News 07 September 2014
All the news for Sunday 7 September 2014
Kenya beat Ghana in World Hockey League at City Park
By BRIAN YONGA
Kenya’s Brian Saina (right) dribbles past Tanzania’s Richard Nkana during their Hockey World League match at City Park Stadium on September 6, 2014. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION
Kenya on Saturday beat Ghana 1-0 at City Park Stadium to move closer to securing qualification to the second round of the World Hockey League series.
Jacqueline Jow Wangeci’s first-half strike settled the tense encounter that could have gone either way as both teams missed numerous chances to win the game. The win saw the hockey queens avenge last year’s 3-2 loss during the Africa Cup of Nations held in Nairobi.
High-ly ranked Ghana came into the match buoyed by their 17-0 thrashing of Tanzania on Friday and were favourites to win. Kenya, backed by the home crowd, started brightly with Pauline Naise troubling the Ghanaian defence with her runs.
WANGECI COMES CLOSE
She almost gave Kenya the lead in the fifth minute when her ferocious shot just went wide after been set up by skipper Betsy Ommala. Ghana’s Elizabeth Opuko who was Kenya’s chief destroyer last year, was closely marked, with two players closing her down every time she got the ball. Kenya saw most of the ball with their opponents happy to sit back but they looked dangerous every time they came forward.
They almost took the lead against the run of play when Opuko delicious pass picked out Martha Sarfoa but her shot did not trouble Kenyan keeper Cynthia Akinyi.
Kenya should have scored in the 15th minute but Ghanaian goalkeeper Grace Mensah did well to stop the USIU striker’s effort. The home team were however not to be denied when Wangeci’s sweet struck shot sounded the board to give the hosts the lead in the 25th minute. It should have 2-0, a few minutes later as Agunda was set up by Naise but was unable to take a first time shot.
Kenya was clearly on top as the first half whistle was blown to the delight of the home fans. Ghana upped the tempo in the second half, pushing more bodies forward looking for the equaliser.
However, it was Kenya who created the first chance in the second period but again Naise could not beat Mensah, as the goalkeeper parried her shot.
Flavia Mutiva saw her shot narrowly miss the board. In the 60th minute, Kenya were almost punished when Opuko found space but fired wide.
Coach Willis Oketch was happy with the victory.
“We worked hard and played a brilliant match, we were the hungrier side and in the end we proved more organised and disciplined,” he said.
SUNDAY'S FIXTURES
Tanzania v Kenya (women) 11pm. Ghana v Tanzania (men) 2pm. Kenya v Egypt (men) 4pm
Daily Nation
India can win gold, despite new format: India's Hockey coach Terry Walsh
Chander Shekhar Luthra
Head coach Terry Walsh (left) does not think that the new format is advantageous to any team
Chief hockey coach Walsh believes more breaks can affect Sardar Singh & Co as they take more time in gaining momentum
With hockey now divided into the four quarters of 15 minutes each from upcoming Asian Games starting September 19, the coaches around the world are keeping their fingers crossed about trying their new strategies.
And Indian chief coach Terry Walsh is no different. He knows that Indian hockey fans have been waiting to end 16-year-long wait for Gold Medal. Even his future as India coach depends on the colour of the medal and so, there would hardly be any scope for him to falter in Incheon.
Walsh is not perturbed by the new format, but believes that with the game divided into four quarters the actual playing time has been reduced by 10 minutes. And the three breaks in between and the time-outs provided during penalty corners and after scoring goals, would keep coaches on their toes throughout the game.
"I don't think this new format is advantageous to anyone. One has to deal with more breaks during the game. This will result in losing momentum more frequently and sometimes it may go against a team which would probably be attacking more and in an advantageous position," Walsh told dna on sidelines of team's practice session here at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Walsh says that since Indian players take more time in gaining momentum after any break, this new format could trouble them more than it does others.
"Historically, India take time to rev up their engines and get going after any break. This new format will certainly suit those teams which can take a break and come out of it quickly," said Walsh, adding: "But, I would rather choose not to be on either side. Let me see it in action and form my opinion. And that's why I feel that India have a great chance of winning gold, going by the form we are in during past few months."
The new format means that after first and third quarter, every team will have two-minute break while the longish 10-minute break is going to continue during the half-time. Apart from this, there will be a 40-second time-out when a penalty corner is awarded or a goal is scored.
"Keeping in mind all these stoppages, the 60-minute game time will be fully utilised. It would be anybody's guess how it's going to work out for teams. We've been practicing by keeping all these details in mind for last few weeks. And most of our players have experience of playing this format during the last Indian Hockey League," said the former Australian forward.
Walsh says that Sardar Singh-led Indian side has a realistic chance of sealing direct qualification to 2016 Rio Olympics by winning gold at Asian Games in Incheon. India won only two gold medals in the even which they won in 1966 and 1998.
"Realistically, India has a chance to win Asian Games gold. That's my real assessment by keeping in mind our progress from World Cup to Commonwealth Games till date. But then we'll have to play to our potential and hope for the best," says Walsh.
India have been clubbed alongside arch-rivals and eight-time and defending champions Pakistan in Pool B. The other teams in the pool are China, Oman and Sri Lanka.
"We are improving with every single day ever since I have taken charge. But we've to understand that we're still far away from being the best team in the world. There are plenty of grey areas like creating penalty corners and not conceding careless penalty corners and we've been working hard on those areas," Walsh said.
DNA
Northland Women retain perfect record
Northland's Stacey Michelsen, courtesy Ned Dawson
The Northland Women remain the only side with a perfect record after Round 4 of the Ford National Hockey League.
With four wins from four games, Northland are in firm control of the women’s standings on 16 points after edging past the Central Mysticks 3-2 today.
Carli Michelsen scored a double while Ella Gunson put away a penalty stroke to help Northland to victory. Central’s Deanna Ritchie scored a field goal and Michaela Curtis also converted a penalty stroke.
The Canterbury Cats couldn’t extend their winning streak, beaten 2-1 in a shoot-out by Midlands after the game was drawn 2-2 at fulltime.
Leading for most of the game, Midlands looked headed to hand the Cats their first loss of the tournament before Cass Reid scored in the fourth quarter to take the game to a shoot-out.
Auckland edged to a dramatic 2-1 victory over North Harbour to climb back into contention in an increasingly congested top four on the table.
Sam Harrison opened the scoring for Auckland, sending a lovely cross into the back of the goal. Harbour levelled through Amie Judge before Su Arn Kwek blasted home the winner with just minutes remaining.
Rounding out the women’s fixtures, Capital shook off a slow start to power past the Southern Storm 5-1 for their first win of the tournament.
Kelsey Smith scored a double, with additional goals from Katarina O’Callaghan, Georgia Garden-Bachop and Anita Punt. Dayna Holland was Southern’s lone goal scorer.
On the men’s side of the draw, Midlands consolidated their place at the top of the table with an emphatic 5-2 win over Northland.
Captain Richard Petherick was the man of the moment scoring a double, while Zac Woods, Leo Mitai-Wells and Jonty Keaney also made it onto the score sheet. Northland’s two goals came at the hands of Aidan Rintala and Sean Laidlaw.
The result sees the Midlands men clear by one point at the top of the men’s standings (13 points) after four games.
Auckland left it late to secure a 2-1 win over the Canterbury Cavaliers with a winning blow from Jonny Bilkey.
The Cavs led for much of the game after Fergus Watts’ 21st minute field goal but the Aucklanders scored twice in the space of six minutes in the second half through Tom Loudon and Bilkey to snatch the win.
North Harbour gave their campaign a huge boost with a 4-1 win against the Central Mavericks, goals coming from Joe Bartholomew, Nathaniel Joy, Stephen Evans and Brennan Alexander-Parker.
The Southern Dogs jumped up to second place on the points table behind Midlands after downing Capital 2-0 with goals from Nick Ross, Kim Kingstone and Jason Dungey.
Round 5 gets underway at 11.30am tomorrow with Auckland up against Canterbury for the women, before the first men’s game of the day at 12.00pm between Northland and Canterbury.
CLICK HERE for the full draw, results, standings and goal scorers
FORD NHL RESULTS – SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
WOMEN
Midlands 2: (Stacey MacDonald, Nicky O’Donnell)
Canterbury Cats 2: (Georgie Blackwood, Cass Reid)
Midlands won shoot-out 2-1
Auckland 2: (Sam Harrison, Su Arn Kwek)
North Harbour 1: (Amie Judge)
Capital 5: (Kelsey Smith 2, Katarina O’Callaghan, Georgia Garden-Bachop, Anita Punt)
Southern 1: (Dayna Holland)
Northland 3: (Carli Michelsen 2, Ella Gunson)
Central 2: (Deanna Ritchie, Michaela Curtis)
MEN
Midlands 5: (Richard Petherick 2, Zac Woods, Jonty Keaney, Leo Mitai-Wells)
Northland 2: (Aidan Rintala, Sean Laidlaw)
Auckland 2: (Tom Loudon, Jonny Bilkey)
Canterbury 1: (Fergus Watts)
North Harbour 4: (Joe Bartholomew, Nathaniel Joy, Stephen Evans, Brennan Alexander-Parker)
Central 1: (Steve Davison)
Southern 3: (Nick Ross, Kim Kingstone, Jason Dungey)
Capital 1: (Gabriel Kepes)
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Important decisions for Sticks
Andrew Alderson
A fissure over the requirements of New Zealand's international men's hockey players and the development of the Indian and Dutch professional ranks could place the country's 2016 Olympic chances in jeopardy.
The men's Black Sticks finished seventh at June's World Cup in the Netherlands so don't qualify for High Performance Sport New Zealand's annual performance enhancement grants (PEGs). The women guaranteed funding by finishing fifth.
New Zealand's top players are expected to sign annual contracts next month but negotiations may be stymied if compromise isn't reached.
The Herald on Sunday understands demands for attendance at Auckland training camps have resulted in several players moving to the city to pursue part-time or heavily-negotiable full-time jobs to meet team commitments. Suggestions are that living outside Auckland and holding down a full-time job is becoming untenable.
At the other end of the scale, New Zealand's best men want to play at lucrative tournaments such as the Hockey India League and the Dutch Hoofdklasse where, in general, players earn a combined $50,000- $100,000.
The Dutch league has 12 teams and the Indian is forecast to expand from six to 10 in the next four years.
Hockey New Zealand are in an awkward position. If they're too draconian in demanding international availability, they risk players abandoning the sport because of uncertainty over their futures.
"It's a delicate balance," Hockey New Zealand chief executive Malcolm Harris said. "Players need to be able to pursue livelihoods whether it's professional hockey or a job but it's tricky to be competitive if you don't play regular international fixtures together."
Hockey New Zealand have been given $4.4 million in high-performance funding for the first two years of this Olympic cycle. In addition, HPSNZ could help through their multi-year PEGS clause.
Neither Black Sticks side qualifies because, according to the December 2012 guidelines: "Only athletes with a history of medal-winning success on the world stage" qualify.
"We've been talking to a number of players about the uncertainty," Hockey Players' Association executive manager Glen Sulzberger said. "It's important people understand the hockey environment is changing globally through these franchise leagues. That's going to have a significant impact on local players and traditional programmes in New Zealand. Players would be better able to commit if they had a four-year plan."
Another means of giving players financial certainty might come from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) who reportedly signed a US$250 million, eight-year broadcasting deal with Indian television company Star Sports this year.
It is still uncertain how much, if any, of that money will filter from the FIH to national governing bodies.
The New Zealand Herald
Dames’ Smith blasts 2nd straight beaver-trick
Nigel Simon
Shaniah De Freitas of Shandy Carib Magnolias, left, and Fernanda Fernandes battle for a loose ball in their Women’s Open match in the third annual Malvern Sports Club International Hockey 5’s Tournament at the National Hockey Centre, Eastern Regional Sports Complex, Tacarigua, yesterday. Photo: Anthony Harris
Lisa Smith scored a second straight beaver-trick as Notre Dame continued its defence of the Women’s Open title in the third annual Malvern Sports Club International Hockey 5’s Tournament by mauling Georgetown Cricket Club II (GCC Spice) 11-2 on Friday night. Following its 9-2 thrashing of host Courts Malvern on Thursday’s opening night of matches, the Dames did not show any signs of easing up at the T&T National Hockey Centre, Eastern Regional Sports Complex in Tacarigua, with Smith getting her goals in the eighth, ninth, 23rd and 27th minutes while Blair Wynne (seventh, 22nd, 26th) and Tamia Roach (13th, 19th, 24th) added hat-tricks, and Kayla Brathwaite, the other.
For the GCC Spice, Aliyah Gordon had fired in the game’s opening goal inside the first minute while Tiffany Solomon got the other in the 15th. The visiting Guyana GCC II, Tigers had much better fortune as they edged Malvern 4-3 in their opener led by a brace from Kerensa Fernandes in the 15th and 19th minutes. Sonia Jardine (seventh) and Shebiki Baptiste (25th) also found the back of the net for the winners, who also had to come from behind for their win. Earlier, Daniella Cabralis netted the opener for the Malvernites in the fifth minute while Krizia Layne (17th) and Andrea Jackson (30th) added one apiece.
Petrogon men win again
The combination of players from local clubs, Petrotrin, Paragon and Defence Force (Petrogon) also made it two wins from as many matches in the Men’s Open, via a convincing 10-4 hammering of Malvern inspired by two goals each from national trio Kiel Murray (2nd, 7th,), Akim Toussaint (8th, 20th) and Triston Grant (19th, 22nd).
Utility player Ron Alexander, a former national goalkeeper, Otis O’Connor, Wayne Legerton and Mickell Pierre, all T&T internationals as well got the others to cancel out doubles from youthful Malvern national duo, Kristien Emmanuel (1st, 5th) and Tariq Marcano (19th, 20th).
It was the second loss from as many outings for Malvern which was edged out by Queen’s Park 6-5 on Thursday while defending champion Notre Dame rebounded from its loss to Petrogon (3-4) by beating Queen’s Park 4-3.
For the Dames, national forward Shaquille Daniel helped himself to two goals in the fifth and eighth while Dillon Campbell (18th) and Ishmael Campbell (20th) also scored.
Nicholas Camacho also scored twice for Queen’s Park, as early as the first and 25th minutes with Stefan Mouttet netting in between his items, in the ninth.
Edwards lifts Malvern vets over Dames
Peter Edwards made certain that host Malvern enjoyed a taste of triumph on the night after he banged in a beaver-trick in their Veterans Division 6-2 whipping of Notre Dame. Edwards was on target in the 16th, 17th, 21st and 22nd after Roger St Rose and cancel out Carol Whiteman’s opener for the Dames in the 11th minute. Cecile Assam was the other scorer for Malvern in the 27th before Whiteman’s husband, Kenneth got a second for Notre Dame on the stroke of full-time. The tournament concludes today with the finals including the Under-19 boys and girls.
Friday Results
Men’s Open
Petrogon 10 (Kiel Murray 7th, 26th, Akim Toussaint 8th, 20th, Triston Grant 19th, 22nd, Ron Alexander 4th, Otis O’Connor 10th, Wayne Legerton 14th, Mickell Pierre 16th) vs Malvern 4 (Kristien Emmanuel 1st, 5th, Tariq Marcano 19th, 26th)
Notre Dame 4 (Shaquille Daniel 5th, 8th, Dillon Campbell 18th, Ishmael Campbell 20th) vs QPCC 3 (Nicholas Camacho 1st, 25th, Stefan Mouttet 9th)
Women’s Open:
Notre Dame 11 (Lisa Smith 8th, 9th, 23rd, 27th, Blair Wynne 7th, 22nd, 26th, Tamia Roach 13th, 19th, 24th, Kayla Brathwaite 29th) vs GCC II Spice 2 (Aliyah Gordon 1st, Tiffany Solomon 15th)
GCC I Tigers 4 (Kerensa Fernandes 15th, 19th, Sonia Jardine 7th, Shebiki Baptiste 25th) vs Courts Malvern 3 (Daniella Cabralis 5th, Krizia Layne 17th, Andrea Jackson 30th)
Veterans Division:
Malvern 6 (Peter Edwards 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, Roger St Rose 14th, Cecile Assam 27th) vs Notre Dame 2 (Carol Whiteman 11th, Kenneth Whiteman 30th)
The Trinidad Guardian
KLHC to play Tenaga in Charity Shield
KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) and Tenaga Nasional will open the Malaysia Hockey League Premier Division with a Charity Shield match on Oct 29.
The MHL Premier Division is likely to see 10 teams competing when the entries close on Sept 24.
“We shifted the Charity Shield date to respect Deepavali celebrations on Oct 22. By the time entries close, I expect at least 10 teams in the Premier Division,” said Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) competitions committee secretary Hashim Yusoff.
Each team will be allowed to hire a maximum of six foreign players.
“The final is on Dec 21, this is to give the national team time to prepare for the World League Second Round in Singapore on Jan 17-25.”
If Malaysia fail to win gold in the Asian Games, where they will battle South Korea, India and Pakistan, the World League is a second chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In the Premier Division last season, the seven teams which competed were KL Hockey Club, Tenaga Nasional, Maybank, Sapura, UniKL, Terengganu and MBI-Nur Insafi.
Double champions KLHC will be the team to beat again this season.
New Straits Times
Toseeq named Asian player of the year
Mohsin Ali
Toseeq named Asian player of the year
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan hockey team's young center half M Toseeq Arshad was named as the ‘Asian player of the year’ by Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
This is for the fourth time Toseeq earned this laurel for the country. He was also named as ‘player of the year’ in 2010, 2011 and 2013, while he was also declared ‘young emerging player’ in 2009 and named as ‘player of the tournament’ during the Asian Champions Trophy held in Japan last year. Talking to The Nation, Toseeq said: “I am only 21 and I also hold the record of being the youngest ever Olympian. I was also named as player of the Asian Games in 2010, but despite winning so many laurels for the country, my services were never recognized. Only former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani invited me to PM House and awarded cash prize of Rs 50,000, while my employers National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) was the first and only institution, which recognised my services and Iqbal Qasim honored me with a cash prize of Rs 500,000.”
“It is my request to Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and government to announce cash incentives not only for me but also for the other players. The players get depressed when step-motherly treatment is rendered to them. We can produce more than desired results if provided with facilities and job security. Majority of hockey players don't have jobs at all, so how could one expect from them to deliver when they have insecurity regarding their future and worried of earning bread and butter for their families.” “Whatever I have been enjoying today is just because of the prayers of my parents and hard work of my coach world's renowned Ustad Aslam Roda late, who was also my uncle. It is world record of my uncle who had given more than 150 players to country and the numbers of his pupils had played for the national team and were still representing the country,” he said.
“I have achieved first task of becoming the best player at Asian level, now I have set my sights on world level. I would love to help Pakistan win all the available tournaments, personal records do matter, but I want to become a team player.”
It is my ambition and dream of playing major role in helping green shirts to climb back past glory days,” Toseeq concluded.
The Nation