News 06 September 2014
All the news for Saturday 6 September 2014
Ghana flatten Tanzania in championship opener
By BRIAN YONGA
Ghana’s Coffie Ernestina (front) scores past Tanzania’s Hassan Zuwena (left) and abdallah Kidawa at City Park Stadium on September 05, 2014. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
Ghana gave Tanzania a lesson in hockey, winning the opening match of the World Hockey League one series 17-0 at the City Park Stadium Friday.
The West African side dominated from start to finish, underlining their intentions of making it to the second round of the tournament.
Four goals from Aggrey Fauastina and a hat-rick Serwaa Boakye led the Ghanain women’s team to victory as Tanzania offered little resistance to the west African side.
Ghana were ahead after only two minutes when Boakye fired a low shot past Tanzanian keeper Rajaby Saguti. Three minutes later Cecilia Amoako made it 2-0 lead with low shot that beat the keeper to his right. It was 3-0 after 12 minutes when Gloria Darko scored a rebound shot after Saguti’s attempted clearance.
CLASSIC GOAL
The fourth goal was a classic as Boakye dribbled past three defenders before looping the ball past a hapless Saguti on the 13th minute of the match.
Tanzania could barely get out of their own half giving the ball away easily as Ghana controlled possesion in midfield. The game was effectively over as a contest when Rachel Bamfo made it five in the 16 th minute finishing of a wonderful move that was started in the Ghanian defence.
Prolific striker Elizabeth Opuku scored a brace but barely broke sweat and was soon subsitued for today” s crucial match against hosts Kenya.
The half-time whistle saw the East African side trail by eight goals.
The second half was much the same as the first half as Ghana bombarded the Tanzanian defence with attack after attack. Further goals from Martha Sarfoa, Fauastina Aggrey and Theresa Mills put the result beyond doubt.
Daily Nation
Midlands Men seize control of standings
Midlands have climbed to the top of the men’s standings after snapping Canterbury’s winning streak in Round 3 of the Ford National Hockey League today.
It was a dominant performance from the men in orange, handing the previously undefeated Cavaliers a 3-2 loss.
Captain Richard Petherick opened the scoring in just the third minute, firing a penalty corner drag flick into the back of the goal.
Midlands then raced out to a three goal buffer following the efforts of Zac Woods and Leo Mitai-Wells to take the game away from Canterbury.
The Cavaliers fought desperately and scored two goals through international guest players Simon Orchard and Nick Budgeon, but couldn’t find an equaliser.
In other men’s games today, the battle of the bridge between Auckland and North Harbour went right to the wire with a penalty shoot-out required to decide the winner.
After a goalless first half, Auckland got on the board thanks to a Dwayne Rowsell drag flick before Harbour’s James Coughlan scored a stunning goal with just nine seconds on the clock to level the scores.
The two sides were inseparable again after the first shoot-out round (4-4), before Jamie Dwyer hit home the winner in sudden death.
Capital took a regulation win over Northland with goals from Jacob Smith, Dane Lett and Jared Jones. International guest player Aidan Rintala scored Northland’s lone goal.
In the final men’s game of the day, the Southern Dogs edged the Central Mavericks 1-0 with the goal coming from Joe Crooks.
On the women’s side of the draw, the Canterbury Cats and Northland both came away with wins to remain unbeaten at the top of the table on 12 tournament points.
Canterbury secured a 2-1 result over North Harbour in a tight contest, helped by goals from Sian Fremaux and Olivia Merry.
Northland won their third straight game of the tournament with a 2-1 victory against last year’s finalists Capital. With much of the game tied, Stacey Michelsen proved the game changer with two goals to guide her side to another four points.
Auckland got their tournament moving in the right direction again with Sam Harrison and Krystal Forgesson helping them to a 2-0 win over defending champions Midlands.
The Central Mysticks rounded out the women’s fixtures with a 1-0 win over the Southern Storm, with the game winning goal coming from Deanna Ritchie.
Round 4 gets underway at 10.30am tomorrow with Midlands up against Northland for the men, before the first women’s game of the day at 11.00am between Midlands and Canterbury.
CLICK HERE for the full draw, results, standings and goal scorers
FORD NHL RESULTS – SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
MEN
Midlands 3: (Richard Petherick, Zac Woods, Leo Mitai-Wells)
Canterbury 2: (Simon Orchard, Nick Budgeon)
Capital 3: (Jacob Smith, Dane Lett, Jared Jones)
Northland 1: (Aidan Rintala)
Auckland 1: (Dwayne Rowsell)
North Harbour 1: (James Coughlan)
Auckland won shoot-out 5-4
Southern 1: (Joe Crooks)
Central 0
WOMEN
Auckland 2: (Sam Harrison, Krystal Forgesson)
Midlands 0
Canterbury 2: (Sian Fremaux, Olivia Merry)
North Harbour 1: (Kathryn Henry)
Northland 2: (Stacey Michelsen 2)
Capital 1: (Georgie Morgan)
Central 1: (Deanna Ritchie)
Southern 0
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Auckland count on Aussie import to add finishing touch
By David Leggat
Australian player Jamie Dwyer has high hopes of helping the Auckland team to the NHL title over the next nine days. Photo / Dean Purcell
Auckland will be hoping for an immediate pay-off from their high profile signing, Australian goalscoring legend Jamie Dwyer, when the national league resumes at North Harbour this weekend.
Defending champions Auckland, after a loss and a win on the opening weekend, play North Harbour and table-toppers Canterbury in a busy weekend of the NHL.
It is Dwyer's first visit to the league and he's clear on his key objectives.
"I just want to play good, consistent hockey, play my role for the team, whatever that may be and help the guys out. Obviously we want to win the tournament, that's the No 1 goal," he said.
Dwyer, five times world player of the year, and an Olympic, Commonwealth and World Cup winner during a glittering career, is here for theremainder of the NHL. It is a hectic time, with seven games in nine days, all at North Harbour, for all teams.
The 35-year-old from Rockhampton played 301 internationals and scored 206 goals for Australia. Whether his career is revived by new coach Graham Reid will depend on discussions when Dwyer returns home.
Dwyer was dumped for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games by coach Ric Charlesworth in what he calls "a weird situation".
"We went to the World Cup in The Hague in June and had a lot of success [Australia won the gold medal]. Five days after I got an email from Ric saying I wasn't in the Games team.
"He didn't really say any reason why. Then the next day he retired. I thought at least he could have told me face to face; even a phone call would have been enough."
Dwyer admitted two big tournaments in close proximity might have been a stretch for him. Still, no courtesy call didn't impress the all-time great.
He had been keen to come to the NHL before now "but the timing hasn't been right". He's doing coaching clinics in Auckland too.
Each team is allowed up to two overseas guest players during the NHL.
In the women's K Cup, Auckland play defending champions Midlands and North Harbour, while the early pacesetters, Canterbury and Northland, don't meet until the sixth round next Wednesday.
Teams have just two days off between today and next Sunday - Tuesday and Friday. Even allowing for the switch from two 35-minute halves to four 15-minute quarters, and greater scope for player rotation, the week will be a serious examination of player fitness.
Hockey League
NHL Round 3 (all North Harbour Stadium today)
Men: Midlands v Canterbury, 11am; Capital v Northland, 1pm; North Harbour v Auckland, 3pm; Southern v Central, 2pm
Women: Auckland v Midlands, 10.30am; North Harbour v Canterbury, 12.30pm; Northland v Capital, 2.30pm; Central v Southern, 4.30pm
Round 4 (all North Harbour Stadium tomorrow)
Men: Northland v Midlands, 10.30am; Auckland v Canterbury, 12.30pm; North Harbour v Central, 2.30pm; Capital v Southern, 4.30pm
Women: Midlands v Canterbury, 11am; North Harbour v Auckland, 1pm; Southern v Capital, 3pm; Central v Northland, 5pm.
The New Zealand Herald
Injury woes hit Malaysian hockey team
By S. Ramaguru
National hockey defender Faiz Helmi Jali is nursing a shoulder injury and may not make the team to the Asian Games starting on Sept 19. - Filepic
KUALA LUMPUR: The men’s national hockey team for the Incheon Asian Games in South Korea have been hit by a double injury blow.
Goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin and defender Faiz Helmi Jali are now racing against time to be ready for the Games from Sept 19-Oct 4.
Although Roslan is only a back-up to S. Kumar, Faiz’s absence will be a major blow to Malaysia. The 21-year-old Faiz has been a regular in the team for the last 18 months.
National interim coach A. Arulselvaraj revealed on Friday that Faiz will undergo an MRI on Saturday to check the extent of his shoulder injury.
“Both Roslan and Faiz are undergoing rehabilitation programmes. Roslan’s abdominal muscle tear is not that serious, but we still need to wait and see whether he can recover in time. As for Faiz, he sustained his injury during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last month and aggravated it during training. He has been receiving treatment, but his recovery has been rather slow.
“The doctors have ordered an MRI and will let us know the results before we make the final team selection next week,” he added.
Arulselvaraj is still undecided on whether to take one or two goalkeepers to the Asiad.
“We still have a few more days to make a decision. If we stick with one goalkeeper, it will give us an option to take an extra outfield player. It all depends on Kumar’s fitness and whether it is worth the risk,” said Arulselvaraj, who returned with the team from their tour of South Korea on Monday.
Faiz was absent in Malaysia’s two friendlies against club sides in Incheon last week. They lost 0-2 to the Incheon City team and then drew 1-1 with the Korea National Sport University.
The Malaysians are now in the final phase of training. They will leave for Incheon on Sept 17.
There are 20 players in the squad and four will be dropped when Arulselvaraj names the final 16 players on Sept 12.
Malaysia, the silver medallists at the 2010 Guangzhou Asiad, are in Group A with South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh and Singapore.
Defending champions Pakistan head Group B with India, Oman, Qatar and Sri Lanka.
Arulselvaraj’s team have been set a target of reaching the final by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
The Asiad is also a qualifier for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with the champions gaining an automatic berth.
The Star of Malaysia
Belfast out, Perth in for junior hockey team
by S. Ramaguru
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Juniors’ seven-match hockey tour of Belfast, Northern Ireland, from Sept 14–27 is off.
Instead, the team will now go to Perth during the same period for a five-match series with their Australian counterparts.
Juniors chief coach A. Arulselvaraj said the Irish were not able to confirm the matches due to their tight schedule.
“So we have decided to change the programme after Australia agreed to the matches. There is just no point going all the way to Northern Ireland and not able to play the agreed number of matches.
“Australia have confirmed four matches and will arrange a fifth one as well. I am sure we will find the trip Down Under useful,” he added.
The tour is part of the team’s build-up to the fourth Sultan of Johor Cup in Johor Baru from Oct 12-19. Besides Malaysia, the other teams competing are Australia, Britain, defending champions India, Pakistan and New Zealand.
The Juniors’ main target is next year’s Junior Asia Cup, which is a qualifier for the 2016 Junior World Cup.
Arulselvaraj, who is also the interim senior team coach, will not travel with the Juniors to Perth. The team will be handled by assistants Mohamed Amin Rahim and Jivan Mohan.
“I will be with the senior team at the Asian Games in South Korea (from Sept 19-Oct 4). I am sure the two coaches will be able to handle the team,” said Arulselvaraj, who took over the Juniors team in January this year.
The Star of Malaysia
Juniors going Down Under instead
By Jugjet Singh
THE National Juniors’ flight plan to Belfast has been rerouted to Perth, as they enter their final phase of training for the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) on Oct 12-19.
Initially, the team were supposed to play a series of friendlies in Belfast, but team manager Mirnawan Nawawi confirmed yesterday that Western Australian Institute of Sports (WAIS) are their new sparring opponents.
“The Belfast plan was shelved because we could not confirm the playing clubs, so we will be in Perth from Sept 15-23 and play a series of matches with the WAIS side,” said Mirnawan.
The SOJC, into its fourth edition, saw Malaysia win its inaugural tournament in 2011, but finished last in the next edition. The team bounced back by finishing second behind India last year.
The confirmed teams for SOJC are defending champions India, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and debutants Britain.
“We will take 22 players to Perth, of which three will be goalkeepers. And the final names will probably be confirmed by the end of the month.
“We expect tough matches against WAIS, and hopefully the boys will be hardened by the time they play in the SOJC,” said Mirnawan.
The tournament, which has received RM1.7 million in sponsorship, is the only invitational under-21 tournament in the world.
The SOJC is the platform for under-21 teams around the globe to showcase their talent once a year and most of the teams use the tournament as part of their preparation for the Junior World Cup.
Malaysian juniors are being groomed for the 2016 Junior World Cup, but they need to be ready to defend their gold medal in the Junior Asia Cup in November in Kuantan, as it offers a direct entry to the World Cup.
New Straits Times
Hockey juniors stranded
Uncertainty over India’s participation in Sultan of Johor Cup 
India’s Manpreet Singh in action. File photo
New Delhi - Hockey India is staring at a hefty fine, running into several lakh rupees, after uncertainty clouded the participation of Indian men’s junior team for next month’s Sultan of Johor Cup tournament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is yet to clear the team for the October 10-18 event, in which, India are the defending champions, despite repeated reminders for approval by Hockey India.
Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra said the national body could be fined Swiss francs 250000 (Rs1.61 cr) by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) if it was forced to withdraw the team from the tournament. “We have sent the request for approval to SAI on August 14 with all the necessary documents but we still haven't got the clearance. India are defending champions and this event is a part of our preparation for next year's junior World Cup,” Batra wrote in his letter to Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Sports Secretary Ajit M Sharan and SAI DG Jiji Thomson.
“It is an FIH-sanctioned event. For withdrawal, India might end up paying penalty from Swiss Franc 1.00 up to Swiss Francs 250000, depending upon decision of FIH Competitions Committee. In all FIH-sanctioned event, a mandatory 45-day intimation is needed to withdraw the team,” he said.
Besides India, the other participating countries are Australia, Great Britain, Pakistan, New Zealand and Malaysia. Batra said the tournament was a part of Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) approved for this year by the SAI till the Asian Games. “If as per your babu ego, you have decided not to allow the Indian team to go and kill hockey in India, then please let us know urgently so that the hosts can arrange for some alternate team,” Batra further wrote.
The Tribune
India await clearance for Johor Cup, SAI says green nod soon
NEW DELHI: Uncertainty hovered over defending champion India's participation in next month's Sultan of Johor Cup junior hockey tournament as the national federation is yet to get the green signal from the Sports of Authority (SAI).
Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra said the national body faces the risk of a hefty financial penalty from the International Hockey Federation if it was forced to withdraw the team from the tournament, to be held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from October 10-18.
"We have sent the request for approval to SAI on August 14 with all the necessary documents but, despite repeated reminders, we still haven't got the clearance. India are defending champions in the tournament and this event is a part of our preparation for next year's junior World Cup," Batra said.
"Besides India, the other participating countries are Australia, Great Britain, Pakistan, New Zealand and Malaysia.
"It is an FIH-sanctioned event. Now if we pull out the team, Hockey India might end up paying penalty ranging from swiss franc 1.00 upto swiss francs 2,50,000, depending upon the decision of FIH Competitions Committee," he said.
"In all FIH-sanctioned event a mandatory 45-day intimation is needed to withdraw the team."
Batra said the tournament is a part of Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) approved for this year till the Asian Games.
"If you have decided not to allow the Indian team to go, then please let us know urgently so that the hosts can arrange for some alternate team.
"Please do not keep this matter pending and give your views to us on urgent basis, so that we do not have to face embarrassment in front of FIH," the HI secretary general said.
When contacted, SAI director general Jiji Thomson said he will look into the matter on a priority basis.
"I haven't seen anything from Hockey India as I am out of office today. But if the tournament is part of ACTC then it will definitely get the clearance soon," Thomson said.
The Times of India
Dixon's Bees the English side to beat
Beeston’s Adam Dixon is hoping that his side can survive being the opponent his title rivals will target in the race for the NOW: Pensions Men’s League crown this season.
The Nottingham side start their title defence on home turf against Canterbury next Saturday and look to have done good work in the build-up, beating Sheffield and Bowdon last week.
Among their new arrivals are Scottish goalkeeper Jamie Cachia, England Under-21 Will Byas and James Gall who has switched from Surbiton.
Speaking about the new season, captain Dixon said his side is in confident mood as they look to defend a title which they have won three times in the last four seasons.
“It’s hard being reigning champions as you are the ones everyone is hunting down,” he said. “When we first came up we were going after the likes of Cannock, Reading and East Grinstead whereas now we’re the ones they all want to take down. It makes every game tough but we’re ready for the challenge.
“I think we have had a fairly successful preseason but you can’t read too much into those results. The first league game against Canterbury is when it is really going to matter.
England’s other EHL side, East Grinstead start their campaign with an away trip to Cannock. Andy Bull is hoping his side can break Beeston’s hold on the league.
“We want to be finishing top of the league and go into the playoffs, taking that form with us and win the championship.
“Beeston are our biggest rivals and when we play each other there are a lot of goals and it’s always tasty. Surbiton have recruited well, David Beckett and Rupert Shipperley in particular are both good players, but everyone has plenty of quality in their sides. It should be very close this year.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Kampong prepare for Hoofdklasse with ABN Amro win
SV Kampong built up to the new Dutch Hoofdklasse season in top style as they won the ABN Amro Cup in Rotterdam last weekend with a superb 5-1 win over Oranje Zwart.
New arrival from Den Bosch Pepijn Luijkx opened the scoring while further goals from Thierry Brinkman, Erik Bouwens and Quirijn Caspers to make it 4-0 before Bob de Voogd got one back.
Martijn Havenga, though, completed the scoring with the only goal in the second half to hand the Utrecht side a confidence-builder ahead of the new season that starts on Sunday.
They open that campaign with a date with Rotterdam. OZ, meanwhile, will play away against Den Bosch while Bloemendaal, the other EHL side for this season, will also be on their travels, making the short hop to Amsterdam to play Pinoké.
All the games tip off on Sunday at 2.45pm.
Euro Hockey League media release
Nothing is impossible for Volkov's Dinamo
While most side’s journey to qualify for the EuroHockey League had their dramatic moments, none will compare to the nerve-wracking wait endured by Dinamo Stroitel.
They initially missed out on a place in the Russian championship final to Izmailovo Moscow after a tight-run league campaign with the top three covered by just three points. The Muscovites, though, were subsequently found guilty of a fielding an ineligible player and a points deduction saw the Urals side boosted into second place and an EHL ticket at the last moment.
Team captain Dmitry Volkov believes it was “a fair decision” by the Russian federation and is now looking forward to battles with SV Kampong and East Grinstead in their group in Barcelona in October.
It was the group that everyone want to avoid and Volkov told the EHLHockey.tv website “I think that our group is more dificult than others.
“In my opinion, Kampong is the stongest team of all teams at this stage. East Grinstead is a very strong team also. I think that it will be very difficult to qualify to next round, but nothing is impossible in case we will be more fortunate then our opponents.”
For the Ekaterinburg club, it is this group’s first outdoor European trip – their last involvement was back in 1981 – despite a storied history, winning the Russian title eight times and the indoor crown on 17 occasions.
Indeed, they are well-versed in big trips on the indoor scene, finishing second at last February’s Europeans in East Grinstead. But, assessing the challenge ahead, Volkov says that his side has been improving rapidly in recent years.
“We know that both opponents are very fast and have many dangerous star players in their squads. Nevertheless, we've played many friendly matches against Holland and English club teams and we know their style.
“We worked very hard to build a strong and well co-ordinated team. Now ,our squad is much better than it was before and consists of many expirienced players, young talented players and two overseas players including David Van Ass, son of former Dutch coach Paul, and Jan Michiel Sabaroedin who helped us to reach EHL.”
In preparation, the club underwent a pre-season training camp at Crossfit EKB to work on their power and endurance before playing friendly matches in the Netherlands. There, they beat Brighton 6-1 while falling to Germany’s Mannheimer and Uhlenhorst Mulheim, both 4-2, while also beating Dutch sides Leonidas 5-3 and HIC 4-0 during a ten-day tour.
And Volkov says the side is in up-beat shape for the challenges ahead
“We have kept all our squad from last season and strenghened our defence with Konstanin Nikitin who returned back to Ekaterinburg from Izmailovo Moscow. Nothing is impossible and I'm sure that all guys believe it.”
Euro Hockey League media release
AHF job will help me in convincing foreign teams: Rana Mujahid
KARACHI: Newly-elected vice president of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Rana Mujahid believes that his election to the post will prove instrumental in inviting foreign teams to Pakistan.
“I will have a better and closer liaison with other federations and their officials and that would benefit Pakistan,” he upon his return from Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
He said he would be establishing regular contacts with China, India, Korea, Malaysia and will convince them to tour Pakistan under an exchange programme.
He said Prince Abdullah of Malaysia was elected as the president of the continental body and India also got vice president position.
President of International Hockey Federation (FIH) Leandro Negre also attended AHF Congress and elections. Olympian Rana Mujahid said his victory in the AHF elections was the success of Pakistan hockey.
“It is a great honour for Pakistan and myself to be elected in the 27-nation body,” a beaming Rana, who is also secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation, said.
Rana said it is his dream to bring back international hockey to Pakistan and he is determined to work hard for achieving this objective. He said despite the problems, he is optimistic about the future of national hockey in Pakistan.
Dawn
Date set for Eastgate hockey tournament
Rashneel Kumar
THE 20th Marist Eastgate Memorial Tournament will be held from September 19 to 21 at the Fijian National Hockey Centre in Laucala Bay.
As part of the build-up, the organising committee highlighted the history of the prestigious annual tournament.
Committee member Chantelle Fraser said the Eastgate family's association with hockey could be traced back to the early years of Dorothy and Reginald in the old capital of Fiji, Levuka
"Dorothy Eastgate represented both Lautoka and Levuka districts between the years 1940 to 1960," Fraser said.
"Reginald managed the Levuka men's hockey team between the mid 50s to mid 60s. These affiliations with the sport were continued by their children.
"Godfrey, the eldest of the five brothers, represented Lautoka and Ba and was also a national rep in 1974 on the tour of New Zealand.
"He then went on to manage the national side from 1976 to 1981. John the second eldest, played for the Marist men's hockey club and the district side of Suva. Hartley was a representative for Ba, Lautoka and Suva districts."
Like John and Alex, they represented Suva and played for the Marist club.
The youngest of the brothers, Sidney represented Levuka, Suva and Marist.
Sidney was a national rep from 1974 to 1987.
He also captained the national side from 1981 to 1986 and was a gold medallist in the South Pacific Games in 1979.
"This legacy is continued today by late Godfrey Eastgate's sons Reginald, John and Sidney's son Chad," Fraser added.
The organisers are calling on the sport enthusiasts and spectators to join them in the tournament.
The Fiji Times