News for 22 May 2009
Friday, 22 May 2009 08:47 | 
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All the news for Friday 22 May 2009
Kenyans in clean hockey titles sweep
By David Namunyala
KCAU players celebrate victory after defeating Wanainchi
KENYAN sides dominated the East Africa Club Championships winning both the men and women titles at Lugogo yesterday.
Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCAU) men’s team saw off Uganda’s Wanainchi 3-0 with a brace from Jacob Githing and another goal by Duncan Wambua.
Uganda’s Weatherhead also failed the women final test going down 4-0 to United States International University (USIU). Baubaua Simiyu and Isabella scored two apiece to propel their team to victory.
The titles have continued to elude local clubs and it is only Wanainchi that have twice come close, losing out in the final. In 2000 they lost to Armed Forces of Tanzania and now to KCAU of Kenya.
Wanainchi’s coach Alto Unjima blamed yesterday’s loss to poor officiation by Kenyan umpire Benson Sujima, whom he said made a number of questionable decisions against his team.
“We accept the defeat and congratulate our opponents. They have been a good side throughout the tournament but still the Kenyan umpire was too biased,” Unjima said.
Wanainchi striker Thomas Opio scooped the best player’s award after emerging top scorer with five goals. Farm Engineering (Uganda) partly sponsored the one-week event.
EA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Finals
Men
Wanainchi 0 KACU 3
Women
USIU 4 Weatherhead 0
New Vision
Bloemendaal win first of three finals
Bloemendall won the first of 3 encounters to decide the winner of Holland's Hoofdklasse. See a clip of the goals here http://player.nos.nl/index.php/media/play/tcmid/tcm:5-518143/
All set for Hockey Four Nations
Durban, South Africa – Preparations are well under way for the SPAR Cup to be played at Queensmead in Durban early next month.
The four nations women’s hockey tournament features South Africa, Argentina, Australia and India and is an important part of South Africa’s build-up to the eight-nations Champions Challenge in Cape Town in October. The Champions Challenge involves the countries ranked from seventh to 12th in the world, as well as the team that finished sixth in the previous Champions Trophy. The winner of the Challenge competes in the next Champions Trophy.
Argentina are ranked second in the world, and Australia fifth, while India are ranked 14th – two places below South Africa. The opportunity to play strong opposition in a tournament situation will provide South Africa with much-needed international experience in a tournament situation.
There will be two matches a day from Tuesday June 2 to Saturday June 6, when the two top teams will play each other to decide the winner, while the other two teams play for bronze.
Argentina and Australia are among the world’s top hockey playing nations, with Argentina ranked second and Australia ranked fifth, and the tournament offers an ideal opportunity for hockey fans to watch world class hockey. South Africa are ranked 12 and India 14th.
Tickets for the tournament will be available at the Queensmead Hockey Stadium. Adults pay R20 a day and people under 18 pay R10. A tournament package will cost R50 for adults and R30 for minors, but there is no charge for scholars wearing school uniform.
Match fixtures:
Tuesday June 2:
Australia v India (2pm)
SPAR South Africa v Argentina (4pm)
Wednesday June 3:
Argentina v Australia (2pm)
SPAR South Africa v India (4pm)
Friday June 5:
India v Argentina (2pm)
SPAR South Africa v Australia (4pm)
Saturday June 6:
3rd v 4th (12.30 pm)
1st v 2nd (3pm)
SA Hockey Association media release
Members of Pan American Cup Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist to Compete at Cal Cup 2009
By Jawwad Qamar
Moorpark, CA, May 21: Members of Pan American Cup silver medalist USA are to compete at the 2009 California Cup International Field Hockey Tournament that will commence on May 22nd, at Moorpark College.
Led by outstanding local players Patrick Harris, Sean Harris, Ian Scally, Jed Cunningham, Jonathan Ginolfi and the veteran Patrick Cota, the fast rising young USA team fell to Canada, 2-1 in an overtime heartbreaker, in the finals of the 2010 World Cup qualifier – the 2009 Pan Am Cup in Santiago, Chile. However, all is not lost for the American men as they get another shot in one of three World Cup qualifying tournaments to be held later this year and their world ranking has climbed 11 spots, from the 30th to the 19th position. The USA men took gold last November at the Pan American Indoor Cup in San Juan, Argentina by surprising the highly ranked Argentineans 6-1, in the finals. These talented athletes will now showcase their skills in the Men’s Super Division at the 2009 California Cup playing for last year’s finalist the Camarillo Cougars.
In addition to the Americans, members of the Pan Am Cup Gold medalist Canada who with their win qualified for the 2010 World Cup, to be held in India, will also see action at the 2009 Cal Cup. Canadian goalkeeper David Carter, who was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament in Santiago, is expected to play at the tournament along with teammate Scott Tupper as part of the Dirty Birds from Vancouver, British Columbia. The Dirty Birds have to be considered one of the favorites along with the Cougars and the defending champions Ciudad de Buenos Aires, a team that includes a number of players from the Pan Am Cup Bronze Medalist Argentina.
The USA Men’s Junior National Team on their way to the 2009 Junior World Cup in Malaysia and Singapore in June will also compete at Cal Cup as a final tune up for the world championship. This squad consists mostly of local athletes from Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Agoura, and Orange County, areas known as hotbed for field hockey on the west coast and will have the large home crowd support.
The Women’s Super Division is likely to see Rush’d, a team of current and former USA internationals and current college coaches, take the crown. Monarcas, the 2006 winners, however, could have a say in the final outcome in the six-team division where the ladies will play in the round robin format with the top two teams playing for the $5,000 cash.
This 38th edition of one of the largest and oldest the tournament in North America, more popularly known as the Cal Cup, will feature over 2,500 players on 136 teams in 20 divisions ranging from Mixed Under-9 to Men/Women Super Divisions at the Moorpark College and Arroyo Vista Recreation Center venues from May 22-25.
Cal Cup is the premier invitational field hockey tournament held annually in the United States under the auspices the Field Hockey Federation and California Cup Organizing Committee. In addition to $5,000 top prize in the Super Divisions, every player in the top three teams of each division will receive gold, silver, or bronze medals.
For schedule and directions to the venues, please visit www.calcup.net.
Fieldhockey.com Exclusive
PHF pulls up former goalie for seeking US visas
By Shazad Ali
KARACHI: Controversial former Pakistan hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmad is once again in hot water after being suspended as Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) academy coordinator for seeking US visas to feature in a tournament without receiving permission.
The PHF has issued show cause notices to the former goalkeeper as well as Zahid Afzal, who is associated with junior team as coach, junior team doctor Asad Abbas and international umpire Zulfiqar Haider.
Sources told Dawn.com all four officials were among the squad that was scheduled to participate in the California Cup which is to be held from May 22 to 25 at Moorpark College campus in Los Angeles. The PHF, however, issued letters to the quartet, asking why they tried to participate in the tournament abroad without the PHF’s approval.
Altogether some 12 people, including the four officials and Pakistan players, Abu Bakar and Yasir Islam, have been issued five-year multiple US visas for four-day event.
The tour has been arranged by Zulfiqar through California Cup chair Billy Ahluwalia and tournament director Ravi Kanwal. The participants were to bear their travel expenses for the event, also known as Cal Cup, which offers $5,000 cash prize for the winners.
Sources said that initially Pakistan women’s team coach, former international Ikhlaq Ahmad, was supposed to travel along with the group, but when he didn’t submit his passport, Zulfiqar asked Mansoor to accompany the team as coach.
Mansoor, a former Customs official, has been involved in number of controversies in the past. He was suspended as junior team coach some eight years ago and later sacked by the then PHF officials when he was arrested for stealing silver in huge quantity from a Customs warehouse, a charge for which he was later convicted.
The PHF took action against the goalkeeper since he is also a paid coach, getting around Rs25,000 monthly.
Zulfiqar, however, claims that all the cases were genuine and no ‘illegal visa’ had been obtained for the US.
‘I never went to seek visas for myself as I already had five-year multiple US visa. I can say with full confidence that all the 12 people are genuine and that this is not a case of human trafficking,’ sources quoted Zulfiqar as saying.
Interestingly, it has been recently revealed that PHF secretary Asif Bajwa had also sought German visas for his wife, son and an unknown individual through a PHF letterhead for Hamburg Masters last year.
While there are reports that several groups having non-genuine persons had sought visas for the US and Europe in the past, former PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan had also been at the centre of human smuggling scandal during his tenure.
Ikhlaq claimed he and junior team doctor opted not submit passports when they realised that Zulfiqar had not sought permission from the PHF.
‘Initially, Zulfiqar told me that he had taken permission from the PHF, but when later it was revealed that PHF is unaware of the programme, I refused to go with the squad. Zulfiqar also bluffed me, saying that PHF secretary had talked to the organisers.’
‘But when Asif talked to the organisers on phone and they confirmed that Asif never spoke to them, Zulfiqar was apologetic. As a result, Asif has now confiscated the passports of those who have US visas stamped. In fact it was Mansoor who went to embassy and recommended people for visas. But Asad Abbas is not suspended as he doesn’t have the visa,’ Ikhlaq claimed.
Ikhlaq said astonishingly the US embassy snubbed PHF when asked why visas were issued without federation’s No Objection Certificate. The US embassy said it didn’t need ‘approval’ to issue visas in this case, Ikhlaq added.
Interestingly, when contacted the PHF president Qasim Zia was not aware about Mansoor’s suspension.
‘These are administrative matters and secretary deals with them. He can better comment on that,’ said Qasim.
Asif was, however, not available for comments.
Dawn
Dual role awaits Faisal in Junior World Cup
By AFTAR SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR: Pint-size forward Faisal Saari will shoulder a heavy responsibility in the Junior World Cup Finals, which will be co-hosted by Malaysia and Singapore from June 7-21.
The Kelantan-born player will not only have to score field goals but he has also to deliver from penalty corners.
Coach K. Rajan said that the 1.58m tall Faisal is a speedy player with good dribbling skills.
“He can play well in all departments and the best thing about him is that he can deliver both field and penalty corner goals,” he said.
Rajan added that Faisal has made tremendous progress since joining the national junior training squad last year.
“He is a dedicated and hardworking player, who can beat physically bigger and stronger opponent to score goals. He can also flick the ball powerfully and has scored a few penalty corner goals in tournaments,” he said.
Besides Faisal, the other penalty corner flicker in the team is defender Mohamed Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghaffar.
But Nor Hafiq is recovering from an appendicitis operation he underwent last week. He will undergo a medical check-up today to determine whether he can rejoin training next week.
“We need Nor Hafiq’s services. He is a good defender and also has good penalty corner flicks,” said Rajan.
There are 21 players in the training squad and the final squad of 18 will be named before the start of the Finals.
Malaysia will play their Group C matches in Johor Baru and they open their campaign against England on June 7. Their other matches are against South Korea (June 8), the United States (June 10) and Spain (June 12).
Defending champions Argentina are in Group A with Pakistan, Russia, Belgium and Egypt while Germany, Australia, Chile, Japan and South Africa are drawn in Group B. Group D has India, Holland, New Zealand, Poland are Singapore.
The Star of Malaysia
Committee to aid Beng Hai
By Ajitpal Singh
THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) will set up a special committee to assist interim coach Tai Beng Hai in recommending and preparing players for a stronger squad for future tournaments.
The committee is expected to be formed after the MHF conducts a post-mortem of the national team's performance in the recent Asia Cup. If endorsed by MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the committee will likely be headed by Datuk Poon Fook Loke with Colin Sta Maria, Wallace Tan and Stephen van Huizen as assistants.
MHF deputy president Nur Azmi Ahmad said the committee's main task will be to advise Beng Hai on ways to polish the team's overall tactics and technical ability.
"The committee, however, will have no power over the national team. Beng Hai will still be the main decision maker and all recommendations by the committee will have to pass through him," said Nur Azmi yesterday.
"The committee will start by studying video recordings of Malaysia's matches in the Asia Cup before listing things the national team need to improve."
On Beng Hai's coaching status, Nur Azmi said he will still be maintained as the interim coach for now.
"We are happy with his work. Beng Hai has managed to bring some improvements into the team and he is the main candidate for the full time job. We will likely decide, probably after the Champions Challenge II in July (Dublin)," he said.
On Malaysia's slide from 15th to 16th in the world ranking, Azmi said it is not a proud moment for Malaysian hockey.
"It was expected as Malaysia did not compete in last year's Beijing Olympics. The national team will have to make an impression in Dublin to ensure points are earned to move up the rankings," added Azmi.
l THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) has given India until July to form a proper national body for hockey and improve security or risk losing the World Cup scheduled for next March in New Delhi.
A reliable source said it is likely that Malaysia will be offered the hosting job if India fails to meet the FIH requirements.
"It will be known in July. The National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil will be the venue for the world meet if given to Malaysia," said the source.
The FIH has been in close contact with MHF regarding the hosting job over the past weeks. FIH has given top marks to the facilities in Bukit Jalil but wants the local federation to lay new turf for both pitches at the National Stadium.
New Straits Times
Change must come from States
By Vijesh Rai
TENGKU Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah must be a relieved man.
The national team's first two outings, though they were a tad disappointing in the Asia Cup semi-final, ended with more positives than negatives and the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president has every reason to feel buoyant.
The early days of his tenure indicate Tengku Abdullah may enjoy greater success than he did as FA of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president but if that is indeed to be the case, he must start cracking the whip now.
Though the national team finished second in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and met the semi-final target in the Asia Cup, we will be fooling ourselves if we believe that hockey is on the rise.
It isn't and there will only be false dawns as long as the sport's structure isn't drastically improved.
The Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) is anything but world class and Jiwa Mohan, lured out of international retirement for the Asia Cup, was only being honest in his assessment when he said the national players should ply their trade in Europe.
That should be an immediate target for Tengku Abdullah after having, despite several valiant attempts, to do the same with the football players.
What Tengku Abdullah has got going for him in hockey is that Malaysia still has some players who are highly rated at world level and finding them European clubs shouldn't be that major a problem.
A rosy picture is also being painted about the Bukit Jalil and Bandar Penawar Sports Schools but the two are not enough to sustain the rise, if there is to be one, of Malaysian hockey.
What hockey needs, to ensure those in the various national teams and sports schools don't become complacent, is a structure where quality players are just waiting to replace them.
We don't have that now and the fact that an Under-17 Bukit Jalil Sports School team won the Under-19 Division 2 title and an even younger team are leading the Division One standings currently is proof of that.
For this to change, Tengku Abdullah has to address the root of the problem - the state affiliates.
Too few are actually promoting hockey but the real problem is all are decision makers and we all know the decisions are always favourable to them.
What Tengku Abdullah must do is, and this will be a big task, devise a formula where the hard-working and successful are rewarded - financial and votes-wise while those who continue to give excuses for their lack of commitment be "punished" by a gradual withdrawal of their rights.
This could even mean losing their right to vote and if Tengku Abdullah can do this, then the feeling of relief he is currently enjoying may well be replaced by real success.
(Vijesh is the Sports Editor of the New Straits Times)
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Chance for Forces to grab top spot
ARMED Forces Airod will get a chance to top the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Division One table today when they square off with UiTM at the Tun Razak Stadium.
This weekend will also see Ipoh City Council play their first match -- against Dolphins -- in Lumut, and the state side's strength will be known.
Current leaders Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) have a lengthy break and only play their third match on June 14 against Malacca City Council.
"I will use the break to train my forwards to be sharper in the semi-circle and also to strengthen our penalty corner battery," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
The Division One champions will get a chance to play in the Premier League in October but there is a glitch in the planned fixture.
Malaysia will be playing in the World Cup Qualifiers in November and with Ernst & Young having almost the entire national team in their stable, the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) needs to do its homework fast if it wants to hold the Premier League this year.
TODAY: UNIMAP v Malacca City Council (Kanger, 5pm), Dolphins v Ipoh City Council (Lumut, 5pm), ATM-Airod v UiTM (Tun Razak Stadium, 5pm).
SUNDAY: Air Force v Malacca City Council (Sungai Petani, 5pm), UNIMAP v UiTM (Kangar, 5pm).
New Straits Times
Malacca CC aim for a top two finish to gain promotion
KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca City Council have set a target to finish among the top two in Division One of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) to earn promotion to the Premier Division.
And they have gone on the right track after chalking up four points from two matches — beating Dolphins 2-1 and drawing 1-1 with Armed Forces Airod.
Assistant manager Mazlan Mohd Said said that they were satisfied with the team’s performance thus far.
“We started our preparation last December and the players are combining well. Most of our players are employees of the Malacca City Council. But we have former national junior player Norhanifi (Omar) to beef up our defence,” he said.
Mazlan added that they had also gained the services of forward Mohd Fareez Ismail, who was dropped from the national junior training squad last month.
Malacca CC will play against Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Unimap) in Kangar today and will take on Air Force in Sungai Petani on Sunday.
“We are confident of collecting full points from the two matches to remain at the top of the standings,” said Mazlan.
Malacca CC, Bukit Jalil Sports Schools (BJSS) and Armed Forces Airod are tied on four points each but the sports school are the leaders on better goal difference.
The Star of Malaysia
Asia Cup loss hurts but team performed superbly: Coach
By Shazia Hasan
KARACHI: National hockey team’s Chief Coach Shahid Ali Khan has said that while Pakistan’s failure to win the Asia Cup has come as a big disappointment, he is still pleased with the way the boys played in the prestigious event.
Desperate to win the recently-concluded Asia Cup in Malaysia in order to directly qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Pakistan ended up second after losing 1-0 to South Korea in the thrilling final played in Kuantan on Saturday.
‘We were to play two back-to-back events and a team cannot be at the peak in both of them. Malaysia and India played the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final but they couldn’t maintain the same performance in the Asia Cup,’ said Shahid while speaking to Dawn on Monday evening, soon after the team’s arrival here.
‘Yes, our target was to win the Asia Cup, which couldn’t happen. But seeing the way our boys played in the event, I am very hopeful about us qualifying later this year for the World Cup,’ said the chief coach.
When asked what he thought about the four seniors in the team — namely, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Rehan Butt and Salman Akbar — who couldn’t really perform up to the expectations, Shahid who took over as the team’s coach in February said: ‘They played rather well, if you ask me.’
On being reminded that penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas could only convert one penalty-corner of the 14 Pakistan got in the tournament, Shahid said: ‘Yes, his execution was not good but he played a key role in our defence. Very few goals could be scored against us with him there. We had earlier also thought of making Sohail play in the right-half position but we didn’t feel the need to do so after watching him in action as full back. Fitness is no problem for him even at his 32 years of age. As for the execution part, well, we intend to work on that too.’
‘Then Waseem was very good in the middle and Rehan too scored at the right time. Salman, too, is improving and we definitely need these players in the Pakistan side as I always say that there is no substitute for experience.’
About the junior boys, the coach said: ‘Haseem Khan was the find of the tournament, as was Mohammad Irfan who then played as right-half.’
When asked if they will be sent back to the junior team now after having proven themselves as valuable players in the national side, Shahid said: ‘Well, yes. They are needed for the Junior World Cup staring June 7. They will be back and available again before the national team’s next assignment -the four-nation tournament in Russia — starting June 23 and featuring India, South Africa, Pakistan and the hosts.’
About the team’s other forthcoming assignments, he said: ‘The four-nation in Russia will be followed by three Test matches in England. We need to play more matches with all the teams that have already qualified for the World Cup such as India, Ireland, Argentina, New Zealand, etc.’
About the qualifiers he said: ‘They will be played at three centres — Dubai, France and New Zealand — but the FIH will decide which country plays where, depending on their rankings. They are all going to take place around November as the World Cup itself is in March. We would most probably play in Dubai.’
And how do they intend preparing themselves before that? ‘Having come second in the Asia Cup, we already know that we are on the right track,’ said Shahid confidently.
‘Sohail and Waseem will leave shortly to resume playing for their leagues but Rehan and Salman are here. We will be improvising on our short corners involving various drills to improve on indirect passes. Our attack and defense too will be improved on further. Then we have already handed out off season plans to each boy to practice while away from camp and they will be tested on joining camp when it commences around June 10. We are still looking to regain our past form and win the 2010 World Cup after qualifying to play in it,’ he concluded.
Earlier, the team received a warm welcome at the Quaid-i-Azam Airport after which the players belonging to other cities left for Lahore to catch connecting flights from there.
Dawn
Players must learn to play final as special game: Bajwa
LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa has stressed on the players to learn to play the final as a special match as it requires performance that goes beyond the ordinary.
'One of the factors leading to our defeat in the Asia Cup final was that most of the players did not see it as a do or die situation,’ he said on Wednesday while trying to analyse and reflect on the cause of the team’s defeat in the final at the hands of South Korea.
Bajwa, who acted as team manager in Malaysia, said that some of the players failed to rise to the occasion in the final because they did not have adequate experience in hand to tackle crunch situations.
‘Final matches are full of pressure with the team relying on the abilities of fellow members for achieving even the impossible. But the Pakistan team was playing the final after a long time and lost despite doing good,’ he said.
While elaborating further, Bajwa said that chances in a final match do not come one after another and some times a team which misses a few good chances fails to score with their opponents availing one or two sitters to change their luck, which is what happened with Pakistan in the final. We were close to scoring so many times but failed and Korea availed their only chance to win the match.
Defending the performance of senior players, namely, Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmad, Salman Akbar and Mohammad Saqlain, Bajwa said that they demonstrated fine hockey and were a big inspiration for the young players.
‘I am not going to say that everything was perfect as far as their performance goes but the senior players made a good effort besides motivating the team,’ he said.
On his attention being drawn towards ace penalty-corner shooter Sohail Abbas managing just one goal out of 16 short corners in the tournament, he agreed that the conversion rate was not encouraging at all on Sohail’s part who has improved a lot in his defensive skills.
‘Sohail is always under pressure to score off short corners and it makes his task even more difficult as it is virtually very hard to score on short corners in modern hockey as all teams have their own special ways of stopping shooters and that is why Sohail remained unsuccessful, he said.
Replying to another question he said that the senior players will remain with the national team to represent Pakistan in major tournaments for as long as they were fit enough and capable of delivering the goods.
The PHF secretary said that now their emphasis will be on preparing the players to play in the final with a different frame of mind and the more the finals its gets to play, the more it will improve.
‘Gone are the days when we got to play the final of every big or small tournament and now the time has come that we should expect our team to reach the final and win it as well,’ he said.
Dawn
National Women’s Hockey Championship
Staff Report
LAHORE: The National Women’s Hockey Championship is starting from June 24 here at the National Hockey Stadium. “The preliminary rounds of associations and departments will be played from June 24-27 simultaneously while the final round will be held from June 29 to July 6,” said a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Thursday. He said the PHF women’s wing had directed the provincial and Islamabad associations along with Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Police, Pakistan WAPDA, Pakistan Army and Rangers to arrange training camps for the preparation of the championship.
Under-18 Girls Asia Cup: Meanwhile, a training camp of girls for the Under-18 Girls Asia Cup Hockey Tournament will start from June 17 at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium in Karachi. The Under-18 Girls Asia Cup will be played from July 18 to 26 in Shanghai, China. 46 players from all four provinces and Islamabad will take part in the camp. 10 girls from Sindh, 8 from Balochistan, 4 from NWFP, 8 from Islamabad and 16 girls from Lahore have been invited for the camp. The trials will be held on June 20 to shortlist twenty players.
The Daily Times
Kenyans in clean hockey titles sweep
By David Namunyala
KCAU players celebrate victory after defeating Wanainchi
KENYAN sides dominated the East Africa Club Championships winning both the men and women titles at Lugogo yesterday.
Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCAU) men’s team saw off Uganda’s Wanainchi 3-0 with a brace from Jacob Githing and another goal by Duncan Wambua.
Uganda’s Weatherhead also failed the women final test going down 4-0 to United States International University (USIU). Baubaua Simiyu and Isabella scored two apiece to propel their team to victory.
The titles have continued to elude local clubs and it is only Wanainchi that have twice come close, losing out in the final. In 2000 they lost to Armed Forces of Tanzania and now to KCAU of Kenya.
Wanainchi’s coach Alto Unjima blamed yesterday’s loss to poor officiation by Kenyan umpire Benson Sujima, whom he said made a number of questionable decisions against his team.
“We accept the defeat and congratulate our opponents. They have been a good side throughout the tournament but still the Kenyan umpire was too biased,” Unjima said.
Wanainchi striker Thomas Opio scooped the best player’s award after emerging top scorer with five goals. Farm Engineering (Uganda) partly sponsored the one-week event.
EA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Finals
Men
Wanainchi 0 KACU 3
Women
USIU 4 Weatherhead 0
New Vision
Bloemendaal win first of three finals
Bloemendall won the first of 3 encounters to decide the winner of Holland's Hoofdklasse. See a clip of the goals here http://player.nos.nl/index.php/media/play/tcmid/tcm:5-518143/
All set for Hockey Four Nations
Durban, South Africa – Preparations are well under way for the SPAR Cup to be played at Queensmead in Durban early next month.
The four nations women’s hockey tournament features South Africa, Argentina, Australia and India and is an important part of South Africa’s build-up to the eight-nations Champions Challenge in Cape Town in October. The Champions Challenge involves the countries ranked from seventh to 12th in the world, as well as the team that finished sixth in the previous Champions Trophy. The winner of the Challenge competes in the next Champions Trophy.
Argentina are ranked second in the world, and Australia fifth, while India are ranked 14th – two places below South Africa. The opportunity to play strong opposition in a tournament situation will provide South Africa with much-needed international experience in a tournament situation.
There will be two matches a day from Tuesday June 2 to Saturday June 6, when the two top teams will play each other to decide the winner, while the other two teams play for bronze.
Argentina and Australia are among the world’s top hockey playing nations, with Argentina ranked second and Australia ranked fifth, and the tournament offers an ideal opportunity for hockey fans to watch world class hockey. South Africa are ranked 12 and India 14th.
Tickets for the tournament will be available at the Queensmead Hockey Stadium. Adults pay R20 a day and people under 18 pay R10. A tournament package will cost R50 for adults and R30 for minors, but there is no charge for scholars wearing school uniform.
Match fixtures:
Tuesday June 2:
Australia v India (2pm)
SPAR South Africa v Argentina (4pm)
Wednesday June 3:
Argentina v Australia (2pm)
SPAR South Africa v India (4pm)
Friday June 5:
India v Argentina (2pm)
SPAR South Africa v Australia (4pm)
Saturday June 6:
3rd v 4th (12.30 pm)
1st v 2nd (3pm)
SA Hockey Association media release
Members of Pan American Cup Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist to Compete at Cal Cup 2009
By Jawwad Qamar
Moorpark, CA, May 21: Members of Pan American Cup silver medalist USA are to compete at the 2009 California Cup International Field Hockey Tournament that will commence on May 22nd, at Moorpark College.
Led by outstanding local players Patrick Harris, Sean Harris, Ian Scally, Jed Cunningham, Jonathan Ginolfi and the veteran Patrick Cota, the fast rising young USA team fell to Canada, 2-1 in an overtime heartbreaker, in the finals of the 2010 World Cup qualifier – the 2009 Pan Am Cup in Santiago, Chile. However, all is not lost for the American men as they get another shot in one of three World Cup qualifying tournaments to be held later this year and their world ranking has climbed 11 spots, from the 30th to the 19th position. The USA men took gold last November at the Pan American Indoor Cup in San Juan, Argentina by surprising the highly ranked Argentineans 6-1, in the finals. These talented athletes will now showcase their skills in the Men’s Super Division at the 2009 California Cup playing for last year’s finalist the Camarillo Cougars.
In addition to the Americans, members of the Pan Am Cup Gold medalist Canada who with their win qualified for the 2010 World Cup, to be held in India, will also see action at the 2009 Cal Cup. Canadian goalkeeper David Carter, who was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament in Santiago, is expected to play at the tournament along with teammate Scott Tupper as part of the Dirty Birds from Vancouver, British Columbia. The Dirty Birds have to be considered one of the favorites along with the Cougars and the defending champions Ciudad de Buenos Aires, a team that includes a number of players from the Pan Am Cup Bronze Medalist Argentina.
The USA Men’s Junior National Team on their way to the 2009 Junior World Cup in Malaysia and Singapore in June will also compete at Cal Cup as a final tune up for the world championship. This squad consists mostly of local athletes from Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Agoura, and Orange County, areas known as hotbed for field hockey on the west coast and will have the large home crowd support.
The Women’s Super Division is likely to see Rush’d, a team of current and former USA internationals and current college coaches, take the crown. Monarcas, the 2006 winners, however, could have a say in the final outcome in the six-team division where the ladies will play in the round robin format with the top two teams playing for the $5,000 cash.
This 38th edition of one of the largest and oldest the tournament in North America, more popularly known as the Cal Cup, will feature over 2,500 players on 136 teams in 20 divisions ranging from Mixed Under-9 to Men/Women Super Divisions at the Moorpark College and Arroyo Vista Recreation Center venues from May 22-25.
Cal Cup is the premier invitational field hockey tournament held annually in the United States under the auspices the Field Hockey Federation and California Cup Organizing Committee. In addition to $5,000 top prize in the Super Divisions, every player in the top three teams of each division will receive gold, silver, or bronze medals.
For schedule and directions to the venues, please visit www.calcup.net.
Fieldhockey.com Exclusive
PHF pulls up former goalie for seeking US visas
By Shazad Ali
KARACHI: Controversial former Pakistan hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmad is once again in hot water after being suspended as Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) academy coordinator for seeking US visas to feature in a tournament without receiving permission.
The PHF has issued show cause notices to the former goalkeeper as well as Zahid Afzal, who is associated with junior team as coach, junior team doctor Asad Abbas and international umpire Zulfiqar Haider.
Sources told Dawn.com all four officials were among the squad that was scheduled to participate in the California Cup which is to be held from May 22 to 25 at Moorpark College campus in Los Angeles. The PHF, however, issued letters to the quartet, asking why they tried to participate in the tournament abroad without the PHF’s approval.
Altogether some 12 people, including the four officials and Pakistan players, Abu Bakar and Yasir Islam, have been issued five-year multiple US visas for four-day event.
The tour has been arranged by Zulfiqar through California Cup chair Billy Ahluwalia and tournament director Ravi Kanwal. The participants were to bear their travel expenses for the event, also known as Cal Cup, which offers $5,000 cash prize for the winners.
Sources said that initially Pakistan women’s team coach, former international Ikhlaq Ahmad, was supposed to travel along with the group, but when he didn’t submit his passport, Zulfiqar asked Mansoor to accompany the team as coach.
Mansoor, a former Customs official, has been involved in number of controversies in the past. He was suspended as junior team coach some eight years ago and later sacked by the then PHF officials when he was arrested for stealing silver in huge quantity from a Customs warehouse, a charge for which he was later convicted.
The PHF took action against the goalkeeper since he is also a paid coach, getting around Rs25,000 monthly.
Zulfiqar, however, claims that all the cases were genuine and no ‘illegal visa’ had been obtained for the US.
‘I never went to seek visas for myself as I already had five-year multiple US visa. I can say with full confidence that all the 12 people are genuine and that this is not a case of human trafficking,’ sources quoted Zulfiqar as saying.
Interestingly, it has been recently revealed that PHF secretary Asif Bajwa had also sought German visas for his wife, son and an unknown individual through a PHF letterhead for Hamburg Masters last year.
While there are reports that several groups having non-genuine persons had sought visas for the US and Europe in the past, former PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan had also been at the centre of human smuggling scandal during his tenure.
Ikhlaq claimed he and junior team doctor opted not submit passports when they realised that Zulfiqar had not sought permission from the PHF.
‘Initially, Zulfiqar told me that he had taken permission from the PHF, but when later it was revealed that PHF is unaware of the programme, I refused to go with the squad. Zulfiqar also bluffed me, saying that PHF secretary had talked to the organisers.’
‘But when Asif talked to the organisers on phone and they confirmed that Asif never spoke to them, Zulfiqar was apologetic. As a result, Asif has now confiscated the passports of those who have US visas stamped. In fact it was Mansoor who went to embassy and recommended people for visas. But Asad Abbas is not suspended as he doesn’t have the visa,’ Ikhlaq claimed.
Ikhlaq said astonishingly the US embassy snubbed PHF when asked why visas were issued without federation’s No Objection Certificate. The US embassy said it didn’t need ‘approval’ to issue visas in this case, Ikhlaq added.
Interestingly, when contacted the PHF president Qasim Zia was not aware about Mansoor’s suspension.
‘These are administrative matters and secretary deals with them. He can better comment on that,’ said Qasim.
Asif was, however, not available for comments.
Dawn
Dual role awaits Faisal in Junior World Cup
By AFTAR SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR: Pint-size forward Faisal Saari will shoulder a heavy responsibility in the Junior World Cup Finals, which will be co-hosted by Malaysia and Singapore from June 7-21.
The Kelantan-born player will not only have to score field goals but he has also to deliver from penalty corners.
Coach K. Rajan said that the 1.58m tall Faisal is a speedy player with good dribbling skills.
“He can play well in all departments and the best thing about him is that he can deliver both field and penalty corner goals,” he said.
Rajan added that Faisal has made tremendous progress since joining the national junior training squad last year.
“He is a dedicated and hardworking player, who can beat physically bigger and stronger opponent to score goals. He can also flick the ball powerfully and has scored a few penalty corner goals in tournaments,” he said.
Besides Faisal, the other penalty corner flicker in the team is defender Mohamed Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghaffar.
But Nor Hafiq is recovering from an appendicitis operation he underwent last week. He will undergo a medical check-up today to determine whether he can rejoin training next week.
“We need Nor Hafiq’s services. He is a good defender and also has good penalty corner flicks,” said Rajan.
There are 21 players in the training squad and the final squad of 18 will be named before the start of the Finals.
Malaysia will play their Group C matches in Johor Baru and they open their campaign against England on June 7. Their other matches are against South Korea (June 8), the United States (June 10) and Spain (June 12).
Defending champions Argentina are in Group A with Pakistan, Russia, Belgium and Egypt while Germany, Australia, Chile, Japan and South Africa are drawn in Group B. Group D has India, Holland, New Zealand, Poland are Singapore.
The Star of Malaysia
Committee to aid Beng Hai
By Ajitpal Singh
THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) will set up a special committee to assist interim coach Tai Beng Hai in recommending and preparing players for a stronger squad for future tournaments.
The committee is expected to be formed after the MHF conducts a post-mortem of the national team's performance in the recent Asia Cup. If endorsed by MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the committee will likely be headed by Datuk Poon Fook Loke with Colin Sta Maria, Wallace Tan and Stephen van Huizen as assistants.
MHF deputy president Nur Azmi Ahmad said the committee's main task will be to advise Beng Hai on ways to polish the team's overall tactics and technical ability.
"The committee, however, will have no power over the national team. Beng Hai will still be the main decision maker and all recommendations by the committee will have to pass through him," said Nur Azmi yesterday.
"The committee will start by studying video recordings of Malaysia's matches in the Asia Cup before listing things the national team need to improve."
On Beng Hai's coaching status, Nur Azmi said he will still be maintained as the interim coach for now.
"We are happy with his work. Beng Hai has managed to bring some improvements into the team and he is the main candidate for the full time job. We will likely decide, probably after the Champions Challenge II in July (Dublin)," he said.
On Malaysia's slide from 15th to 16th in the world ranking, Azmi said it is not a proud moment for Malaysian hockey.
"It was expected as Malaysia did not compete in last year's Beijing Olympics. The national team will have to make an impression in Dublin to ensure points are earned to move up the rankings," added Azmi.
l THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) has given India until July to form a proper national body for hockey and improve security or risk losing the World Cup scheduled for next March in New Delhi.
A reliable source said it is likely that Malaysia will be offered the hosting job if India fails to meet the FIH requirements.
"It will be known in July. The National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil will be the venue for the world meet if given to Malaysia," said the source.
The FIH has been in close contact with MHF regarding the hosting job over the past weeks. FIH has given top marks to the facilities in Bukit Jalil but wants the local federation to lay new turf for both pitches at the National Stadium.
New Straits Times
Change must come from States
By Vijesh Rai
TENGKU Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah must be a relieved man.
The national team's first two outings, though they were a tad disappointing in the Asia Cup semi-final, ended with more positives than negatives and the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president has every reason to feel buoyant.
The early days of his tenure indicate Tengku Abdullah may enjoy greater success than he did as FA of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president but if that is indeed to be the case, he must start cracking the whip now.
Though the national team finished second in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and met the semi-final target in the Asia Cup, we will be fooling ourselves if we believe that hockey is on the rise.
It isn't and there will only be false dawns as long as the sport's structure isn't drastically improved.
The Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) is anything but world class and Jiwa Mohan, lured out of international retirement for the Asia Cup, was only being honest in his assessment when he said the national players should ply their trade in Europe.
That should be an immediate target for Tengku Abdullah after having, despite several valiant attempts, to do the same with the football players.
What Tengku Abdullah has got going for him in hockey is that Malaysia still has some players who are highly rated at world level and finding them European clubs shouldn't be that major a problem.
A rosy picture is also being painted about the Bukit Jalil and Bandar Penawar Sports Schools but the two are not enough to sustain the rise, if there is to be one, of Malaysian hockey.
What hockey needs, to ensure those in the various national teams and sports schools don't become complacent, is a structure where quality players are just waiting to replace them.
We don't have that now and the fact that an Under-17 Bukit Jalil Sports School team won the Under-19 Division 2 title and an even younger team are leading the Division One standings currently is proof of that.
For this to change, Tengku Abdullah has to address the root of the problem - the state affiliates.
Too few are actually promoting hockey but the real problem is all are decision makers and we all know the decisions are always favourable to them.
What Tengku Abdullah must do is, and this will be a big task, devise a formula where the hard-working and successful are rewarded - financial and votes-wise while those who continue to give excuses for their lack of commitment be "punished" by a gradual withdrawal of their rights.
This could even mean losing their right to vote and if Tengku Abdullah can do this, then the feeling of relief he is currently enjoying may well be replaced by real success.
(Vijesh is the Sports Editor of the New Straits Times)
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Chance for Forces to grab top spot
ARMED Forces Airod will get a chance to top the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Division One table today when they square off with UiTM at the Tun Razak Stadium.
This weekend will also see Ipoh City Council play their first match -- against Dolphins -- in Lumut, and the state side's strength will be known.
Current leaders Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) have a lengthy break and only play their third match on June 14 against Malacca City Council.
"I will use the break to train my forwards to be sharper in the semi-circle and also to strengthen our penalty corner battery," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
The Division One champions will get a chance to play in the Premier League in October but there is a glitch in the planned fixture.
Malaysia will be playing in the World Cup Qualifiers in November and with Ernst & Young having almost the entire national team in their stable, the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) needs to do its homework fast if it wants to hold the Premier League this year.
TODAY: UNIMAP v Malacca City Council (Kanger, 5pm), Dolphins v Ipoh City Council (Lumut, 5pm), ATM-Airod v UiTM (Tun Razak Stadium, 5pm).
SUNDAY: Air Force v Malacca City Council (Sungai Petani, 5pm), UNIMAP v UiTM (Kangar, 5pm).
New Straits Times
Malacca CC aim for a top two finish to gain promotion
KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca City Council have set a target to finish among the top two in Division One of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) to earn promotion to the Premier Division.
And they have gone on the right track after chalking up four points from two matches — beating Dolphins 2-1 and drawing 1-1 with Armed Forces Airod.
Assistant manager Mazlan Mohd Said said that they were satisfied with the team’s performance thus far.
“We started our preparation last December and the players are combining well. Most of our players are employees of the Malacca City Council. But we have former national junior player Norhanifi (Omar) to beef up our defence,” he said.
Mazlan added that they had also gained the services of forward Mohd Fareez Ismail, who was dropped from the national junior training squad last month.
Malacca CC will play against Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Unimap) in Kangar today and will take on Air Force in Sungai Petani on Sunday.
“We are confident of collecting full points from the two matches to remain at the top of the standings,” said Mazlan.
Malacca CC, Bukit Jalil Sports Schools (BJSS) and Armed Forces Airod are tied on four points each but the sports school are the leaders on better goal difference.
The Star of Malaysia
Asia Cup loss hurts but team performed superbly: Coach
By Shazia Hasan
KARACHI: National hockey team’s Chief Coach Shahid Ali Khan has said that while Pakistan’s failure to win the Asia Cup has come as a big disappointment, he is still pleased with the way the boys played in the prestigious event.
Desperate to win the recently-concluded Asia Cup in Malaysia in order to directly qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Pakistan ended up second after losing 1-0 to South Korea in the thrilling final played in Kuantan on Saturday.
‘We were to play two back-to-back events and a team cannot be at the peak in both of them. Malaysia and India played the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final but they couldn’t maintain the same performance in the Asia Cup,’ said Shahid while speaking to Dawn on Monday evening, soon after the team’s arrival here.
‘Yes, our target was to win the Asia Cup, which couldn’t happen. But seeing the way our boys played in the event, I am very hopeful about us qualifying later this year for the World Cup,’ said the chief coach.
When asked what he thought about the four seniors in the team — namely, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Rehan Butt and Salman Akbar — who couldn’t really perform up to the expectations, Shahid who took over as the team’s coach in February said: ‘They played rather well, if you ask me.’
On being reminded that penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas could only convert one penalty-corner of the 14 Pakistan got in the tournament, Shahid said: ‘Yes, his execution was not good but he played a key role in our defence. Very few goals could be scored against us with him there. We had earlier also thought of making Sohail play in the right-half position but we didn’t feel the need to do so after watching him in action as full back. Fitness is no problem for him even at his 32 years of age. As for the execution part, well, we intend to work on that too.’
‘Then Waseem was very good in the middle and Rehan too scored at the right time. Salman, too, is improving and we definitely need these players in the Pakistan side as I always say that there is no substitute for experience.’
About the junior boys, the coach said: ‘Haseem Khan was the find of the tournament, as was Mohammad Irfan who then played as right-half.’
When asked if they will be sent back to the junior team now after having proven themselves as valuable players in the national side, Shahid said: ‘Well, yes. They are needed for the Junior World Cup staring June 7. They will be back and available again before the national team’s next assignment -the four-nation tournament in Russia — starting June 23 and featuring India, South Africa, Pakistan and the hosts.’
About the team’s other forthcoming assignments, he said: ‘The four-nation in Russia will be followed by three Test matches in England. We need to play more matches with all the teams that have already qualified for the World Cup such as India, Ireland, Argentina, New Zealand, etc.’
About the qualifiers he said: ‘They will be played at three centres — Dubai, France and New Zealand — but the FIH will decide which country plays where, depending on their rankings. They are all going to take place around November as the World Cup itself is in March. We would most probably play in Dubai.’
And how do they intend preparing themselves before that? ‘Having come second in the Asia Cup, we already know that we are on the right track,’ said Shahid confidently.
‘Sohail and Waseem will leave shortly to resume playing for their leagues but Rehan and Salman are here. We will be improvising on our short corners involving various drills to improve on indirect passes. Our attack and defense too will be improved on further. Then we have already handed out off season plans to each boy to practice while away from camp and they will be tested on joining camp when it commences around June 10. We are still looking to regain our past form and win the 2010 World Cup after qualifying to play in it,’ he concluded.
Earlier, the team received a warm welcome at the Quaid-i-Azam Airport after which the players belonging to other cities left for Lahore to catch connecting flights from there.
Dawn
Players must learn to play final as special game: Bajwa
LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa has stressed on the players to learn to play the final as a special match as it requires performance that goes beyond the ordinary.
'One of the factors leading to our defeat in the Asia Cup final was that most of the players did not see it as a do or die situation,’ he said on Wednesday while trying to analyse and reflect on the cause of the team’s defeat in the final at the hands of South Korea.
Bajwa, who acted as team manager in Malaysia, said that some of the players failed to rise to the occasion in the final because they did not have adequate experience in hand to tackle crunch situations.
‘Final matches are full of pressure with the team relying on the abilities of fellow members for achieving even the impossible. But the Pakistan team was playing the final after a long time and lost despite doing good,’ he said.
While elaborating further, Bajwa said that chances in a final match do not come one after another and some times a team which misses a few good chances fails to score with their opponents availing one or two sitters to change their luck, which is what happened with Pakistan in the final. We were close to scoring so many times but failed and Korea availed their only chance to win the match.
Defending the performance of senior players, namely, Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmad, Salman Akbar and Mohammad Saqlain, Bajwa said that they demonstrated fine hockey and were a big inspiration for the young players.
‘I am not going to say that everything was perfect as far as their performance goes but the senior players made a good effort besides motivating the team,’ he said.
On his attention being drawn towards ace penalty-corner shooter Sohail Abbas managing just one goal out of 16 short corners in the tournament, he agreed that the conversion rate was not encouraging at all on Sohail’s part who has improved a lot in his defensive skills.
‘Sohail is always under pressure to score off short corners and it makes his task even more difficult as it is virtually very hard to score on short corners in modern hockey as all teams have their own special ways of stopping shooters and that is why Sohail remained unsuccessful, he said.
Replying to another question he said that the senior players will remain with the national team to represent Pakistan in major tournaments for as long as they were fit enough and capable of delivering the goods.
The PHF secretary said that now their emphasis will be on preparing the players to play in the final with a different frame of mind and the more the finals its gets to play, the more it will improve.
‘Gone are the days when we got to play the final of every big or small tournament and now the time has come that we should expect our team to reach the final and win it as well,’ he said.
Dawn
National Women’s Hockey Championship
Staff Report
LAHORE: The National Women’s Hockey Championship is starting from June 24 here at the National Hockey Stadium. “The preliminary rounds of associations and departments will be played from June 24-27 simultaneously while the final round will be held from June 29 to July 6,” said a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Thursday. He said the PHF women’s wing had directed the provincial and Islamabad associations along with Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Police, Pakistan WAPDA, Pakistan Army and Rangers to arrange training camps for the preparation of the championship.
Under-18 Girls Asia Cup: Meanwhile, a training camp of girls for the Under-18 Girls Asia Cup Hockey Tournament will start from June 17 at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium in Karachi. The Under-18 Girls Asia Cup will be played from July 18 to 26 in Shanghai, China. 46 players from all four provinces and Islamabad will take part in the camp. 10 girls from Sindh, 8 from Balochistan, 4 from NWFP, 8 from Islamabad and 16 girls from Lahore have been invited for the camp. The trials will be held on June 20 to shortlist twenty players.
The Daily Times