News for 06 April 2012
Friday, 06 April 2012 09:53 | 
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All the news for Friday 6 April 2012
Hockeyroos Go Down To USA In Tough Tussle
The USA proved a tough opponent defeating the Hockeyroos 1-0 in the first game of a three match series on the Sunshine Coast last night.
The visitors came out firing and were able to muscle an inexperiened Australian line up off the ball, with their defensive unit in super touch.
Hockeyroos Coach Adam Commens said he expected this group to play a lot better moving forward.
"They are inexperienced and haven't played a lot of hockey together but that's no excuse, our basics let us down tonight," he said.
The Hockeyroos had their chances and at times during the match their foward build up looked threatening, they just needed to maintain that intensity for the whole 70 minutes.
The Queenslanders in the group performed well in front of their home crowd with tonight's captain Teneal Attard outstanding.
Marnie Hudson, Jordyn Holzberger and Jill Dwyer all had solid patches throughout the match.
The determined USA outfit scored off a penalty corner strike in the first half through number 11 Shannon Taylor and were able to keep the Hockeyroos scoreless.
The Hockeyroos failed to force many penalty corners and the ones they did were well defended by USA keeper Jackie Kintzer.
The Australians almost equalised with 30 seconds to go but Kintzer made an outstanding save and the Hockeyroos were unable to convert a short corner after the whistle.
Former Australian Olympic hockey player Lee Bodimeade said it was interesting to coach against his home country.
"I think we are off to a good start but I still think we've got a lot to work on, I think we could have wrapped the match up in the first half,'' he said.
The Hockeyroos will make around three changes for their second match that hits off on Saturday at 6pm.
Both weekend matches will be streamed live via the Hockey Australia website and on the Hockeyroos Facebook page.
Goals: Shannon Taylor USA, PC, 8 Minute Mark
Hockey Australia media release
International Hockey Round-up
A glimpse of test series around the globe
Action from a previous meeting between USA and Australia (Photo: FIH / USFHA / Wally Nell)
The main hockey show will be in Europe with the Euro Hockey League kicking into high gear for the men over the Easter weekend. The women in Europe will also be busy with the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup. Outside of Europe there is a bevy of international series either underway or about to begin.
The Australian women’s national team is looking for a good showing against a confident USA team in a three-game series on the Sunshine Coast starting today, as a key part of their London Olympic preparation.
The USA national team is considered a tough opponent and has proved this, defeating world number two Argentina, to qualify for the London Games.
All games will be streamed live through this link:
Game Times:
Thursday April 5 @ 6pm (local time) Australia vs.USA
Saturday April 7@ 6pm (local time) Australia vs.USA
Sunday April 8 @ 4pm. (local time) Australia vs.USA
The New Zealand women will piggy back on the three-game series between the U.S. and Australia. The Black Sticks will play against Australia, United States and India in a double-leg Four Nations starting next Thursday. From April 12-16, the teams will play at North Harbour Hockey Stadium and then the same teams play again from April 18-22 at Lloyd Elsmore Stadium in Pakuranga. This is the last time the Black Sticks Women's team will play at home before they travel off-shore in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.
On the men’s side, Australia continues to roll through its pre-Olympic competition. This time Japan was the victim, losing all three games of the series against 3-1, 3-0 and 7-1. This comes after Australia completed a clean sweep of Japan in March.
The Argentina and Belgium men have played the first two of their three test games, with Belgium winning both games, 3-1 and 4-2. The last game of that series is scheduled for Friday.
Ireland's senior men's squad will travel with a squad of 20 to Mannheim Hockey Club in Germany for three back to back matches against the world's number 2's, Germany. The squad will fly out on Sunday 8th April into Frankfurt and play in three back to back matches before flying home on the 11th April.
April 9: Ireland versus Germany (senior) - 15h00
April 10: Ireland versus Germany U21 - 15h00
April 11: Ireland versus German (senior) - 14h00
FIH site
England's finest in European action this weekend
England's best mens and womens teams are in action in Europe this weekend. It's the Euro Hockey League KO16 in Rotterdam and round one of the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup.
Euro Hockey League - KO16 Preview
KO16 is the jewel in the crown of the Euro Hockey League, being an event that witnesses sixteen of the finest club teams in Europe going head-to-head in knock-out action. In action for England are Beeston, East Grinstead and Reading.
By the end of the four day event only 4 teams will remain, forming the line-up for May's grand finale: EHL Final Four.
Beeston HC v Club De Campo De Madrid
Friday 6th April 09:30
The opening match will see Beeston facing last year's silver medalists and Spanish runners-up Club de Campo de Madrid.
Beeston finished first in Pool C in KO32 after defeating RC de Polo de Barcelona and KS Pomorzanin Torun from Poland.
David Ames, Beeston in the Euro Hockey League
For the full match preview please click here.
East Grinstead HC v CA Montrouge
Saturday 7th April 09:30
Saturday morning in Rotterdam begins with East Grinstead facing French Champions CA Montouge, a team that have reached the Knock-out phase for the first time.
East Grinstead will have a full strength team out in the Netherlands and are favoured against the French side to reach the KO8.
East Grinstead in action at the Euro Hockey League 2011
For the full match preview please click here.
Club an der Alster v Reading HC
Saturday 7th April 17:00
The final match of the KO16 phase will be played between German Champions Club an der Alster and Reading, who claimed the bronze medal in last year's Euro Hockey League competition.
This is Reading's fifth consecutive EHL tournament.
Simon Mantell Reading Euro Hockey League
For the full match preview please click here.
EuroHockey Club Champions Cup round one.
Also over this Easter Weekend, Reading and Leicester women's teams travel to Europe for round one of the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup.
Leicester traveled to San Sebastian to face off against Germany’s Uhlenhorster and SHVSM Izmaylovo of Russia while in Brussels, Reading’s women went head-to-head with Klipper T&HC of Germany and host club Royal Wellington from Belgium for a place in final round.
Match Schedule - Leicester
Friday 6th April, Round 1
12:00 Uhlenhorster HC v Leicester HC
Sunday 8th April,Round 1
12:00 Leicester HC v SHVSM Izmaylovo
Match Schedule - Reading
Friday 6th April, Round 1
15.00 Reading HC v Royal Wellington HC
Sunday 8th April, Round 1
12.30 Reading HC v Klipper T&HC
Click here to see the full match schedule.
England Hockey Board Media release
Sanani on the Games
By Kate Nokwe.
The Olympic Games in London get ever closer and one person who knows this better than most is Sanani Mangisa
She’s goalkeeper to the recently qualified South African women’s hockey team, or if you’ve been hanging out with the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula lately, then it’s ‘The Smoothies’.
Back in February, I attended the South African Hockey Association team announcement press conference and a confident Mangisa was in attendance.
This is why I couldn’t wait to chat to her on their return from India after the Olympic qualifying competition, gold medal and all. So what exactly were you banking on?, I asked.
“The build-up to the tournament was a confidence booster. We played the likes of Spain and Belgium successfully. We were prepared. Our coaches, video guys were working around the clock to ensure we were ready.”
Yeah, but that’s not a guarantee, I ventured.
“We were ready. We had experience; going to India we had over 200 caps to our names. We were focused and we knew what this meant: London or nothing. We wanted the London aspect.”
Though still on cloud-nine, the short-stopper admits accepting the qualifying standards from South African sport’s governing body SASCOC was a challenge, but once they accepted it there was no going back, just a mind-set of growth that carried them to the coveted podium in India.
“Going to London we knew what we needed to do. We had to accept the criteria, see it as just that – a criteria we can live up to, and once we did (accept) that, there was no stopping us, and no one stopped us”.
I bring up the painful memory of Beijing, as a much younger Mangisa proudly donned the green and gold colours. Fast forward four year later and this mature “Smoothie” is slightly pleased with SASCOC’s qualifying demands as they attest to the growth of the team and “have prepared us for the tough competition awaiting us in London”, she tells me.
“We are stronger. We used to play just a few tests in months, now we play something close to 30 in the same space of time, which has been the vital key to our preparations. We have more experience and some of our key players’ play for top clubs in Europe”
While Holland, China and Argentina walked away with the biggest accolades from 2008, four years later the Eastern Cape born player reckons there are other teams to watch out for, like Great Britain, who have a home advantage. She’s quick to point out, that ranking don’t matter that much at games such as these, but does determine pools.
And although the Smoothies will do ‘better’ than 2008, Mangisa estimates a top six finish will be “realistic”, considering where “we come from”.
Let’s face it – unless you’re playing rugby, cricket or soccer the support system from the South African family is not that great. But the 24-year-old tells me the media coverage has stepped up and the use of social media has increased their support base. And with a new Team South Africa mascot in the mix and announced this week, things can only get better.
Follow Sananai’s Road to London on Twitter @ladysans
SASCOC Road to London
Bad news for junior squad
By Jugjet Singh
THE Project 2013's quest to qualify for the New Delhi Junior World Cup next year just became a notch harder as only two berths will be made available in the Malacca Junior Asia Cup on May 3-13.
Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) secretary general Tan Sri P. Alagendra, who was in Barcelona for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Executive Board meeting over the weekend, came back with this piece of bad news.
"We discussed the matter in Barcelona and FIH has provisionally agreed to only two teams from the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca qualifying for the World Cup as only nine teams are registered for the tournament.
"However, FIH might review that quota after looking at other continental qualifiers at a later date," said Alagendra.
India, as hosts, have already qualified and are in Group B with Pakistan, China and Bangladesh of the Junior Asia Cup.
Malaysia are in Group A with South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Iran.
"Thailand's withdrawal and Singapore's inability to field a team has prompted FIH to come to that decision.
"However, the AHF is still in discussion with Singapore, and have appealed to them to field a side and make it into a 10-team tournament," said Alagendra.
New Straits Times
Project 2013 squad to drop 10 players after friendlies with Pakistan
By S. RAMAGURU
KUALA LUMPUR: The Project 2013 team hope to drop 10 players from their 31-man squad by the time they have played all three friendlies against Pakistan.
The friendlies will begin today and end on Monday.
The Project squad are preparing for the Junior Asia Cup, which will be held in Malacca from May 3-13.
Apart from the friendlies against Pakistan, the Project squad also have another four matches lined up against South Korea from April 14-18 and two more against the Australian Country team on April 24 and 27.
All the matches will be held at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
“We have 31 players now ... we hope to drop 10 by the time we start against South Korea on April 14. The selection process is a straightforward exercise and we intend to give the fringe players more playing time so that the best is selected,” said Project squad coach K. Dharmaraj.
He also pointed out that 12 players, especially those who have trained with the senior team, are assured of their places in the Project squad.
“Basically, we are looking at about six more players from the remaining trainees.
“A lot of the fringe players will be given more playing time in the match against Pakistan.
“It is for them to put up a good showing,” he said.
“There are five goalkeepers in the team and it is likely that we will pick three for the matches against the Koreans and Australians.”
Pakistan and South Korea will be here with the teams that will feature in the Junior Asia Cup.
In Malacca, Malaysia are in Group A with South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Iran while Group B comprises India, Pakistan, China and Bangladesh.
The top four teams from the Junior Asia Cup will make the cut for the 2013 Junior World Cup.
The training squad
Shahrul Azaddin Auskarzie, Mohd Hafizuddin Othman, Mohd Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri, Mohd Noor Faeez Ibrahim, Benney Angkara, Dedy Aryadi Jumaidi, Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof, Mohd Azri Hassan, Mohd Fariq Saadon, Mohd Aslam Hanafiah, Shahrul Imran Nazli, Mohd Ramadan Rosli, Mohd Rashid Baharom, Shazril Irwan Nazli, G. Kavin Kartik, Mohd Hafiq Zainon, Nor Hizzat Sumantri, Mohd Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin, Mohd Zulhairi Hashim, Mohd Fitri Saari, Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam, Dick Cheny, Faiz Helmi Jalil, Mohd Shahril Saabah, Amir Farid Ahmad Fuzi, Firhan Ashari, Faizal Saari, Mohd Haziq Samsul, Mohd Fitri Ismail, Mohd Azrul Hasbullah, Harmeet Singh.
The Star of Malaysia
Aussie coach for Malaysia?
It is reliably learnt that Malaysia is looking down under for a coach to chart it's fortunes for the next four years.
This blog has come to understand that an approach has been made to one coach who will be available post London Olympics and discussions are currently at its final stages.
Meanwhile the task of making it to the Junior World Cup next year has been made tougher as the International Hockey Federation has only allocated two places, minus India who qualify as hosts.
This decision was made at the FIH Executive Board Meeting in Barcelona last weekend and from the nine teams that will participate in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca commencing May 3, only two will make it to India.
Ironically the decision of FIH was made due to the fact that Singapore had withdrawn and for a nine team competition only two places were allocated.
And what makes it more bitter is that Singapore, who has more officials at the international scene than Malaysia, had participated in the Olympic Qualifiers in India.
The Asian Hockey Federation must shoulder the blame for this as it choses to organize two tournaments so close to each other , the AHF Cup in Bangkok and the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca.
And countries such as Singapore opt for the AHF Cup knowing very well that they do not stand a ghost of a chance in Malacca.
But funny though they did not have that notion when they opted to play at the Olympic Qualifiers.
Malaysian Hockey blogspot
Shahbaz Senior blames PHF for hockey disaster
By Mohsin Ali
ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan hockey captain and legend Shahbaz Senior criticized the working of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and blamed them for the worst-ever decline of hockey in country.
Talking to TheNation exclusively on Thursday, Shahbaz said that the present set up of PHF was busy in promoting the politics not the game. "Since the arrival of Qasim Zia and Asif Bajwa the national game had gone from bad to worse and even their so-called hero Dutch coach also refused to work with them and left the team just months before the Olympics due to their political attitudes."
“The refusal of Indian hockey team to visit Pakistan was another blunder of the present set up, as Indian Hockey Federation (FIH) had never confirmed their visit, with one condition if their government allowed them then they were ready to travel to Pakistan. Asif Bajwa announced the three-nation tournament without getting the final approval from India or even Malaysia,” he added.
Shahbaz was of the view that the PHF should realize that there were no cricketing ties between the arch-rivals while our cricketers were also deprived taking part in IPL, so how could they send their hockey team under these circumstances.
The 10-time world's best hockey player of the year and 1994 World Cup winning captain Shahbaz has lauded the world hockey series recently held in India and said that Pakistani players participated in the event got financial as well as advertisement benefits and they took right decision by participating in the WSH even though it was not recognised by the FIH. Shahbaz claimed that Pakistani players participated in world hockey series with the prior permission of the PHF. "I can bet all these players would also play in the Olympics," he asserted.
The living legend was of view that the PHF making statements against these players just to please the FIH. "After issuing them (players) the warning notices, the hockey federation would induct these players in the team for the Olympics 2012," he maintained.
The former captain also came hard on the recent appointment of Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool as a head coach of the team. "Rasool was convicted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for attack on the Supreme Court so he is not eligible for any post, he said and asked: “What kind of impression a convicted guy would make on the players.”
The Nation
Sidelined Jugraj seeks reasons for expulsion
Harpreet Kaur Lamba
During India’s Olympic qualifying tournament in New Delhi earlier this year, drag-flicker Sandeep Singh would often look up at one particular section of the stand before taking a penalty corner. His mentor and team penalty corner coach Jugraj Singh would instruct the 25-year old from there, as India made their way into the London Games riding on Sandeep’s whopping 16 goals.
The drag-flicker credited his success to Jugraj’s hard work and inputs, but with four months to go for the Games, there is no place for the latter in the coaching staff.
Three weeks after the Indian team began training in Bengaluru, Jugraj is “wondering about the reasons for being sidelined”. Further, he has been ignored for the rewards promised to the support staff of the qualifiers.
“I think my biggest mistake is that I produced results!” Jugraj said sarcastically, when asked why he had been overlooked.
“I am waiting to know the explanation myself. I have worked with the team day in and day out for the last three years. There have been times when I have worked even 17-18 hours focusing on every aspect of these players. Is this the reward for all the hard work? There is no respect, nor even the promised money.
“Today, the federation secretary does not even take my calls. I would have accepted it quietly if I had not delivered, but if everyone, including the federation, acknowledged my hard work after the qualifiers. So what has gone wrong now?”
Though players refused to comment on the matter, there are murmurs that coach Michael Nobbs had expressed his displeasure with Jugraj’s “manner of handling things”.
“Jugraj is a man of principle, who does not tolerate wrong things. His work ethic is the same, be it for juniors or seniors. For some, it can be a problem,” says a player.
When asked, Hockey India secretary Narinder Batra said Jugraj’s services were no longer required.
“The coach and the drag-flickers conveyed to me that Jugraj had nothing new to teach them, and hence we put him with the junior boys, but he refused.
“He cannot dictate terms to us,” Batra said.
On his part, Jugraj said “there was still work to do with the seniors”.
“There is a procedure to do things. You cannot shift coaches arbitrarily and without taking them into confidence first. What happens to my four-month plan for the drag-flicker for the London Games then?
“And if I was appointed for the juniors, why do I read about it in the paper and not hear from the federation,” the former international asked.
The Asian Age
Ignored Jugraj feels hurt
Principal Correspondent
Jugraj Singh, who was the drag-flick coach of the Indian hockey team that won the ticket to the London Olympics, is upset with the way he has been treated after the country's success in the Olympic qualifier.
Jugraj, who trained the penalty corner experts in the preparatory camp for the qualification event, was sidelined when the senior team's camp resumed in Bangalore in March.
“Hockey India (HI) told me to coach the junior team.
“But I have worked hard for the senior side and the team did well in the qualifier due to its good short-corner conversion rate. I would have liked to help the side get better in the Olympic year,” Jugraj said on Thursday.
No clarity
Jugraj, who had worked under Jose Brasa and Michael Nobbs, claimed that there was no clarity from HI on why he was being asked to take over as the juniors' coach.
“It was the coach (Nobbs) who told me that I should train the juniors,” he said.
Jugraj also complained that he had not received the incentive award declared by HI for the coaching staff of the Olympic qualifier winning team.
HI had announced a cash award of Rs 1 lakh each for every player and Rs 50,000 each for every member of the coaching staff.
HI secretary-general Narinder Batra clarified the federation's stand.
“The incentive awards were meant for the players and the coaching staff.
“Formally, Jugraj was not part of the coaching team. However, we got him the cash award from Sahara.”
Asked why Jugraj was not considered for the National camp, Batra said, “We took the decision after having discussions with the coach and the players. Drag-flick is a limited art and he had nothing more to teach. We asked him to coach the junior side, but he declined.”
The Hindu
Many positives from new tournament
Sandip G
CHENNAI: By no barometer was the World Series Hockey a runaway blockbuster with spectators teeming in to behold high-quality action. To no extend was it a path-breaker, for similar, if not better-rated hockey leagues had floundered by the wayside. But few would argue its restorative effect on the national sport, so much so that there were clear enough indications that the sport is quite alive in the country.
To start with, that the tournament kicked off despite restraints imposed by the Hockey India and Federation of International Hockey is a credit in itself. Though it deprived the best active players of hockey from the league, at least the Indian ones, things could be better next year.
Most of the players abstained from the league, as they feared prohibition from the Olympics this year. But from next year, it would be more flexible, and even if it might invoke the governing body’s wrath, they would care less for the money involved in the league is unimaginable.
And if the better players enter the league, rest assured that the quality will enhance and so will the crowd.
This year’s field mostly comprised an ensemble of retired legends, semi-retired players, discards and fringe players.
Hence, the quality wasn’t of the highest order. But the competence levels were good, and the championship succeeded to sustain the sort of suspense and close- foughted ness that makes any league worth watching.
The semifinalists weren’t quarantined until the last group match and there were upsets all the way, none as memorable as Pune Strykers’ coup of Chandigarh Comets in the second semifinal.
Majority of the overseas players disappointed, except for the Pakistanis. A handful of local players took this as the launchpad to national reckoning.
For example, Pune Strykers’ drag-flicker Gurpreet Singh, who has buckled 12 goals.
Or their goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Guri. Chennai Cheetahs’ custodian, Chintakunta Santosh Kumar, too justified his immense potential with a string of breathtaking saves.
The crowd response was mixed. Whereas it drew decent support in cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Bhopal, the response was cold in Delhi and surprisingly in Jalandhar. The tickets, many complained, were pricey.
However, the TRP ratings, according to organisers has pipped English Premier League’ s ratings. But there are aspects that warrant tinkering, such as the scheduling.
Though teams did well to not crib, the rigours of back-to- back matches had disadvantaged most teams.
What the Papers Say Today - Stick2Hockey.com
Hockey legends make London tube station list
MUMBAI: Dhyan Chand passed away in 1979. Thirty-three years have flown by since then, and the Indian government is still not sure if hockey's greatest player ever deserves a Bharat Ratna.
His younger brother, Roop Singh - also a part of the same all-conquering Indian hockey side of the 1930s - died two years earlier than him, in 1977. Very few in India are even aware of him. The Germans, though, named a street after the famed inside-left for his mesmerizing play in the historic 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
Leslie Walter Claudius is another hockey legend who helped India win gold thrice. But he too quickly faded into oblivion; the 85-year-old is currently ailing in Kolkata.
The three pioneering sportsmen might never get due recognition in India; but thousands of miles away, in London, they will be treated as first among the very best that world sport has ever seen.
Their names will ring in London, along with 358 other past and present Olympic heroes, as the Games organizers have managed to rename all the tube stations in London after them in the run-up to the Games, starting on July 27. The Transport for London has brought out a special 'Olympic Legends Map', detailing all 361 tube stations. Only six stops have been named after hockey players, with the three Indians - Dhyan Chand, Roop Singh and Leslie Claudius - cornering the majority.
The other three are Stephan Veen (from The Netherlands), Carsten Fischer (from Germany) and Rechelle Hawkes (former Australian women's hockey player). While Watford Junction has been renamed after Dhyan Chand, Watford High Street has been rechristened after Roop Singh, and Bushey after Claudius.
"It's great news for Indian hockey. Hockey legends have no value in our country. So it's indeed heartening. Our gold at the 1948 London Games was like a revival for Indian hockey, for it came after a 12-year gap. We went on to win four more gold after that," Ashok Kumar, Dhyan Chand's son, told TOI from Bhopal.
Ashok Kumar, who was part of the World Cup-winning side in 1975, felt his father would have been happier had he been accorded such recognition when he was alive. "He became more famous after his death. But then, that's the way it is in this country," he added.
Claudius, the only living star among the three, was also excited. "Kab se rah dekh rahe the... Bachpan mein nahin aya, budhape mein kuch khusi mili (I have been waiting for so long... Didn't get it in youth, have something to smile about at this age)," the octogenarian said from his home in Kolkata.
The names in the list include swimming star Michael Phelps, boxer Muhammad Ali, tennis ace Rafael Nadal, athletes Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis, basketball greats Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, and gymnast Nadia Comaneci. The list was drawn by sports writer Alex Trickett and sports historian David Brooks.
What the Papers Say Today - Stick2Hockey.com
Magnolias, Dame top Easter Youth hockey
Shandy Carib Magnolias (women) and Notre Dame (men) were crowned champions of the T&T Hockey Board Easter Youth Hockey Tournament Under-21 Division at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua on Friday. In the Under-21 women, Magnolias led by the tournament’s “Best Attacker”, Most Goals” and “Most Valuable Player” awardee Brianna Govia took top honours ahead of rival Paragon while Ventures was third. The Dames inspired by the performance of “Best Defender” and “Most Valuable Player” awards recipient Shaquille Daniel emerged champions in the Under-21 men ahead of Petrotrin and Queen’s Park.
T&THB Easter Youth Tournament Results
Under-13 Division
Mixed: 1. Futuristik Tigers; 2. Futuristik Bears; 3. Atwells.
Individual awards
Best Attacker: Kyano Brathwaite
Best Defender: Samantha Olton
Most Promising: Jeremy Nieves
Most Goals: Michael Gonsales
Girls: 1. Arima Centenary; 2. Malvern; 3. Sangre Grande SDA
Individual awards
Best Attacker: Shaniah Trotman
Best Defender: Tiwana Hosford
Most Promising: Maya Mitchell
Most Goals:Shaniah Trotman
Boys: 1. South East PoS; 2. Malvern; 3. Guaico
Individual awards
Best Attacker: Teague Marcano
Best Defender: Kylon Skerrette
Most Promising: Kylon Nicholas
Most Goals: Teague Marcano
Under-15 Division
Girls: 1. Malvern; 2. Futuristik; 3. HNC Paradise
Individual awards
Best Attacker: Brianna Govia
Best Defender: Chantal Williams
Best Goalkeeper: Nathanya Powder
Most Promising: Daniella Cabralis
Most Goals: Brianna Govia
Most Valuable Player: Chantal Williams
Boys: 1. Malvern; 2. HNC Paradise; 3. Fatima
Individual awards
Best Attacker: Teague Marcano
Best Defender: Christian Emmanuel
Best Goalkeeper: Jadel Lewis
Most Promising: Marcus Pascal
Most Goals: Teague Marcano
Most Valuable Player: Teague Marcano
Under-21 Division
Girls: 1. SC Magnolias; 2. Paragon; 3. Ventures
Individual awards
Best Attacker: Brianna Govia
Best Defender: Kentura John-Baptiste
Best Goalkeeper: Aresia Sandy
Most Promising: Daniella Cabralis
Most Goals: Brianna Govia
Most Valuable Player: Brianna Govia
Boys: 1. Notre Dame; 2. Petrotrin; 3. Queen’s Park
Individual awards
Best Attacker: Tariq Marcano
Best Defender: Shaquille Daniel
Best Goalkeeper Gerard Joseph
Most Promising: Justin Beharry
Most Goals: Teage Marcano/Tariq Marcano
Most Valuable Player: Shaquille Daniel
The Trinidad Guardian
Shiaz Virjee joins Field Hockey Canada to drive Centres of Excellence
Field Hockey Canada’s Centres of Excellence (COE) are a key component in the overall Talent Development Program. FHC is pleased to announce Shiaz Virjee as the new Program Manager, Centres of Excellence to lead the implementation and development of the overall program.
“Shiaz is one of our highest qualified, most experienced and successful coaches, who brings with him a deep knowledge of our field hockey environment and strong relationships in the Canadian and global community,” says Alan Brahmst, Director of National Teams and Performance Strategy. “Shiaz has the right combination of business and sport acumen to translate our strategy into a successful operating model which will pay dividends for our athletes and our high performance programs.”
No stranger to FHC, Shiaz was the Head Coach of the Men’s National Team from 1993 to 2000, leading Canada to its best finish of 8th place at the 1998 World Cup and 10th place at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. As an International Hockey Federation High Performance Coach, Shiaz has conducted coaching courses across the globe.
“I have gained considerable insight into various athlete development models,” says Shiaz. “I am excited to be a part of a team that is striving to build a world-class athlete development system in Canada.”
In his new role, Shiaz will be focused on the implementation of a pilot program this spring in FHC’s four initial COE. Beyond his immediate focus, Shiaz will be responsible to extend our strategy to establish a sustainable, world-class talent development program, which will be closely tied to the overall athlete and coaching pathways.
“In Canada, we have a large pool of talented field hockey athletes that need quality coaching and mentoring to make the transition to high performance teams,” says Shiaz. “With a strong team of coaches and sport science experts, we will implement an innovative and systematic approach, including the Centres of Excellence, to enable athletes to develop into world-class athletes.”
Stay tuned for more information about the Centres of Excellence. More to come this month.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Lucas Piccioli to leave Irish Hockey
Lucas Piccioli, Irish hockey's Eastern Development Officer, has today announced that he will be resigning from his post after four and a half years. Lucas who moved with his family from Venezuela to Ireland a number of years ago will be sorely missed by the association.
Commenting on the news IHA Chief Executive Angus Kirkland said Lucas has been a very valuable employee of the Irish Hockey Association. Lucas has worked tirelessly in developing the sport at the grassroots level in the Leinster and South East region achieving some notable results. Lucas will be missed by all who have had the pleasure to work with him and we wish him well in his future career.
Under his tenure as a Development Officer, Lucas actively helped and supported the creation of five new underage club structures within Leinster and the Southeast. Today those five structures cater for 516 players. The girls' participation numbers are growing in a steady fashion in Leinster going from an increase of nearly 6% between 2009 and 2010 to almost 14% between 2010 and 2011. On the boys' club side, alarm bells went off in 2010 when a decrease of almost 12% was reflected in the annual club survey, however, that trend was dramatically turned around in 2011 when the boys' numbers increased to reflect a growth of almost 13% (the highest number ever tracked since the participation survey started in 2009).
Lucas was also responsible for establishing the Transition Year Programme and the Youth Leader Programme in Leinster which has seen more than 350 boys and girls go through these programmes.
Fiona Mills, Strategic Development Director, was also keen to recognise the contribution Lucas had made saying Lucas has been a real asset to the IHA throughout his 4 years and will most definitely be missed. As the first Regional Development Officer appointed for Leinster, Lucas very much made the role his own, building a close working relationship with the clubs and branches. The growth in boys' and girls' hockey during his tenure is testament to his hard work and dedication to hockey in Leinster. I would like to wish Lucas and his family the very best of luck for the future.
All in Irish Hockey will miss Lucas and would like to wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavours.
Irish Hockey Association media release