News for 14 May 2009
Thursday, 14 May 2009 05:34 | 
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All the news for Thursday 14 May 2009
Air Asia 8th Asian Cup 2009
All times are local (GMT+8)
15.00 7th Ranking Bangladesh vs India
17.00 Korea vs China
19.00 Malaysia vs Pakistan
Air Asia 8th Asian Cup Pool A - 12/05/2009
Air Asia 8th Asian Cup Pool A Results Table - 12/05/2009
| Air Asia 8th Asian Cup Pool B - 12/05/2009
Air Asia 8th Asian Cup Pool B Results Table - 12/05/2009
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India to test bench strength against Bangladesh
KUANTAN (Malaysia): Out of medal contention, defending champions India will test their bench strength when they take on minnows Bangladesh in the sixth-seventh ranking play-off match of the Asia Cup hockey tournament on Thursday.
After suffering a 2-3 defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan in their tournament opener, India needed an outright win against China in their last group match on Tuesday to progress to the semi-finals.
But all the Sandeep Singh-led side managed was a 2-2 draw to see their title defence go up in smoke.
Disappointed with the performance of his wards, India's coach-in-charge Harendra Singh said he would give the reserve players a chance on Thursday.
"For the first time in eight months I didn't achieve the target I had set. So, I will try out my bench strength tomorrow," a dejected Harendra said.
"I will give players like Hari Prasad, VS Vinaya and Ajitesh Roy a chance to play in the next match," he added.
The winner of the India-Bangladesh match will face Japan in the fifth-sixth place play-off match on Friday.
Bangladesh got some sound thrashing from South Korea, Malaysia and Japan and should be an easy meat for the eight-time Olympic champions but Harendra was not ready to take things for granted.
"We cannot take any international team lightly, whether it's Bangladesh or anyone else. We have to come out of our defensive mindset. We have to play attacking hockey and there is no other alternative," he said.
India's forward line, comprising Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh, has been inconsistent in the tournament so far, squandering innumerable opportunities and the match against Bangladesh gives them an opportunity to salvage some reputation.
Even though Sandeep converted two of the four penalty chances against China, the Indian captain has been less than impressive, missing as many as five drag-flicks against Pakistan.
Incidentally, the Bangladesh team is coached by India's first foreign coach Gerrard Rach of Germany.
The Times of India
300th match for Pakistan player Saqlain
Muhammad Saqlain, center half of the Pakistan Team will play his 300th international match in the semifinal of the Asia Cup against Malaysia on Thursday.
Muhammad Saqlain started his international career in 1999 and scored 74 goals in 299 matches. Muhammad Saqlain said from Malaysia that it will be the happiest moment for him that he is going to join 300+ matches list. He said that the match against Germany in the Champions Trophy in 2005 was the most memorable match of his life. Pakistan won that match 5-0. Pakistan’s Shahbaz Ahmad senior, Waseem Ahmad and Zeeshan Ashraf have already completed 300 matches.
The Pakistan Hockey Team will play the semifinal match of 8th Asia Cup against Malaysia on Thursday. The second semifinal will be played between Korea and China.
Pakistan Hockey Federation media release
Saqlain to play 300th match today
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Seasoned midfielder Muhammad Saqlain will be playing his 300th international match when Pakistan take on hosts Malaysia in the Asia Cup semifinal in Kuantan on Thursday (today).
A former Pakistan captain, Saqlain made his international debut in 1999 and has so far scored 74 goals in 299 matches.
Saqlain said from Malaysia on Wednesday that he is looking forward to playing in his 300th match for Pakistan, adding that the Rabo Trophy 2005 match against Germany was the most memorable match of his career which Pakistan won by a 5-0 margin.
"It feels really great that I will complete 300 matches for Pakistan tomorrow," said Saqlain, one of the most experienced players in the Pakistani squad for Asia Cup.
Pakistan's former captain Shahbaz Ahmad, midfielder Waseem Ahmad and current skipper Zeeshan Ashraf are the only players from the country to have played 300 or more international matches.
Today's semifinals: 1300 (PST): South Korea v China; 1730 (PST): Pakistan v Malaysia.
The News International
Saqlain to play his 300th match in international hockey
Staff Report
LAHORE: Olympian and centre-half of national hockey team Mohammad Saqlain will play his 300th match when Pakistan take on hosts Malaysia in the semi-finals of the of 8th Asia Cup Hockey Tournament in Kuantan, Malaysia on Thursday (today).
“Manager hockey team Muhammad Asif Bajwa, who is also Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) general secretary, will present a souvenir to Saqlain on reaching this milestone in his career spanned over nearly one decade,” said a spokesman for the PHF here on Wednesday.
Lahore-born Saqlain started his international career in 1999 and scored 74 goals in 299 matches.
“No doubt its going to be a most memorable moment of my career,” Saqlain said in a statement. He said the match against Germany in Rabo Cup Trophy 2005 was another memorable moment of his life, which Pakistan won 5-0.
Former captains Shahbaz Ahmad Senior, Waseem Ahmad and Zeeshan Ashraf have already completed 300 matches.
“I will try my level best to put up a sterling performance in the match and I will be right there to play my due role to lead the team to success,” he added.
The Daily Times
Follow tactical plan to beat Pakistan, Malaysian players told
By S. RAMAGURU
KUANTAN: Malaysia need the discipline to adhere to a tactical plan if they hope to overcome Pakistan in the Air Asia-Asia Cup hockey tournament semi-finals here today.
Skipper Mohamed Madzli Ikmar said yesterday that they had achieved a good measure consistency in the tournament at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium and it had boosted much of their confidence to take on a Pakistan, who have strengthened their side with the recall of several experienced players.
“I would rate our chances as 50-50. We are playing well and we have a good chance at extending our win over the Pakistanis,” he said.
“But we need to be cautious. The defence will be the one that will have the bear the burden as mistakes at the back can be costly against a side who have the world’s best penalty corner taker in Sohail Abbas.”
Malaysia defeated Pakistan 3-2 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Ipoh last month. The previous two matches at the 2007 Asia Cup in Chennai and the 2006 Doha Asian Games ended in draws, 3-3 and 1-1 respectively.
“It has been close in our matches against Pakistan. We must check their players early and avoid giving away penalty corners,” added Madzli.
“More importantly, the players need to follow the strategy the coaches come up with for the match. Pakistan are very individualistic as a team and it will only take one player to make the difference. This is where we need the discipline to keep at our roles even if they start to dominate the game.”
The Malaysian backline for the three group matches against South Korea, Bangladesh and Japan remained unchanged with Madzli partnering Mohamed Amin Rahim, Mohamed Shukri Mutalib and Jiwa Mohan.
Madzli said that Jiwa’s presence had given them added confidence as he was a very experienced player.
“I’m not sure if the same back four will be fielded against Pakistan but we have come up with a good understanding. We know each others’ game well and complement each other,” he said.
Madzli said that besides Sohail the other Pakistani to watch out for is Waseem Ahmad, whose passes upfront are quite deceptive.
“Waseem is a real danger. They also have other players like Haseem Khan Shakeel Abbasi and Saqlian Mohamed. Anyone of them can pose a threat to us,” he said.
Coach Tai Beng Hai said that his players would not crumble under the intense pressure Pakistan were expected to pile on them.
“We are not going to have it our way even though recent meeting have given us the edge. Tomorrow’s match will be different with a lot more at stake. But there is no reason not to go into the match with confidence,” he said.
The national team have already achieved the top four target set by the Malaysian Hockey Federation.
“The aim should be to win the title and I want the players to pursue that target. We have a chance to do it this time,” said Beng Hai.
The Star of Malaysia
Pakistan hope to conquer Malaysia
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Pakistan are hoping that their coach Shahid Ali Khan will use his 'inside knowledge' of the Malaysian team to help them overcome the hosts in the Asia Cup semifinals on Thursday (today) in the resort town of Kuantan.
Shahid, a former Olympian, served as a national coach for Malaysia for a couple of years before taking on as Pakistan's head coach this February.
His charges are aiming at Malaysia's scalp this evening at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium for a place in Sunday's final against the winners of the other semifinal to be played between South Korea and China.
Shahid told 'The News' in a telephonic interview from Kuantan that the team management has prepared a comprehensive strategy to tame Malaysia, whom he described as a very dangerous side in their own backyard.
"I've coached Malaysia for quite some time and am well aware of their strengths and weaknesses," said Shahid. "That inside knowledge is going to help us to a certain extent but the key for us will be to come out with an effective game plan and then implement it properly," he stressed.
Shahid's Pakistan fell to Malaysia in their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup match in Ipoh (Malaysia) last month and then went on to finish a poor fourth position in the five-nation tournament.
But Pakistan have lifted their performance in the ongoing Asia Cup after recalling four senior players including drag flick expert Sohail Abbas for the seven-nation tournament.
Pakistan blanked Malaysia 2-0 in a practice game before the start of the Asia Cup and later qualified for the last-four after a 1-1 draw with China and a 3-2 triumph over defending champions India.
Shahid, however, refused to give the win in the practice match against Malaysia saying that the semifinal clash would be a different ball game.
"You cannot compare a practice game with the semifinal of a high-profile tournament," he said. "We expect Malaysia to be at their best which is why I'm urging my boys to just go out their and play their hearts out for a place in the final."
Shahid said that Malaysia have always posed problems for Pakistan in recent years. "Malaysia are a vastly improved team and very tough to beat on their own turf," he said. "The best way to ensure a positive result against them is playing attackingly and bring them under pressure with early goals," he stressed. "Our plan is to try and keep them under pressure by playing aggressively right from the very start," he added.
Shahid is hoping that his attack will click against the Malaysia like it did when Pakistan edged out India on Sunday.
"What we need is to capitalise on our chances. Our forwards will have to convert opportunities into goals," he pointed out referring to the fact that in most of the game Pakistan have lost in recent times, they failed to make full use of the chances that came their way.
Shahid is also hoping that Sohail Abbas will prove to be Pakistan's strong point against Malaysia. "I know that Sohail's presence in our team will keey Malaysia under pressure," he said. "What we need is that Sohail converts a few short corners because if that happens, we shouldn't face many problems in winning tomorrow's game."
Sohail, who last played for Pakistan in the 2006 World Cup in Germany before making his comeback in the Asia Cup, scored the match-winning goal against India.
Shahid said that Malaysia will take the field against Pakistan, enjoying the home advantage.
"It is expected that a packed crowd of around 15,000 will come for tomorrow's match and almost everybody will be supporting Malaysia."
However, the Pakistan coach hoped that the crowd expectations might bring the hosts under pressure. "Sometimes if people are expecting too much from you there is a possibility that you could crumble under pressure."
Meanwhile, there is good news for Pakistan as all their players are fully fit for today's eagerly-awaited clash. Young midfielder Mohammad Irfan, who has been nursing an ankle injury over the last couple of days, has also recovered and is expected to take the field against Malaysia.
The News International
Pakistan to clash with confident Malaysia
KUANTAN: Pakistan bidding to regain the crown after 20 years would be facing a stiff challenge as they take on free flowing Malaysia in the second floodlight semifinal of Asia Cup at Kuantan Hockey Stadium on Thursday at 7.30 PM (5.30 PM PST).
Coming off the back of a thrilling match against India, the Pakistanis would be hoping to put on another spirited performance and secure a place in Saturday's final.
The other semifinal will be played between group A Champions South Korea and China at 5.00 p.m. It will be a make or break encounter for Pakistan as many experts believe the result will set trend for the future of hockey in the country.
Pakistan, who finished a disappointing sixth in the previous event at Chennai two years ago, emerged as the group leader after China eliminated India with 2-2 draw.
Though the Malaysians will be enjoying the home and psychological advantage, after upset win over Pakistan in last month's Azlan Shah Cup, the visitors seem well capable of bouncing back.
The three-time former champions, Pakistan, are strengthened by the return of Salman Akbar, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed and Rehan Butt who have played nearly 1000 internationals between them.
Among the young guns, centre forward Haseem Khan will be in the spot light after his double strike against arch-rivals India which gave Pakistan a thrilling 3-2 win and a place in the semifinal.
Experienced forwards Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi have been running the play well but poor finishing up front and at the top circle has let them down.
Attacking play by Pakistan will be key to success after their sluggish and defensive start which forced them to play 1-1 draw with China in their first game of the tournament.
Pakistan's defence with Waseem Ahmed and Anwar Sajjad in the half line and Zeeshan Ashraf in the deep has so far put up a fine show.
However, against speedy Malaysian forwards like Kelvinder Singh, Tengu Ahmad Tajuddin and Boon Huat Chua, Pakistan must work out a special strategy. The Malaysians also have a tough custodian in goalie S. Kumar.
Dawn
Sohail Abbas eyes Asia Cup success
KUANTAN, Malaysia: Sohail Abbas, Pakistan's short corner expert, is focusing on his team's title success in the 8th Asia Cup Hockey Tournament here.
"Its my wish and dream to win and play my part in Pakistan regaining the Asia Cup after two decades," said Sohail, the holder of the world record for highest numbers of goals in international hockey.
"This title is of immense importance for us and Pakistan as it will directly take us in 2010 World Cup", he said here on Wednesday.
"We need an element of luck and combined team effort to achieve our objective," he stressed.
"I am eager to win the first title for Pakistan," said Sohail, who has scored 289 goals in 274 internationals.
He believed that almost all the five teams including China, Korea, Pakistan, Malaysia, and India were favorites but the defending champions failed to qualify for the semifinals which showed uncertainty in the competition.
He said playing in Dutch league for Rotterdam with some of the leading players from across the globe had been a great experience. "It helped me to further polish my skills and fitness," he said.
The News International
Furious encounter on the cards
KUANTAN: A fast and furious encounter is expected when the two East Asia teams meet in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup hockey tournament here today.
South Korea, who are ranked fifth in the world, are the clear favourites to beat China. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, the Koreans claimed the gold medal beating the Chinese 3-1 in the final.
However, the Koreans by their own admission are not well-prepared for the Asia Cup and it present their opponents the best chance to chalk up a win.
Coach Cho Myung-jun said: “We do not have several top players for this tournament and we only started our preparations a month ago.
“Although I have great confidence in the team’s ability, I would think that we are vulnerable as well. But I still think we can regain the Asia Cup (South Korea were champions in 1994 and 1999).”
Myung-jun added that he regarded China as the next fittest team in the tournament after his side.
“I am impressed with China’s game here. They have improved greatly since the Beijing Olympics. Their game is similar to the Japanese but they are able to play at a faster pace,” he said.
Chinese coach Guo Jie said that they would play the same way that brought them draws against Pakistan (1-1) and India (2-2).
“We have good teamwork and the Korean style is known to us. We will give it our best shot. We are also here tto win the title. In recent years, we have beaten Asia’s other top teams and I see no reason for us not being able to beat the Koreans,” he said.
The Star of Malaysia
Japan to take fourth qualifier spot
KUANTAN: Japan are likely to take the fourth spot for Asian teams in qualifying tournaments for next year’s World Cup Finals.
Japan are to play in the fifth-sixth place playoff tomorrow against the winners of today’s classification match between India and Bangladesh.
The Asia Cup offers the champions a direct entry to the World Cup Finals and the next four teams go into qualifying tournaments. If Japan play against India tomorrow, they will get into the qualifiers even if they lose the match because India are automatic qualifiers for the Finals as hosts.
There will be three qualifying tournaments involving six teams each and they will be held in Lille, Auckland and Dubai.
The Star of Malaysia
Asia Cup-winning coach Carvalho not surprised with India's loss
By Ashwin Ferro
2007 Asia Cup-winning coach Joaquim Carvalho says he's not surprised at India's premature ouster from the 2009 edition of the tournament
Joaquim Carvalho may have been the man at the helm when India failed to qualify for the Olympics last year for the first time in 80 years. But if there is one feather in his hat during his brief stint as Indian hockey coach, it has to be the 2007 Asia Cup title victory in Chennai.
So, when he says that he had foreseen India's failure in the 2009 Asia Cup yesterday, he must be believed. "In modern hockey, fitness is of prime importance and if you look at the manner in which we have failed in this tournament, all fingers point to a lack of fitness which has a lot to do with the age of certain players," the Olympian told MiD DAY after China came back from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 and eliminate India from the semi-final race of the ongoing Asia Cup in Kuantan, Malaysia.
Carvalho's point is emphasised by the fact that India conceded a couple of late goals in the tournament that cost them dearly. In their 3-2 defeat to Pakistan on Sunday, Pakistan's Hasneem Khan scored the equaliser (1-1) two minutes from half-time. And then in the second half, Pakistan scored the winner in the 55th minute through drag-flicker Sohail Abbas. Yesterday too, India led with a comfortable 2-0 score line going in to half-time. However, the Chinese came up with their goals in the 45th and 60th minutes.
Youth policy
Carvalho had maintained a youth policy when the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation had handed him the reins. And his efforts bore fruit, given the manner in which India won the 2007 Asia Cup. "We did not lose a single match in that tournament beating South Korea twice and also getting the better of China en route.
People say playing in a foreign country adds pressure, but I can assure you that playing in front of a packed house at home, as my boys did then, was equally pressurising," said Carvalho, who had also coached India to a third place finish in the Azlan Shah and Champions Challenge tournament in Belgium.
So, what went wrong in Malaysia this time? "There is no place for older players, so I had rested some of the 'senior' players at the cost of attracting a lot of criticism from different quarters. Today however, things have been reversed," he said.
Though he refused to take any names, the fact is that Arjun Halappa, Vikram Pillay and Sandeep Singh were some of the players who did not fit into Carvalho's scheme of things back then. Today however, they are prominent members of the starting line-up. "Clearly, we have not learnt from our mistakes. We lost to China in Doha, where all this mess began, and now we have lost to them again. They say history repeats itself, and I'm not surprised it has," he signed off.
What the Papers Say Today - Stick2Hockey.com
‘Inconsistency India’s bane’
SUNDARI IYER
Mumbai, May 13: A day after defending champions India were knocked out of the Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuantan, Malaysia, former Olympians in the city are worried about the state of domestic hockey and want a proper Indian Hockey Federation be set up at the earliest. Last month the International Hockey Federation made it clear that it wasn’t too happy with the way the game was run in India.
"We ask the Olympic Committee in India to kindly solve the situation, to have a unique body before the World Cup," FIH president Leandro Negre was quoted as saying.
Former hockey player Viren Rasquinha said, "Organising and playing are two different aspects. The performance of the team shouldn’t be blamed on the federation. The biggest problem in the team is inconsistency. Winning one tournament and under-performing in the next event doesn’t get you among the top eight teams in the world."
Rasquinha is of the opinion that the ad-hoc committee should do everything possible to retain the World Cup in India, else it will be a huge blow to the sport in the country.
"It would be embarrassing if after being allocated the World Cup, we are unable to host it," he said.
Former Olympian Rahul Singh feels India perform well on occasions, but when it comes to success at major tournaments the team is found wanting.
The Asian Age
Living on pride
Giving just $15-20 to a player, making him think twice before ordering a cup of tea, and then expecting him to keep performing and producing results is just wrong.” Harendra Singh, the Indian hockey coach for the Asia Cup, couldn’t have been more candid. And more right. It’s not as if they didn’t get anything after their unexpected triumph in last month’s Azlan Shah Cup; each player’s daily spending allowance was raised by $5, from the hitherto-pauper’s $15 to a now-princely sum of $20. Players complain that they wash their own clothes after a tiring match to save money; they are “quite experienced in managing with very little money”. Their Pakistani counterparts get $50 per day.
Indian hockey was a colossus that fell because its feet had turned to clay over the years. After its most ignominious moment in March 2008, when India failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 80 years, some hope was gradually, tentatively constructed out of the utter despair that had engulfed not just the hockey fraternity but also many Indians who had long ceased to care for a sport whose history of achievement had become its burden. That hope had its first moment of fulfilment last month. Now, at the start of the Asia Cup, one would be forgiven for believing that the erstwhile colossus is being rebuilt with fresh feet of clay.
A lot has changed since: the dissolution of the Indian Hockey Federation, the Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc committee in charge till the new governing body, Hockey India, takes shape. But player well-being is nobody’s priority. The ad-hoc committee says it has little money, and adheres to government rules. But players who aren’t paid match fees have no less right to be treated as professionals, with incentives for their efforts. Playing for “pride” may have kept Indian hockey kicking, but as Singh asks, “...pride se pet bharta hai kya?”
Indian Express
Amsterdam and Bloemendaal to play in Dutch finals
The hockey players of Amsterdam and Bloemendaal are in the best of three finals this Sunday in the dutch national league, called hoofdklasse.
Amsterdam played off with Oranje Zwart in a real thriller last night.
A team of 7 physiotherapists stood ready in the last days to get the players of Amsterdam fit for the match. Floris Evers said that especially thanks to their medical treatments that Amsterdam after the heavy defeat one day before at Oranje Zwart could win.
Also after the second what ended so glorious for Amsterdam the physio-therapists of Sport Medical Amsterdam had a lot of work to do. Also because the weather there was extra work to do.
Only Geert-Jan Derikx was not ready to play. Derikx the partner for PC of Taeke Taekema got a fissure in his hamstring and felt out last Saturday. Rest didn’t help to the next match against Oranje Zwart, after 15 minutes he got pain again last Saturday.
Last Sunday in the most important match the defender could only see the match from outside the field.
Because the less experienced PC pusher and by fantastic work of the goalkeeper of Mark Jenniskens the always strong PC of Taeke Taekema went wrong the first 3 times. Taekema scored 10 minutes before time 3-3 Santi Freixa scored from a variation out of PC 4 - 3.
At Oranje Zwart, one hockey club who has for years their own well-established hockey academy the PC went very well. Mink van der Weerden scored 2 times, Bob de Voogd out of rebound one time. Close before the match finished Van der Weerden couldn’t score out of his PC 4-4.
Also Oranje Zwart was not unharmed after the first match (best of there). The Australian international Rob Hammond had to leave after a crash with team-player Lucas . Hammond received a knee into his upper leg. Yesterday he still had top much pain to play. In Eindhoven recovery was the last days all that mattered. It is crazy Toon Siepman, one of the coaches of Oranje Zwart and former assistant coach of Spain with Maurits Hendriks, 3 matches in 5 days. If matches are more important the they are played with not 100% concentration. Roger van Gent is the other coach of Oranje Zwart and both of them have been successful for so many years at different hockeyclubs.
During the regular league we play one match per week. The matches during play-offs are too quick after each other Toon Siepman said. If you normally have one player with a small injury he can recover within one week. Now if you are at the side-line you miss 3 very important matches.
After missing the final it is not over for Oranje Zwart, for which the season started at September 2008. They have to play against Rotterdam for the third placed. The winner gets the third ticket to EHL.
Source: Sportwereld.nl and hoofdklassehockey.nl
Hockey Asia
Rotterdam out of the Finals
With 10 men to Bloemendaal is unequal battle Hans Steeder coach of Rotterdam and former second national coach of the Netherlands, told the press. The national championship is gone, but we still have two changes for prices this year. This Sunday we have Oranje Zwart in best of three for the third ticket to European Hockey League (EHL).
Amsterdam and Bloemendaal two finalists have their ticket already after yesterday. At the end of may the team of Hans Streeder, who did so well in the national league with top-4 ranking, and in the EHL, will play the semi-final against Bloemendaal in the EHL, but this time at their own accommodation with an expectation of many thousands enthousiastic hockey fans.
Hans Streeder told his team to bring up the concentration during 70 minutes and to keep controlling the match. The next matches they have to show if they can make this extra step.
Today Mark Knowles lost his control, being such a experiece international player who should know better. My boys need to show that they can control their emotions to the outside world as they did so perfectly well in the first match.
Mark Knowles received his red card with 10 minutes to go. Mark was provocated by hard push of one of the Bloemendaal players and he pushed back. This was the only thing was penalized.
Because team-captain Willem Hertzberger short before this incident already received a yellow card Rotterdam had for a while 9 men on the pitch, against Bloemendaal you don’t have any chance.
At the incident with Knowles Bloemendaal was leading by 2-1. Rotterdam like last Sunday was leading by PC alternative by Ryan Archibald. Nick Meyer of Bloemendaal scored 1-1.
Totally right as Bloemendaal had many chances and Rotterdam was under pressure a lot.
Olmer Meyer scored halfway the second half 2-1. With two goals of Teun de Nooyer and Nick Meyer using the optimal space in the defense of Rotterdam it was 4-1. Hans Streeder told the press it is hard to make this extra step, Rotterdam was in the semi-final two years ago against HGC now Bloemendaal was 2 times the stand in their way. Bloemendaal shows how a world hockey team should act be patient, well organized and very rapidly in conversion.
Source: AD/HD.nl and hoofdklassehockey.nl
Hockey Asia
Uganda to field four at hockey event
By David Namunyala
UGANDA will field four clubs in the East Africa hockey championships that start on Saturday at Lugogo.
The week-long tournament will see Wanainchi, Simba Union and Kampala Club from Uganda battling in the men’s category while Weatherhead will take part in the women’s event.
Men’s defending champions United States University and ladies winners Eglets are among the three clubs expected from Kenya. Tanzania will enter a single club, the Armed Forces, according to Joshua Opolot, the local federation publicity secretary.
“ All games will be played during the day because we don’t have floodlights and yet we want to save time,” Opolot explained.
* Wanainchi over the weekend pipped Weatherhead 2-1 in a national league game at Lugogo.
In the other game, Simba Union earned a walkover and three points against Kampala Club who showed up late.
* Uganda has to provide adequate facilities at the Lugogo pitch if the country is to host the Intercontinental Hockey Club Championships in November.
Although the international body, FIH, last month confirmed Kampala as hosts after inspecting the Lugogo pitch and concluding was in good condition, the new development might cause a snag in the local federation’s ambitions to host the international event.
FIH now insists the Lugogo venue must have floodlights, dressing rooms and toilets which it lacks at the moment.
Local federation secretary Emmanuel Ewachi said they were in the process of sourcing funds to fulfill the requirements.
“We can’t stand to lose this opportunity but if our first option fails, then we shall go in for option B like renting the Lugogo Indoor Stadium,” Ewachi said.
New Vision
Fixtures: SPAR Cup 4 Nations
The South African Hockey Association has released the fixture list for the upcoming women's Spar Cup 4 Nations tournament involving South Africa, Argentina, Australia and India
Tuesday 2nd June
14h00 Australia vs India
16h00 South Africa vs Argentina
Wednesday 3rd June
14h00 Argentina vs Australia
16h00 South Africa vs India
Thursday 4th June
REST DAY
Friday 5th June
14h00 India vs Argentina
16h00 South Africa vs Australia
Saturday 6th June
12h30 3rd vs 4th
15h00 1st vs 2nd
SA Hockey Association media release
FIH launches special Youth Website
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is pleased to announce the launch of the WorldHockey Youth site: www.worldhockey.org/youth
On this website you will find information on the FIH Youth Panel and on FIH Youth Projects, such as the WorldHockey Youth Challenge, which will be featured soon after the upcoming “Magic Tricks” weekend of 16 and 17 May 2009.
Beside information about projects, programmes and events there will also be a news section, with updates from youth projects in the FIH member countries. Interactive sections such as” Talk to us” and “Pen Pals” will make the website a meeting point for young hockey developers. The YouTube section will add visual proof of what’s going on in the youth hockey world.
A unique point of the website is that it will be run by members of the FIH Youth Panel, all young hockey leaders. It will give all hockey nations, including the developing ones, a platform and the opportunity to be part of the global hockey family. It will also give youth a voice, a message which the FIH has promoted for a long time.
The website can be accessed directly via www.worldhockey.org/youth or by clicking on the WorldHockey Youth banner on www.worldhockey.org.
WorldHockey