey team. @Twitter: @BelgiumReds

Bhubaneswar: Call it a misadventure or superstition of the highest order!

There was a security scare at the ongoing Hockey World League (HWL) Final when some players of the Belgium team, their faces splashed with black war-paint, tried to sneak into the Kalinga Stadium at the dead of night and have a look at the two goalposts.

Reason: To ensure good luck for their fifth-sixth place classification match against Spain. The weird incident happened hours after the team's loss to hosts India in the quarterfinal.

Some 12-13 members of the Olympic silver medallist Belgium team scaled the boundary wall of the official hotel, Sandy's Tower, and walked a few kilometres (2.8km to be precise), trying to make a clandestine entry into t0 the stadium. However, all these did not yield the desired result as they were stopped by the security guard on duty who called the police immediately.

The Belgium players' move created a flutter among the security personnel and the local organising committee. Any untoward incident with the players could have brought a bad name to the organisers, who are also scheduled to host the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup next year.

The Belgian players, though, escaped without any punishment and returned to their hotel after being convinced by the security officials.

"It was a very silly incident but it was nonetheless a security breach of the highest order. 12 to 13 players of the Belgium team dodged security of their hotel and tried to enter the Kalinga Stadium at the dead of night with their faces painted. We were informed and an in no time we reached the stadium and took control of the situation," Satyabrata Bhoi, DCP, Bhubaneswar police, told PTI on Sunday.

"We requested them and managed to convince them to return to their team hotel. We escorted the players back to their hotel in our vans," he added.

A security personnel employed at the stadium later confirmed the incident.

"The players had black paints in their faces. It was as if they wanted to hide their identity. They tried to enter the stadium through the main entrance but we stopped them," he said.

Belgium skipper Thomas Briels admitted that they came to the stadium but it was just for fun.

"Yes, we ventured out of the hotel for a walk and in the process came to the stadium just for fun. It was not midnight as you guys are saying. The time was much before. There was no problem," said Briels, refusing to delve further into the subject.

The players' adventure seemed to have worked in their favour as they beat Spain 1-0 to finish fifth in the eight-nation tournament.

Sebastien Dockier scored the only goal of the match from a field effort in the fourth minute.

Firstpost

All-play-quarterfinal format is here to stay, says FIH

BHUBANESWAR: The International Hockey Federation's (FIH) all-play-quarterfinal format in eight-nation tournaments, including the ongoing Hockey World League (HWL) Final, might not have been liked by all the teams but the world body is in no mood to tweak it.

In fact FIH has hinted that the upcoming Hockey Series, a new two-level event starting next year, may be played in the same format.

The all-play-quarterfinal format existing in the FIH's four-tier HWL has come in for some criticism from a few teams which have failed to progress beyond the last-eight stage despite finishing on top in pool stages.

Olympic silver medallists and world no. 3 Belgium lost to India in the quarterfinals here despite maintaining an all-win record in the pool stages. But the FIH says that the all-play-quarterfinal format is here to stay as it keeps a tournament alive till the very end.

"I don't agree that the current (all-play-quarterfinal) format is flawed. There are some people who are criticising it but this format gives a level playing field to all teams. This format keeps all the teams in fray till the last day," FIH President Narinder Batra told PTI on the sidelines of the HWL Final.

"I agree we need to keep bringing in new innovations but I am a firm supporter of this format. Whoever has designed this format has to be commended," he said.

The existing all-play-quarterfinal format allows unfancied teams to qualify for the World Cup or Olympics like the Indian women's hockey team that benefitted from their fifth-place finish in World League Semifinal in 2015 and secured their ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The best thing about the format is that it allows all teams a second chance.

Both Olympic champions Argentina and India were unimpressive to say the least in their pool stages here but they came good in the quarter-finals to qualify for the last- four stage. In fact, the Los Leones went on to reach the title clash after eking out a close 1-0 win over the hosts in their semifinal yesterday.

The Indians, though, have another chance to finish on the podium as they play in the bronze medal match on Sunday.

The script was exactly the same for India in the last edition of the tournament in 2015.

In 2015 in Raipur, India had started off badly in the pool stages, losing to Argentina 0-3 in the first game, splitting points with Germany with a 1-1 draw in the second game before losing to the Netherlands 1-3 in the final league match. But the format allowed them to qualify for the quarter-finals, where they beat England 2-1.

Although their journey ended in the semi-finals against Belgium, India managed to win a bronze.

FIH CEO Jason McCracken agreed with his President and said that the world body doesn't have any plans to change the format.

"I think this format is absolutely right for the game as it keeps the tournament alive right to the very end. This format is in place for a long time and we are going to stick to it," McCraken told PTI.

"This format keeps all teams involved. I know some of the coaches don't like it but I say to those coaches that 'win all your games and you will win the gold'," he added.

Incidentally, FIH hasn't finalised the nitty-gritties of the Hockey Series yet and is contemplating whether to use the all-play-quarters format in the event.

The two-level Hockey Series (Hockey Series Open and Hockey Series Final) will be played by teams apart from the 18 nations (9 men and 9 women) who have confirmed for the ambitious Hockey Pro League to start in 2019.

The Hockey Series will also serve as qualifiers for World Cup and Olympics.

The Times of India

Rangers get PHL playoff mission back on track

By Karien Jonckheere


National squad team mates Shelley Jones and Lillian du Plessis battle for the ball. Photo by Marcel Sigg

The Cavemen, Dragons, Mambas and Bunters have all secured their spots in the semifinals of the Premier Hockey League. But it was the TopT Madikwe Rangers who were breathing some of the biggest sighs of relief after securing a crucial win over the Private Property St Lucia Lakers to keep their playoff hopes alive.

It certainly wasn’t a convincing victory – a 1-1 scoreline at the end of full time taking it to a shootout which they won 3-1 – but that didn’t bother coach Tsoanelo Pholo, whose team were simply after the three points.

“It was never going to be pretty, but we’re not here for pretty. We’re here for results,” said the relieved coach after the match.

“We had to score the one to equalise but there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to score today. And I think we have the best goalkeeper [Anelle van Deventer] at shootouts in the tournament. That’s one little trick we have in our arsenal. We don’t really want to use it all the time though, but three points is what we came here for and three points is what we got.”

The Rangers’ only other win of the PHL so far has also come from a shootout, and this time they had to do it without the services of the hugely experienced national player, Lisa-Marie Deetlefs, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a back injury.

“Those are huge shoes to fill but I think Kerry Pearton, who came through late last night as a replacement did a really good job. I’m really happy with how we could pull off what we needed to do,” added the coach.

There was also relief for the Kilimanjaro Addo Elephants. The 2016 runners-up have been struggling this year but managed to beat the Garden Route Gazelles 4-0 in their final group game to preserve their hopes of reaching the playoffs. Their progress will all depend on whether the Gazelles can pull off a colossal, bonus-point win against the Dragons on Sunday.

Meanwhile, former SA captain Austin Smith was starting to think he may be an unlucky charm for his ProGrip Drakensberg Dragons team. But that was all put right after his side handed the Mapungubwe Mambas their first defeat of the tournament. The Dragons’ 2-1 win also booked last year’s men’s wooden spoon winners an all-important semifinal spot with one match in hand.

“It’s great. I was a little bit worried because the guys did so well without me on the first weekend, getting two wins and then we lost last weekend. I was starting to worry that I was the common denominator but we did well today. It was tough but it’s really great to start the weekend off well.”

Smith scored from a penalty corner in the sixth minute to take the Dragons 1-0 up, but early in the second half Ross Gozalves found the equaliser for the Mambas, who were playing without ace goalkeeper Richard Curtis, Jarryd Jones and Rusten Abrahams, who have all been called up to the SA indoor hockey team. It was then Gareth Heynes who slotted in the winner for the Dragons, who have also lost SA player Jethro Eustice to the national indoor team.

“I thought our structure was better than theirs today,” explained Smith. “We created more circle opportunities than they did. We haven’t scored a field goal in the last two games so maybe that’s an area we can work on, but as long as we’re scoring and winning, we don’t really mind how it goes in.”

Later in the day, the Crossroads Maropeng Cavemen displayed their dominance once again in an impressive 6-2, bonus-point victory over the Old Mutual iWYZE Golden Gate Gladiators, who have now been ruled out of the playoffs after only managing one win so far and no more games to play.

Interestingly, the tournament’s top two goalscorers so far, Courtney Halle on five and Connor Beauchamp on four, are both from the Gladiators team, but they’ll play no further part in the 2017 PHL.

Eventual man of the match, Miguel da Graca, managed to hit the goalposts on four occasions before finally slotting one in to add to his team’s total and said afterwards: “I hit four on the bar and the fifth one finally went through the keeper’s legs. I thought if I go straight it’ll miss the posts so it was good to finally get one.”

The Cavemen were without their top scorer, Ricky West, who was nursing an injury, as well as captain and goalkeeper Rassie Pieterse, but still managed to dominate throughout the game and the result means the defending champions are now top of the log.

“It was a good win for the guys and it was one of those games where we needed the three points to make sure we secured the semifinal. That job was done today while resting some of our big guns. They’ve had a few injuries so they were rested today but they’ll be good to go from tomorrow,” explained Da Graca.

Later in the day, in a bottom-of-the-log battle between the Wineland Wings and the Orange River Rafters, it was the Wings who managed to secure their first win of the tournament with a 3-2 victory.

Results:

9 December 2017

ProGrip Drakensberg Dragons 2-1 Mapungubwe Mambas
TopT Madikwe Ranger 1-1 (3-1 SO) Private Property St Lucia Lakers
Crossroads Maropeng Cavemen 6-2 Old Mutual iWYZE Golden Gate Gladiators
Wineland Wings 3-2 Orange River Rafters
Kilimanjaro Addo Elephants 4-0 Garden Route Gazelles

Fixtures:

10 December 2017

8am: Private Property St Lucia Lakers v Wineland Wings
10am: Crossroads Maropeng Cavemen v Mapungubwe Mambas
12pm: Orange River Rafters v Tivoli Blyde River Bunters
2pm: ProGrip Drakensberg Dragons v Garden Route Gazelles
4pm: Old Mutual iWYZE Namaqualand Daisies v TopT Madikwe Rangers

SA Hockey Association media release

Hot Jaguars maul Simba in national league game

By BRIAN YONGA


Mike Malungu (left) of Western Jaguars celebrate a goal against Multimedia University with teammates during their play-off match at City Park Stadium on February 25, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Western Jaguars Saturday upset former champions Sikh Union Nairobi 3-0 in a Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League match at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.

Goals from Adan Ayuku, Kevin Machindi and Brian Onditi gave the visitors the crucial win in the top-flight encounter.

Importantly, the win saw the Kakamega-based side move further away from the relegation zone. Jaguars are now placed 11th with 24 points, four clear of the relegation zone.

A week after ending leaders Kenya Police’s unbeaten run in the league, Jaguars continue to hit form at the crucial time.

Optimistic

The results have left their Ken Ashimosi optimistic that they can finish in a respectable position.

“Two crucial wins and our safety in the league is almost guaranteed. We just need to continue with the same spirit in the coming matches,” the coach said.

Jaguars, who won a relegation play-off at the beginning of the season, have a chance to move into eighth place should they beat champions Strathmore University Sunday.

Bottom-placed Technical University of Kenya’s chances of remaining in the top flight remain slim as they drew 1-1 with the Gladiators in another men’s top-flight match at the same venue.

Festus Onyango fired the students ahead in the 18th minute but the debutantes hit back in the 28th minute through skipper Moses Obushuru’s field goal.

Daily Nation

TUK share spoils with Gladiators

By Elizabeth Mburugu

Technical University of Kenya (TUK) yesterday held champions Strathmore University Gladiators to a 1-1 draw in a Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier league match at City Park.

Captain Moses Obushuru scored the equaliser to pick a point for TUK, who have not impressed this season in the top tier.

The Gladiators took the lead through Festus Onyango, but once again failed to pick up as they settled for their fifth draw.

The stalemate saw them remain eleventh on the log.

Strathmore captain Francis Kariuki remained optimistic saying that they were still hopeful of finishing in the top ten.
ALSO READ: Hockey: Former champions crown weekend with double victory

“We are determined to finish in a top ten position but it all depends on what we do in our remaining matches. We played well today, but our finishing was blunt and we hope to work on that ahead of our remaining matches,” Kariuki said.

Strathmore settled into the match well and controlled the proceedings from the onset.

Onyango who is the top scorer looked determined to add to his tally leading Strathmore’s onslaught as they pushed for their opening goal.

However, relegation bound TUK were not ready to go down without a fight and they guarded their back line well often thwarting the opponent’s effort to breach their territory.

The Standard Online

Ageless ‘Chemo’ says current hockey players lack passion for the game

By BRIAN YONGA


Hellen Chemtai controls the ball during a past National Women league match against Vikings at City Park Stadium. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The game of hockey is one of the few sports where someone can play at the highest level past their 40s.

Do not, however, be fooled that it is easy.

It entails a high level of discipline, commitment and a lot of sacrifice. It’s along these lines that I was particularly interested in one Hellen “Chemo” Chemtai.

The 44-year-old former Kenyan sprinter and international hockey player has had a golden career spurning two decades.

Chemtai, who was raised in Maringo in Nairobi, performed exceptionally well in both sports. She was a star at Pangani Girls in 1988, where she represented the school in athletics, hockey, volleyball and netball.

She advanced her hockey career at Inter-Capitale Club between 1989 and 1999, then joined Blue Eaglets (2002-2012) before she later joined Telkom, where she won three league titles as well as two continental club titles.


Hellen Chemtai sprints away in celebration after scoring for Telkom Orange in the National Hockey League as Kenyatta University players protest in May, 2015, at the City Park Hockey Stadium. Orange won the match 6-0. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

She last featured for Telkom in the 2016 season. While playing for the national team, Chemtai amassed 50 caps and scored 20 goals.

As a sprinter, she represented Kenya in the 100, 200 and 400 metres, alongside the long jump and triple jump.

Her personal best times are 11.5 seconds in the 100m, 23.7 seconds in the 200m, and 53.8 seconds in the 400m.

Chemtai also managed 6.0 metres in the long jump and 12.32m in the triple jump.

She was also the national 100m and 200m champion for six consecutive years.

How come you’re not playing this season, did you hang your boots?

“No way, I have not quit hockey. I have just taken a break as I try to juggle in between work and also motherly duties. I hope to be back on the pitch sooner and running these young ones rugged,” she says.


Hellen Chemtai makes a point during the interview at City Park Stadium on November 27, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

“Chemo”, as she is fondly referred to, is popular at City Park Hockey Stadium, and our interview is constantly interrupted as she greets one player after the other.

Mind you, a number of them were not even born when she started playing hockey.

Her face becomes awash with emotion when talking about hockey, especially her first club Inter-Capitale which she joined while still a student at Pangani Girls in 1989.

“I miss Inter. We were like a family. We had a father (the late Tobias Oduor) and we were all like sisters,” she recalls with a forlorn nostalgic look.

Inter-Capitale were the ultimate

Inter-Capitale, or “Inter” as they were popularly known, were the pioneer women’s hockey club in the 80s when Oduor was at the helm. Then came Sliders, Postbank and Barclays. But Inter-Capitale were the ultimate.

Girls who had retire their sticks came out in droves.

Many alumna of such schools as Kenya High, Pangani Girls and Jamhuri High found reason to play again.

Chemtai, and other youthful players, presented the faces of the future.


Hellen Chemtai in action against Namibia during the 2008 Olympic qualifiers at the City Park Hockey Stadium in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Inter-Capitale came to be disbanded later after they failed to take part in an African Club Championship.

Though they were only banned for a year, the players’ passion for the game could not let themselves sit out for a year.

But her life in hockey has not been all smooth sailing.

Starting on a high note, without having to go through tedious training and trials to get a place in the national team, her best year was in 1992 when she captained the junior national team to the World Cup in Spain.

The media described her as a lethal weapon, her athleticism, unmistakably Kenyan, was a spectacle to watch at the junior event.

At only 20 years of age, and with the high level of play she displayed at City Park, the future of women’s hockey was in no doubt as a disciplined Kenya would excel.

“We beat Zimbabwe and Namibia at City Park. It was just amazing, people thought we could not do it, but we did,” says Chemtai.

She was the top scorer and the best player of the tournament. In Spain, they finished 10th out of the 14 teams, among them top nations like Spain and France.

It is in the same year that she was nominated for the Sportswoman of the Year award.

However, the then 10,000 metres star, Sally Barsosio, was at her best and Chemtai was more than happy to finish second to her.

“My first love was hockey, athletics a definite second,” she says.


Hellen Chemtai makes a point during the interview at City Park Stadium on November 27, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Chemtai only took up athletics seriously when she was working for Kenya Railways, where she took part in their in-house competitions.

But in 1992, she gave it a shot at the national trials and she qualified for the 1993 All-Africa Championships in Durban, South Africa, where she discovered her talent in the short distance races after reaching the semi-finals of the 100 and 200 metres.

Developing the women’s game

“I decided to give it more attention,” she says. But she was to be out in 1994, 1995 and part of 1996 when she gave birth to her two sons, Weber Otieno and Douglas Nyerere.

The women’s game then was then managed by the Kenya Ladies Hockey Association (KLHA) chaired by Oduor with June Moi as patron.

He and June founded the KLHA with an eye to developing the women’s game because they felt the Kenya Hockey Union was not paying it proper attention. The 1998 Africa Hockey Championships in Zimbabwe was particularly special for Chemtai.

“I was voted the Most Valuable Player. It caught me completely off guard, I thought, why me? The South Africans were there and according to me they were really good, no one could beat them,” she says.

Kenya had a good outing in Zimbabwe where they won the silver behind South Africa.

But this was a trip that was going to spark off one of the greatest rows of all time in the hockey fraternity. The row that finally led to the disbandment of KLHA.

Despite their excellent performance in Zimbabwe, it was a dissatisfying trip for the ladies. “We were treated badly, we were broke, we had no allowances and the food was pathetic. Some of us were starving,” recalls Chemtai, who skippered the side.


Hellen Chemtai makes a point during the interview at City Park Stadium on November 27, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

But what angered the captain is the way the officials handled the team to the point of being stranded at the airport in Harare because they could not raise the airport tax.

“To me this was utter mistreatment. Five of us did not have money to pay for airport tax. We were going to be stranded were it not for a fellow player who bailed us out,” said Chemtai.

On her return, she decided to air her dissatisfaction as a captain to the Kenya Hockey Union, then the umbrella body.

Nevertheless, she was handed a one-year ban.

Kicked out of best sport

“I was down, I was being kicked out of my best sport. But I did not think much about it, at least I had another alternative for that year,” she says.

For consolation, she turned to athletics and took part in the African Championship later that year. She made a comeback to hockey during the 1999 All Africa Games in South Africa after her ban was lifted

After a disappointing experience in South Africa, Chemtai turned to athletics full time. She started taking part in national championships but her sights were set on the Abuja 2003 All Africa Games.

More drama was to follow her on the track.

“I started my training in September 2002 and planned a whole year of training. I qualified for three events. I clocked 11.8 in the 100 metres, the qualifying time was 12.5 and ran 24 seconds in 200 metres whose qualifying time was 24.4 seconds,” says Chemtai.


Sprinter Hellen Chemtai (right) leads the 200 metres field during a past Athletics Kenya track and field meeting in Thika.

She also qualified for long jump after she jumped six metres. She left the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani a happy soul. A whole year in training had paid off.

But her happiness was short-lived as Athletics Kenya scrapped the sprints from their Abuja programme.

“It was another trying moment for me. My coach (John Anzrah) and I were devastated, we had wasted a whole year. I just stayed in the house, feeding on junk and crying myself to sleep,” she says.

It took the intervention of the then Sports Minister Najib Balala after an outcry from the media to have sprinters reinstated in the team the night before the Kenyan delegation left for Abuja. But despite having finally made the trip, it did not make things any better for Chemtai.

“In Abuja things got even worse, the coaches did not know me, I had not trained under them. They were looking at me, wondering what to do with me. AK sent me an ill-fitting kit and I ended up borrowing, but I managed to run my personal best of 11.7 in the 100 metres,” she says.

In honor of her friend

The event was won by a Nigerian with a time of 11.3, while she was knocked out of the long jump in the semi-finals. She did not take part in the 200 metres.

She made a return to the hockey and travelled with the team for the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad, India, and was voted the Most Valuable Player.

In 2014, Chemtai joined Telkom in honour of her friend and international teammate Betty Tioni, who died on February 13 that year after a short illness at a Nakuru hospital.

“She (Tioni) always wanted me to join her at Telkom while I played at Blue Eaglets and I decided to join the club in her honour,” she recalls. It was the second tragedy in her life, after losing her husband, three years earlier.

She was in imperious from at Telkom helping the team win both the league and continental club title in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe that same year.

She was the top scorer in the continental event with seven goals as the team won its seventh continental title.

She was again in top form in 2015 and 2016 as Telkom retained both the national and continental titles to underline their dominance.

Alongside Terry Juma and Jackline Mwangi, who were also in their 40s, she was getting better like good old wine.

The mother of four currently works at the Railways Training Institute but never misses matches at City Park.

She has a bone to pick with the current generation of players whom she says lack the passion for the sport.

“Today, players do not feel the value of playing for the national team, they show no respect to the coaches and think they have made it. They need to change their attitude or else the sport will go down the drain, She notes with concern.

Her first born, Douglas, has taken up the sport and currently plays for Premier League side Chase Sailors.

“I am his number one fan and I hope he will become even better than me in the sport,” she says.

Daily Nation

Pahang veterans edge Perak to retain crown

KUALA LUMPUR: Pahang have emerged champions for the second time in the men’s veterans’ hockey tournament.

The East Coast team edged Perak 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended goalless at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.

In the shootout, Pahang scored through Sunil Prasad, Ashri Muda and Khairul Hisham Adam while Kasevan Naidu and Badrulazam Talib netted for Perak.

Last year, Pahang finished joint champions with Terengganu.

“We’re lucky to have beaten Perak in the “lottery”. They were the better side but luck was with us this time,” said Pahang team manager Khairul Auda Mohamed after the win.

For Perak coach Saiful Azwan Ismail, it was another disappointment after losing to Negri Sembilan in the 2013 final.

“I was on the losing side in 2013 as a player. It turned out to be another disappointment this time as a coach. But that’s sports ... you win some you lose some,” said Saiful who credited Pahang for their success.

In the third place playoff, Terengganu edged Johor 1-0. Kamsani Jasmani’s 10th minute strike turned out to be the winner. Earlier in the semi-finals, Perak whipped Johor 5-0 while Pahang packed off Terengganu 3-0.

The Star of Malaysia