News for 06 July 2012
Friday, 06 July 2012 09:51 | 
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All the news for Friday 6 July 2012
Olympic champs Holland turn it up against SA hockey women
JONATHAN COOK in Arnhem, Holland
The South Africa women’s hockey team were 1-0 down at half-time Thursday against reigning Olympic champs Holland in the first of two unofficial Test matches at Club Upward before the Dutch cranked up the pressure after the changeover with four field goals in the last 13 minutes to ensure a 5-0 victory.
Two superb saves by 21-year-old Dutch keeper Joyce Sombroek from world record goalscorer Pietie Coetzee, plus another off a sweetly-timed Kathleen Taylor reverse-stick shot, denied SA in the opening half. Dutch drag-flick ace Maartje Paumen had made no mistake with a disputed ninth-minute PC high to keeper Mariette Rix’s glove side.
Maartje Goderie slapped the ball first-time for 2-0 with 13 minutes left in the match before SA broke out and Coetzee won a second PC but her flick was saved by Sombroek.
With 10 left Boksburg-born Marilyn Agliotti who played for SA alongside Coetzee at Sydney 2000 before winning gold with Holland at Beijing 2008, made it 3-0 with deft stickwork down the left channel. With four left Kitty van Male found space to slap in for 4-0 before determined Dirkie Chamberlain earned SA’s third PC and Sombroek again saved from Coetzee. With seconds left Goderie showed deft touches in the left channel to set up Kelly Jonker for 5-0.
SA central defender Kate Woods and attacking midfielder Shelley Russell have been excused due to a family wedding and will join the tour for the first Great Britain match on Monday, while striker Jen Wilson (slight thigh strain) was rested as a precaution. Striker Lauren Penny returned after injury.
The Holland also rested big players in forward Kim Lammers, midfield ace Naomi van As and Eva de Goede.
SA had the match’s first opportunity in the fifth minute when Chamberlain turned over Dutch ball midway between the halfway and attacking 23-metre area, and Marsha Marescia quickly released Coetzee. From the subsequent play Kathleen Taylor was given space to unleash a reverse-stick shot that Sombroek brilliantly stick-saved diving to her right.
A sweeping SA movement down the right saw Lesle-Ann George earn SA’s first PC in the 22nd minute – Lisa Deetlefs injected, Lenise Marais trapped and Coetzee’s low flick brought another top-class stick save by Sombroek to her right.
Holland’s The PC count went to seven by half-time, a worry for SA, but a number were hotly disputed by the defenders.
While the Dutch PC count dried up, the second half was emphatically Holland’s; Lidewij van Welten’s reverse-stick effort high into the side-netting four minutes after the changeover following intricate touch passing in the left corner signalling the intent of the world’s top-ranked team, in their first match following the announcement of the Olympic team.
Rix saved and cleared half-a-dozen times, as did Sombroek on occasion as the heavens opened on a humid day.
SA defended tenaciously under enormous pressure with George making a noteworthy clearance or two close to the goalline as Marescia’s team fought to stay in the game during the prolonged period of Dutch dominance.
The second match is at 11 am Friday.
SA Hockey Association media release
SA women’s hockey coach looking at key areas against Holland today
JONATHAN COOK in Arnhem, Holland
SA head coach Giles Bonnet is looking for performance in specific areas when captain Marsha Marescia’s girls in green and gold take on Beijing 2008 Olympic Games champs Holland in an unofficial Test match in Arnhem at 4 pm (SA time) Thursday.
“I want to see the girls compete in speed against the world’s top-ranked team, their ability to adapt to on-field developments and how each player performs against the world’s top-ranked team,” said Bonnet.
“And we can test a few ideas that we won’t show at the Four Nations in Bremen [Germany] where we play London [2012 Olympic Games Pool B] opponents Germany and New Zealand.”
World number 12 SA are on a busy 12-day tour that also includes two unofficial Test matches against Great Britain and a Test match against Olympic Games Pool A team Belgium, as well as a heavy training schedule.
The final match against Holland is at 11 am (SA time) Friday before the team heads to London.
SA Hockey Association media release
We are on a learning path: McDade
By PJ VAN ROOYEN in Dublin
Striker Thornton McDade admitted on Thursday that the SA men's hockey team had not produced their best overall performance the previous night when they drew 3-3 in their one-off Test against Ireland in Dublin.
McDade, however, felt the side had come a long way in their final build-up to the London Olympics.
"We are very much on a learning path at the moment," McDade said.
"We are learning a lot every game and we are making it really specific to where we want to go."
After taking the lead early on, South Africa twice had to come from a goal down to level matters by full time.
"It's really frustrating to work that hard to get the 2-2 draw and then to concede a pretty soft goal," McDade said.
"All along the guys mentioned that there was lots of time, knowing that it doesn't take long to score a goal in hockey.
"We could always get back into the game and I don't think the belief ever ended that we could even win that game."
Wednesday's Test, the last match of South Africa's tour of Ireland, was played largely between the two attacking areas with both sides struggling to apply the final touch to take control of the game.
McDade scored the vital equaliser 40 seconds from time when he drilled a low shot into the bottom of the goal past Irish keeper David Harte.
"I had missed a few shots in the course of the Belgium and Scotland games and had worked hard on my mental preparation leading up to Wednesday's game," McDade said.
"I was relaxed and in the moment, to make sure that the first touch was good, and then instinct takes over in terms of the shooting skill. I just needed that to find the target."
The South Africans travel to Santander, Spain, on Friday where they will play the hosts and India on a blue astro turf, identical to the surface at the London Olympics.
Courtesy of the South African Press Association (SAPA)
SA Hockey Association media release
SA hockey men lack consistency
By PJ van Rooyen
SA hockey men's head coach Gregg Clark.
South African men's hockey coach Gregg Clark says his side are still searching for consistency after wrapping up their tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland on Thursday.
The South Africans took part in the Celtic Cup – along with hosts Ireland, Scotland and Wales – in Lisburn last week where they lost their opener to Ireland before beating Wales and Scotland.
They then won the three-nations tournament in Dublin, defeating world number 11 Belgium on Tuesday before playing to a 3-3 draw against Ireland in one-off Test on Wednesday.
“As a team, something we are still striving for is consistency,” Clark said.
“In the past we haven't banked back-to-back wins or results and it's something that we are trying to address.
“It was good for us to win three matches on the trot (beating Wales, Scotland and Belgium) and then to get a draw, so we are unbeaten in four games which is important for us.”
Clark admitted that, while his team created enough chances in both matches against Ireland, they had failed to take their opportunities.
He was nonetheless pleased with the rest of their results on tour thus far.
“In the Wales game and the first half of the Scotland game, that is the kind of performance we want to achieve, and it is what we are capable of doing,” Clark said.
“Again, it comes down to consistency of being able to do that and to reproduce that, but it has been difficult.
“We've had a really different midfield and we haven't been able to create a lot of cohesion there.
“To get the consistency we've been looking for has been difficult without our leader (Austin Smith).”
South Africa lost both captain Smith and Jonty Robinson to illness early in the tour, shortly after the first match against Ireland, but Robinson has since recovered and featured for the tourists in Wednesday's game.
Clark said he was pleased with the defensive effort from his side, particularly in the match against Belgium – which SA won 3-2 Ä with the defenders putting up a brave display to keep their noses ahead and grind out a victory.
“We are certainly putting in a lot of focus on a lot of detail in what we are doing defensively both in the one-on-one confrontations and our entire structure,” he said.
“It was much better, we competed better for the ball, we were ahead of the game, we were reading the game better and anticipating the game better.
“I thought we won a lot of 'fifty-fifties' in that game and when it comes to the top level, there's not much in it between the sides so you have to do that.
“So we are going in the right direction from a defensive point of view.”
The team left for Santander, Spain, on Friday morning where they will meet world number 10 India and their hosts before heading home to SA before the Olympics gets underway at the end of July.
Clark believed his side would peak at the right time after a long build-up to the Games.
“We still have a couple of training games before our first match in London so I am hoping that we will be really ready from all our on-field structures and from putting the detail into our technical executions,” he said.
“Spain will be a really good indicator for us as well, but we are going in the right direction.
“The challenge for us is to make sure we get everyone to London in one piece.”
** Sapa's reporter is on tour as a guest of the SA Hockey Association.
Independent Online
Ireland 0-5 Belgium (m) UCD 3 Nations
Ireland took on Belgium this evening in the closing match of the UCD 3 Nations which took place between South Africa, Belgium and hosts Ireland.
Ireland didn't get off to the best starts and tired legs gave way to a very fit looking Olympic bound Belgium team who netted five past the Irish side. Belgium broke through in the 12th minute when Dekeyser's persistence paid off and he netted to open the account. Two minutes later Belgium extended their lead to two when Briels took a sweet touch from Van Strydoncks pacy cross to deflect in giving Harte no chance in goals. Ireland were forced to soak up periods of pressure and Harte in goals pulled off some great saves and his defence mopped up as much as possible but the persistent attack by Belgium proved too much in the end. Belgium made it three in the 26th minute when Van Aubel tapped in from close range before they made it four thanks to Thys before half time.
Ireland came out in attacking mode in the second half and Mikie Watt almost secured a goal with a lovely reverse stick but the save came just in time. Ireland were put further behind in the 39th minute when Briels and Dohmen created a 2 on 1 to enable Dohmen to put the fifth away.
Ireland continue to fight looking for a consolation goal but a solid looking Belgian side shut out any Irish chance.
Commenting on the occassion of his last match as Irish Coach Paul Revington parted on these words "I can't fault the players for their effort, I think they have played five games in eight days and I am proud of them. We met a Belgium side who are in their last phase before their final team selection (for the Olympics), and their performance was very strong."
"I would like to thank every player in the last three and half years for making this a wonderful period in my life and I know they will continue to move forward and continue to do justice to the quality of talent that exists in Ireland's men's hockey."
Ireland 0 (0)
Belgium 5 (4) Jermone Dekeyser 12m op; Thomas Briels 14m op; Florent Van Aubel 26m op; Jeffry Thys 30m op; John John Dohmen 39m op
Final Positions: 1) South Africa 2) Belgium 3) Ireland
OTHER RESULTS IN HOCKEY:
U16 EuroHockey Youth Nations:
GIRLS: Ireland 4-0 Italy BOYS: Ireland 1-2
Irish Hockey Association media release
India beat Japan 2-1 to enter final of Women's Junior Asia Cup
BANGKOK: Indian women beat Japan 2-1 via a golden goal by vice-captain Poonam Rani to reach the final of the 6th Junior Asia Cup Championship, on Thursday.
India will meet China in the final. China beat Korea 3-2 in the other semifinal.
It will be the first time that the Indian junior women will be playing the final of the Asia Cup after four bronze medal performances so far in the tournament that is held every four years. The win also guaranteed India an entry in the FIH Junior Women's World Cup to be held next year.
Nine minutes into extra time, forward and vice-captain Poonam Rani scored a brilliant field goal to helped India enter the title round.
Earlier, India rallied from 0-1 down to hold Japan 1-1 at the end of regulation time. Japan had topped Group B league while India had finished second in Group A. Five minutes before the break, Japan took lead through a field goal by Yuri Nagai.
In the second half, India pressed hard and made some good penetrations in the circle. In the 49th minute, India found the equaliser through a penalty corner conversion by Vandana Katariya.
India continued to play attacking hockey in extra time and Poonam Rani's field goal ensured India entry in the final against China on July 7. India won the bronze medal in the fifth Junior Women's Asia Cup in Seremban, Malaysia.
The Times of India
Abbott Out Of Olympics due to Injury
The Australian men’s hockey team announced today that star striker Des Abbott has been replaced in the Kookaburras Olympic team due to a knee injury that has failed to improve since selection.
Abbott will be replaced in the team by Victorian striker Russell Ford, who was informed yesterday of the coaching team’s decision.
Ric Charlesworth said today it was the hardest decision he has ever had to make during his distinguished coaching career.
“Des is a walk up start, if his game is uncompromised, he is one of the world’s most brilliant players but the progressive knee injury has interfered in his game,” he said.
“This is the most difficult thing I’ve had to do in my time, we acknowledge what Des, at his best, can be but given the circumstances we felt Russell Ford was the better option.”
Charlesworth admitted Ford had been desperately unlucky to miss selection in the first place, after a stellar season and said it had been heartbreaking to leave him out, after he had also missed selection for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
“He has had his disappointments and for that he has truly earned his spot,” Charlesworth said.
“Russell is also a brilliant player, he has terrific ball skills, he’s an endurance athlete, he has speed and the ability to score goals.”
While Ford is elated he has finally realised his sporting dream, his thoughts are with Abbott who is one of his best mates.
“I feel for Des, we started our journey together moving over to the Australian Institute of Sport in Perth in 2005 and we were both homesick, as he was the only player from the Northern Territory and I was the only one from Victoria,” he said.
“We are really close friends and I have spoken to him and he is happy for me and all I hope is we all do him proud in London.”
Ford has had an outstanding season and was optimistic around selection.
“I just set myself a goal 12 months ago that if I played the best I possibly could and I still missed out, I’d be happy with that,” he said.
“I knew the squad was so tight that it could have gone either way.”
Charlesworth said Kookaburra defender Joel Carroll was also bitterly disappointed he would not get to play in London alongside his first cousin.
Hockey Australia media release
Australia striker Abbott out of Olympics
SYDNEY: Star striker Des Abbott has withdrawn from the Australian men's team for this month's London Olympics field hockey tournament with a knee injury, Hockey Australia said on Friday.
Abbott will be replaced by Russell Ford, who coach Ric Charlesworth admitted had been unlucky to miss original selection after also missing out on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Des is a walk-up start, if his game is uncompromised, he is one of the world's most brilliant players, but the progressive knee injury has interfered in his game," Charlesworth said.
"This is the most difficult thing I've had to do in my time. We acknowledge what Des, at his best, can be but given the circumstances we felt Russell Ford was the better option."
Charlesworth said Ford had terrific ball skills, was an endurance athlete with speed and the ability to score goals.
The "Kookaburras" are strong favourites for the gold medal in London after a dominant period.
Under coach Charlesworth, Australia have won the 2010 World Cup, three of their last four Champions' Trophy victories and have been placed in the top four in every Olympics since 1980, including gold in 2004.
The Times of India
Pakistan's Olympic hockey team faces big hurdles at London 2012
Sparse funds, little kit and not much hope of medals for country which used to dominate the sport
Jon Boone in Islamabad
Hockey pitch at London 2012 Olympics. Pakistani officials had hoped to have a similar blue artificial pitch in Lahore. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian
Pakistan's athletes cite a familiar litany of problems when explaining why their country, once a hockey power to be reckoned with, has almost no chance of winning any medals at this year's Olympics.
As with so many other areas of public life in a country struggling with a failing economy and entrenched corruption, sport has been starved of necessary funds and suffers from mismanagement, they say.
Pakistan's last medal – a bronze – was won in 1992 for hockey, a once hugely popular sport that brought Pakistan its only gold in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. "Twenty, 30 years ago it was much more popular than cricket," said Khalid Mehmood, a former player and national coach. "Pakistan won all the big competitions, but when you start losing and people stop taking an interest, the game just sinks deeper into the hole."
The country's all-time haul of eight medals includes one apiece for wrestling and boxing. But there will be no boxers representing Pakistan this year – something that has dismayed Amir Khan, the champion British boxer of Pakistani heritage. He has vowed to help coach young Pakistani boxers for the 2016 Games.
Apart from hockey there will be some Pakistani runners and swimmers, and one skeet shooter, competing in London. But they owe their places to wildcard slots gifted by the International Olympic Committee. No one is hoping for any miracles from the hockey team.
"Unfortunately they are not very good," said Nadeem Afraz, vice-president of the Islamabad Olympic Association. "They performed very badly at the recent Azlan Shah Cup." After appearing to turn things around with gold at the 2010 Asian Games, at the tournament in Malaysia last month Pakistan came last.
An acrimonious dispute with team managers meant the London squad could have been even weaker after some of the country's strongest players were threatened with a ban for playing in a commercial tournament in India not recognised by the sport's governing bodies.
The rebel players said they had to take part in order to earn money for their families.
But even though the players were not ultimately disqualified, Mohammad Saqlain, a national player who missed out on being selected for London, does not expect Pakistan to get very far. "The problem in Pakistan is every time there is a change of government we get a new president of the hockey federation," he said. "They are political appointees who don't know what's best for the sport."
Mehmood said the sport had been starved of funds, first by the government, then by corporate sponsors who cut funding as the team stopped winning. Basic kit and amenities are in short supply.
"When we used to play on grass pitches it wasn't so costly," he said. "But now it is all artificial and Pakistan's pitches are all worn out. There are now only two or three that are playable."Officials had hoped to have a blue artificial pitch, the same colour as will be used in London, installed in Lahore before the Games. Botched work and a dispute with the contractor mean it will not be ready on time.
The Guardian
IOB gear up to win four in a row
Bhargav. N
All eyes will be on Indian Overseas Bank ahead of the Syed Ahmed memorial all-India hockey tournament, starting at the MRK Stadium from Friday.
IOB have never been beaten at the tournament ever since its inception but the three-time champions may not have it easy this year as the organisers have opened the door to other state teams for the first time.
IOB aren’t daunted by the prospect of retaining the title. The presence of outstation teams such as Army XI, SCR, Western Railway and Lucknow Sports Hostel, on the other hand, has fired up IOB.
The premier Chennai club head into the tournament with confidence. The champions believe that they have the requisite ingredients and the know-how to make it four in a row.
The mood in the bank camp is buoyant. IOB manager Arif Ahmed is confident that his team ready to embark on another successful journey. Arif, though, didn’t want to look too far ahead and is focused on taking one match at a time starting with their opener against Tiruchy on July 9.
“This year the competition will be tougher with the inclusion of four teams from outside Tamil Nadu. We have to work harder than we had in the past three editions to retain the title. The boys are ready for the challenging task ahead,” he said.
According to Arif, the biggest threat for IOB will come from Army XI who have already defeated the Chennai team in the final of the Kovilpatti hockey championship in May.
The final loss is still preying on his mind. “On paper Army XI look a cohesive unit and after having put paid to our hopes in the Kovilpatti final, their confidence will be sky-high.
But we are not unduly worried about the Army XI because any team that play to their potential can cause an upset in a knockout tournament. So we have to be on our toes right from the first match and shouldn’t let complacency get anywhere near us,” added Arif.
Arif is pinning his hopes on star forward Adam Sinclair to deliver the goods again as he has done ever so consistently over the years. The manager lavished praise on his attacking spearhead. “Adam is, without a doubt, our go-to man. With his wealth of experience he should be able to help us perform better. He can galvanise the whole team with his mere presence on the turf,” said Arif.
As usual, IOB will be missing the services of P.R. Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh as the duo are on national duty. Arif, however, chose to look on the brighter side and was grateful to his management for providing suitable replacements in quick time which helped the squad prepare well.
“The management was gracious in letting us sign guest players. Two of these players are from Karnataka while the other two are from Tamil Nadu. All the players that have assembled for the training camp are talented and what pleases me the most is their work ethic.
The whole squad is experienced, having played at the highest level at one time or the other. There is every reason for us to feel gung-ho about having a good run again,” Arif concluded.
The Asian Age
Fancied Malacca held by minnows Sarawak in opening match
By AFTAR SINGH
Ready to roll: Workers preparing ‘Tok Gajah’, the Games’ mascot, for the opening ceremony at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan Thursday. — S.S.KANESAN / The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: They were supposed to steamroll past their opponents en route to a place in the final of the men’s Sukma hockey competition.
Instead, favourites Malacca could only huff and puff their way to a dreary 1-1 draw with minnows Sarawak in their opening Group B match at the Wisma Belia Stadium in Kuantan yesterday.
Sarawak stunned Malacca by taking the lead through Mohd Azrul Fazrin in the 20th minute but Mohd Afif Kamil saved them the blushes by scoring the equaliser in the 42nd minute.
Malacca are the favourites this time thanks to the presence of Project 2013 squad forward Dedy Ariyadi and five players from the last Sukma, where they finished runners-up to Kuala Lumpur.
Malacca coach K. Balakrishnan was clearly annoyed with his team’s performance.
“Our target is to be on the podium as we have a good team. But my boys let me down with their poor finishing,” he said.
“We had nine penalty corners but only converted one.
“We also did not have the services of centre-half Mohd Faiz Farhan, who is down with fever and purging.
“We are not sure whether he can play against Perlis tomorrow.
“The draw with Sarawak has put us in a tight spot ... it will be tough to qualify for the semi-finals now,”
Meanwhile in Group A, Perak twice came back from a goal down to hold Negri Sembilan to a 3-3 draw.
Mohd Ikwan Ishak put Negri ahead in the fourth minute before Mohd Hafiq Samsul equalised in the 22nd minute.
Negri regained the lead through Dick Chenyi (30th) but again Perak hit back through Mohd Fitri Ismail (42nd).
Then, two minutes later it was Perak who went ahead, courtesy of Mohd Ashran Hamsani.
And this time it was Negri who fought back to equalise with a penalty corner goal by Ganesh T. Selvam in the 59th minute.
RESULTS
MEN
Group A: Perak 3 N. Sembilan 3, Terengganu 5 Kedah 2, Kelantan 0 Selangor 3.
Group B: Malacca 1 Sarawak 1, Pahang 2 Perlis 1, Johor 1 Penang 2.
TODAY’S FIXTURES
Group A: Perak vs Kedah (4pm), FT vs N. Sembilan (6pm), Terengganu vs Selangor (8pm)
Group B: Sarawak vs Penang (4pm), Pahang vs Johor (6pm), Malacca vs Perlis (8pm).
(All matches at the Wisma Belia Pitch 1 and 2)
The Star of Malaysia
Perlis fight back to earn draw
By Fadhli Ishak
PERLIS showed true grit to earn themselves a 2-2 draw against hosts Pahang after having trailed 2-0 at half time in their opening group match in the Malaysia Games hockey competition yesterday.
Despite having to play in rainy conditions at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium in Kuantan, the hosts started the match with conviction and dominated possession in the early stages of the match.
Their more aggressive approach soon paid off when they were awarded a penalty corner which Kaatigan Nadarajan slotted home with a powerful flick in the fifth minute.
The hosts, buoyed by a highly-vocal home crowd, maintained the pressure and soon found the back of the net again this time through an Azril Misron close range effort after Perlis failed to clear the ball in the 24th minute.
Perlis, however, came out a different side in the second-half and their more composed play saw them launch a number of dangerous attacks.
A brace of field goals from Amirul Aidid Mohd Arshad in the 50th and 58th minute, both on the counter, saw both sides end the match on even terms.
"They (players) were a little nervous in the first-half playing in front of such a vocal crowd and it affected their performances," said Perlis coach Wira.
Johor will play Pahang today while Perlis will face Malacca.
In the other group B match yesterday, 2010 runners-up Malacca drew 1-1 with Sarawak.
In Group A, Perak and Negri Sembilan also shared points when they drew 3-3 while Terengganu convincingly beat Kedah 5-2.
New Straits Times
Carter's wife among hockey car theft victims
SIMON SMITH
BURGLED: All Black Dan Carter's wife was one of 15 hockey reps whose cars were targeted by thieves last night.
Top Auckland hockey players, including All Black Dan Carter's wife, had their car windows smashed and gear stolen last night while they practised their skills.
Fifteen cars had windows smashed in the car park outside Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium, Pakuranga.
TARGET: Honor and Dan Carter. OLIVIA HEMUS/Fairfax NZ
Honor Carter posted a picture of her vandalised passenger window on her Twitter account.
"Whoever messed with my Range Rover ... I don't like you," she tweeted.
"If you're really a mean person you're going to come back as a fly and eat poop."
Carter later added, "THEN get run over by my Range Rover".
It is understood nothing was stolen from Carter's vehicle as thieves couldn't get inside.
"So, turns out they tried to wire my lock too. Haha robber, you couldn't get through my window or my lock - sucker," she tweeted today
Auckland Hockey chief executive officer David Curtis said the cars were broken into while the Auckland Fury men's and women's National Hockey League teams practiced.
"There was all sorts of stuff that was taken, so they just went through for anything that might be of value."
The players are now trying to replace gear for an upcoming NHL warm up match against Midlands on July 15.
"We are extremely disappointed and frustrated that people would do this when we've got these people sacrificing to actually represent Auckland in their sport," he said.
"To then have people come through and just rip them off like this is extremely frustrating and disappointing."
Curtis said security would be increased at the car park. He said the area wasn't regularly targeted by thieves but break-ins had happened before.
"We will be looking at what we can do in terms of improved security, in terms of potentially CCTV, to try and stop this," he said.
"And we really feel for the athletes who have lost personal and sporting gear in the situation."
Counties Manukau East police intelligence manager Karl McCabe said police had two reports of gear stolen from the car park - the first at about 8 pm.
But when police attended the job they found 15 cars were affected.
"We know of a couple of people who have just been released from prison lately who we will look at as potential suspects," he said.
McCabe said the area is a "target rich" environment on certain nights of the week.
"People need to actually report the offences so that we know what is going on."
Stuff
Focus Field Hockey Club helps Peninsula athletes find success
By Isabelle Khurshudyan
Grafton's Julia Young has made a U17 National Field Hockey Team and is part of the Focus FIeld Hockey club team. (Rob Ostermaier, Daily Press)
Julia Young only started playing field hockey because her older sister did, and at 13, Young wanted to do everything her older sister did.
But when the coaches at the Williamsburg-based Focus Field Hockey Club saw Young, now a rising senior at Grafton, play, they said they instantly knew she was something special.
"They came up to me when I was in eighth grade and told me that I'd be one of the best in the nation someday," Young said. "I didn't believe it. It's just weird to think that they predicted that when I was in eighth grade."
The prediction came true, as Young recently was named to the United States' junior national field hockey team, but Young said that were it not for the Focus club, she wouldn't have her current success.
Focus coaches Quan Nim Anderson and Kristen McCann Rushing met while coaching together at William and Mary and decided, with their extensive field hockey background, they should start a club that would help passionate young players achieve their dreams. Rushing played collegiately at North Carolina and was on the national team for five years, while Anderson was an All-American player at Iowa.
"When we do this stuff, we go in thinking about what we wish we'd had at that age, too," Rushing said. "We try to incorporate everything. We have a nutritionist, we do recruiting meetings, we do recruiting videos — we do everything to give them every opportunity possible."
A year-round commitment, Focus' seven of eight juniors in the program have accepted scholarship money to play in college, including Young, who has a full ride to North Carolina to play for the same coach Rushing played for.
"The day that I committed, [Rushing] texted me and was like, 'Congratulations! I love UNC, don't you?' " Young said. "She was so excited."
After Young went through her first evaluation with the club in eighth grade, Rushing and Anderson wanted her on the under-19 squad, even though she'd be years younger than the other girls on the team. With the club just starting at the time, Young took the small gamble of joining Focus over an older club because she said she felt like Focus was the club to get her to the collegiate level.
Focus now has about 70 members who are divided into teams by age and experience. The club also puts on events, like the recruiting showcase it hosted last week that featured 700 athletes and about 50 college coaches. The under-19 squad won its region, which is composed of eight southern states, and will compete for the national club championship in two weeks.
One of the main things Focus helped Young with was the recruiting process. Young said Anderson and Rushing got her past her nerves about talking to college coaches by doing simulations and going over how the phone conversations with coaches should go.
"I would call you and say, 'Hi, this is Julia Young,' and then you would talk to me for a long time," Young said. "The coach would then tell you what they like and what they don't like and if you want to come on a visit. Then you set up a visit and say you're interested in the school and set up a date for the visit. You say you really like the program and just try to catch their interest with what you say."
Young said Anderson and Rushing also were honest with their feedback if she had a bad game, which prepared her for taking criticism from other coaches — especially when she was on the junior national team and everyone around her was just as talented.
She said when you make mistakes on a high-caliber team like that, the coaches aren't afraid to let you know. The experience was "nerve-wracking" because she wasn't used to everyone yet, but she still felt more prepared then she would have without Focus.
"Some of our girls come back (from college) and say, well, I go in and I'm fit, and some of the stuff we do for conditioning is just like what they do in college," Anderson said. "[The coaches] have that high-level of hockey, so we know what it takes. We prepare them in that sense. They feel ready when they go because most kids go in fearing conditioning and our kids go in knowing that they've already done this before."
When the United States' national field hockey team played Argentina in a nationally televised game in Virginia Beach, Young was there for a tournament, so she watched the game. Being on the junior national team can be a pipeline for the national team, so she said she knows it could be her playing in one of those games in the future.
She said she also knows how things could have gone differently for her if she didn't get involved in Focus.
"Being committed to UNC would not have happened, making the junior national team would not have happened without them," Young said. "Other coaches aren't as hard on you. Kristen and Quan know what you can do and if you're not doing it, they will push you. I wouldn't be where I am without them."
Daily Press