News for 07 May 2015
All the news for Thursday 7 May 2015
India Japan Test Series: Third encounter today
Bhubaneswar: Not often does a test match other than India-Pak evoke as much interest as the present Japan is, as it is played among good crowd, and to fit the occasion both teams have proved their presence worth. Japan surprised India in the first test with a 2-2 draw and then India bounced back to 2-0 win. The third test starting today therefore evokes keen interest as to the host will be allowed to maintain their ascendency or the visitors would like to regain their attacking form.
After a win over Japan yesterday, India Men Team is riding on confidence to win their third match of the four-match Test Series tomorrow at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. After playing two matches against Japan, Indian players have their strategies in place to counter Japan’s style of play and attack. On the other side, Japan faced an attacking Indian side yesterday and they understood the fact that they have to plan some out-of-the-box strategies to give a tough competition to the hosts.
Under the Chief Coach Paul vas Ass, Indian players are working on a variety of strategies and team combinations. The series has brought to the forefront good performances from the young players such as SK Uthappa, Dharamvir Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki and are looking forward to more such performances in the next two matches against Japan. Local hero Birendra Lakra is playing as per the crowd’s expectations and leading the defence-line of the team.
Playing with speedy attacks, Japan now has to work on different strategies to convert more opportunities in goals. Penalty corner is a big worry for the Japanese players as they haven’t converted a single penalty in the series. They also have failed to breach India’s defence line and goal-keeper PR Sreejesh. They are working harder on their finishing and tomorrow’s match will be a crucial match for them.
What coaches have to say:
India's Chief Coach Paul Van Ass : “We played better in the 2nd match than the 1st match but failed to materialise many opportunities. Right now, we are in process of rectifying our mistakes and we are focusing more on our mistakes. In tomorrow’s match, we need to create more opportunities and convert the penalty corners into goals, which will help us put ourselves in a better place. ”
Japan's Coach Keonwook Kang : “India is better than us in the 2nd match and this is the only reason we lost the match. We did lots of mistakes and lost many opportunities against India. We need to change our game-plan for tomorrow’s match and focus more on our strategies to improve our game.”
The 3rd match of the four-match Test Series will be held on 7th May 2015 at 07.00 pm at Kalinga Stadium, which will be telecasted LIVE on DD Sports.
For those who do not have access to television, we have our Live Text Commentary in www.stick2hockey.com
Stick2Hockey.com
India eager to wrap up hockey series against Japan
BHUBANESWAR: Back to winning ways, a confident Indian men's hockey team would look to seal the four-match Test series against Japan when they lock horns in the third game at the Kalinga Stadium on Thursday.
After a 1-1 draw in the series opener, India won the second game 2-0 on Tuesday.
India scored two field goals through SK Uthappa and Dharamvir Singh to register their first win in the series.
Skipper Sardar Singh, who stole the show in the midfield on Tuesday, will look to continue his impressive work.
Under the watchful eyes of chief coach Paul van Ass, Indian players are working on a variety of strategies and team combinations ahead of the Hockey World League semifinal to be held in Antwerp, Belgium from June 20 to July 5.
The series against Japan, which is being organised as preparation for the Belgium event, brought to the forefront good performances from young players like Uthappa, Dharamvir and Walmiki.
Local hero and hard-working Birendra Lakra as usual is leading the fragile Indian backline but what could be a concern for Van Ass is the form of his drag flick experts VR Raghunath and Rupinderpal Singh.
"We played better in the second match but failed to utilise many opportunities. We are now in process of rectifying our mistakes. In tomorrow's match, we need to create more opportunities and convert the penalty corners into goals," said India's Dutch coach Van Ass.
Japan, on the other hand, will have to plan some out-of-the-box strategies to give a tough competition to the home team.
Penalty corner conversion is a big worry for Japan as they haven't converted a single set piece in the series.
"India were better than us in the second match and this was the only reason we lost. We did lots of mistakes and lost many opportunities. We need to change our game plan for tomorrow's match," Japan coach Keonwook Kang said.
A win on Thursday will give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.
The Times of India
Mathias Ahrens named new Indian women coach
s2h team
New Delhi: The Indian women hockey team's long wait for a chief coach is finally over as Mathias Ahrens of Canada formally took over the reigns of the side at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Wednesday.
The position was lying vacant for more than five months after Australian Neil Hawgood resigned from the post last November.
New Zealand's Anthony Thornton was the first choice candidate to replace Hawgood but failed to join because of medical issues.
Hockey India then proposed Arhens' name to the Sports Authority of India as he was second on the shortlist submitted by the federation and the SAI approved the Canadian's appointment early last month itself.
Ahrens landed here on Monday.
"Ahrens' appointment was finalised early last month. It took him some time to clear all his paper works with his past employer. He came to Delhi on Monday and it has been two days he has started training the girls," Hockey India President Narinder Batra said.
Before taking up the India job, Ahrens was the technical director of junior hockey with Vancouver Hawks and was looking after their under-18 development programme.
Ahrens' first assignment with the Indian women's tea will be the Hockey World League Semi-finals to be held in Antwerp, Belgium from June 20 to July 5.
Stick2Hockey.com
Mathias Ahrens joins office as women's hockey team coach
NEW DELHI: The Indian women hockey team's long wait for a chief coach is finally over as Mathias Ahrens of Canada formally took over the reins of the side at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Tuesday.
The position was lying vacant for more than five months after Australian Neil Hawgood resigned from the post last November.
New Zealand's Anthony Thornton was the first choice candidate to replace Hawgood but failed to join because of medical issues.
Hockey India then proposed Arhens' name to the Sports Authority of India as he was second on the shortlist submitted by the federation and the SAI approved the Canadian's appointment early last month itself.
Ahrens landed here on Monday.
"Ahrens' appointment was finalised early last month. It took him some time to clear all his paper works with his past employer. He came to Delhi on Monday and it has been two days he has started training the girls," Hockey India President Narinder Batra said.
Before taking up the India job, Ahrens was the technical director of junior hockey with Vancouver Hawks and was looking after their under-18 development programme.
Ahrens' first assignment with the Indian women's team will be the Hockey World League Semifinals to be held in Antwerp, Belgium from June 20 to July 5.
The Times of India
Life is a drag
Two of the world’s best penalty corner specialists will be competing in Buenos Aires, and with so much at stake, they know they must hit the target.
Buenos Aires is the city of flamboyancy, vibrancy and style. When the Hockey World League Semi Finals come to town, the fans flocking to the matches will be looking for the same drama and pizzazz on the pitch.
And among the galaxy of stars hoping to propel their teams to victory and a place in December’s Hockey World League Finals are two drag flickers extraordinaire – Black Stick’s Andy Hayward and Argentina’s Gonzalo Peillat.
When New Zealand men’s hockey team won the Sultan Azlan Cup in April it put to rest many of the bogeymen that have haunted the team. Firstly, the victory came at the expense of neighbour and world number one side, Australia; secondly, the team showed its courage and maturity by refusing to let a last minute goal scored in regular time send them into panic; and thirdly, the Black Sticks won the shoot-out convincingly.
After the match, coach Colin Batch said he was thrilled that his team had managed to close out the game under the intense pressure of a shoot-out and added that this was a big step forward in the team’s preparations for the Hockey World League Semi Finals.
Man of the Match in that final was New Zealand’s drag flick specialist Andy Hayward, whose two goals in regular time had put the Black Sticks in the driving seat. His team mates will be hoping the 29-year-old will be on equally good form when they arrive in Buenos Aires in a month’s time.
The New Zealander, who played in the English Premier League for Hampstead and Westminster this year, is one of a number of Black Sticks with a high number of caps and an equally impressive goal tally. Hayward currently has 186 caps and will be approaching his 200th cap in Argentina. Hayward’s goal tally is now approaching 100 international goals, and as he plays as a defender or defensive midfielder, most of those goals come via a lethally fast drag flick.
Also hoping that his drag flick is on target is the local favourite, Gonzalo Peillat. With a passionate home crowd cheering Los Leones every step of the way, the pressure will be on the 22 year old. Argentina is ranked one place above New Zealand in sixth place, and while the teams do not face each other in the pool matches, there is every chance they will meet in a play-off round. Peillat’s drag flick is one of the weapons that Carolos Retegui will be using as he attempts to orchestrate a home win and secure his team qualification for Rio 2016.
The rise of Los Leones has been impressive over the past two years. The team went to the 2014 World Cup as the 11th ranked nation and came away with a bronze medal. Prior to that, Argentina had won the 2011 Pan-American Games ( a title it defends this summer) and is the undisputed king of South American hockey as it has won the past six South American Championships.
And at the heart of the blue and white team’s increasing potency as a world force is the young defender, Gonzalo Peillat, who scored 10 of Argentina’s 15 goals in the 2014 World Cup and was top scorer at that competition. “He has the potential to become one of the best players in the world,” said Retegui of the man they have nicknamed The Axe. And with age very much on his side, Peillat has to be tipped to continue leading Argentina to greater things.
Argentina’s opening match is against Austria – the lowest ranked team in the competition, while New Zealand face Eygpt – ranked 20th in the world.
FIH site
National hockey team still winless in playing tour
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia suffered their third straight defeat to the Holland Selection, losing 6-2 in a friendly in Holland.
The Malaysians, who are preparing for the World Hockey League Semi-Finals in Belgium from June 20-July 5, were trailing 4-0 after just eight minutes on Tuesday.
Tom Hiebendaal scored a hat-trick for the Dutch while Jasper Luijx was on target twice. Florist Van der Linden contributed the other goal.
Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin and Mohd Firhan Ashaari netted for Malaysia.
Malaysia were beaten 2-1 on Saturday and 1-0 on Monday.
The Malaysians, under coach Tai Beng Hai, will leave for Belgium on Thursday for more friendly matches.
The World League Semi-Finals is a qualifier for next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Malaysia are in Pool B with Belgium, Ireland, China and Britain.
The Star of Malaysia
Cox wary of Bloemendaal backlash
Despite a memorable first leg win over Bloemendaal, Kampong coach Alexander Cox and his team are not getting ahead of themselves heading into the return meetings.
Quirijn Caspers scored two classy goals while Thierry Brinkman – who moves to Bloemendaal next season – helped them run up a 3-2 win over the sparrows in north Holland.
It means the Utrecht club need one win from the two meetings at Kampong on Saturday and Sunday to earn a place in the grand final. While Cox’s side are in control at the moment, he is cautious to make sure his side sees out the tie.
"We have still won absolutely nothing," he told hockey.nl. "Saturday is again a fifty-fifty match. We will have to win one of these two games and Bloemendaal must win both matches to reach the finals. We must therefore ensure that we are even better this weekend than in the first game."
Oranje Zwart also won their first leg battle away from home with a 2-1 win at Amsterdam. Mirco Pruyser gave the latter an early lead but Niek van der Schoot tied the game up and Mink van der Weerden won it with a last minute penalty corner.
OZ are hoping to have Rob van der Horst back in the team having missed the first game with flu with Michel van Heuvel saying he may not be back.
"Robert trained on Tuesday, but then he had some problems. It was ultimately too much on Sunday to get on the field. We felt Thursdays, Fridays all arrive there was a real chance that he would not be in.
"We always have a plan B. We have also played in the away match against Hurley without him. The boys did it nicely, though it is obvious that I would like to have Robert. "
Euro Hockey League media release
Ikhwezi shines as national hockey heroes
Ikhwezi Lesizwe girls hockey team were also praised. PHOTOs: voox sonandzi
The red carpet was rolled out for the Ikhwezi Lesizwe Primary School boys hockey team four months after winning the national championships in Pretoria.
In a celebratory event held at the Malibongwe Restuarant at the Look Out Hill on Friday, the big-hearted stars were treated to a glittering affair.
Parents ululated abd beat their breasts with pride whilst showering the coaching staff and players with praises.
Norma Mayeye, principal said the school’s achievement was not unexpeceted because “all the players were commited”.
“When they went to play in Pretoria in December were were certain they would do well but winning the national trophy was a very big achievement,” said Mayeye.
Director of School Sport, Francois Lubbe, said they were impressed with the team’s progress.
“We have seen them grow from nobodies to champions. The trophy will carry dust but memories of them lifting it will last forever,” he said.
Western Cape chairperson of primary schools hockey, Noreen Wannacot, said it was a “bold to decision” on their part to introduce hockey to the school.
“This has paid dividends, we have champions today, champions who are supported by loving parents and teachers,” she said.
Wannacot also heaped praises on the team’ s head coach Gloria Nobuntu Baartman and Akhona Mlambo.
She made a special mention of Mrs Mayeye.
“The principal’s passion is infectious and she leads from the front,” she said.
Baartman being her shy self gave credit to her players and assistant coach Akhona Mlambo for winning the national trophy.
“I am very excited for this team and their victory will embolden our misson of making hockey one of the popular sports in the townships,” said Baartman.
School captain Ngwane Vilakazi was hailed for his onfield leadership and academic excellence.
His onfield exploits led him to be chosen as the Let’Play Siyadlala/City Vision Sportsman of The Year (2014) and he also earned a bursay to purse education at Wineberg Boys High where his hockey will blossom.
His proud parents Halima and Theo Vilkazi were also smiles as he took to the podium to thank everyone concerned with development.
Xolile Mlungu from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport mass and opportuimity and development centre programme said sport schools should be part of his programme.
“This is certainly a game changer and we need everyone involved. Khayelitsha is a hotbed of talent and we can unearth more Ngwanes in the future,” he said.
He called on teachers to assist coaches.
Speaking on behalf of School Governing Body, Theo Vilakazi, said the success of Ngwane and his team will open doors for other children in years to come.
“This will motivate other children to take part and excel in sports and education,”he said.
Mayeye added that her school will embark on programmes aimed at reviving schools sports. “We have started rope skipping and we will add more codes to make sure that we expand chances of our children participating and winning more events,” she said
News24
PHF’s financial woes in spotlight as PSB committee meets today
LAHORE: While time is running out for the cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to complete arrangements for fielding national squad in the Rio Olympics qualifying round, Thursday’s executive committee meeting of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) may turn out to be the last opportunity for the federation to raise the financial issue.
The PHF awaits funds to the tune of Rs350 million from the federal government.
PSB executive committee’s Thursday meeting will be held in Islamabad, and will be presided over by the Minister of Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Pirzada. PHF secretary Rana Mujahid will also attend the meeting.
The qualifiers are being held in Belgium in June-July and the PHF estimates that an amount of Rs30 million is required to meet its expenses as it has a plan to arrange one-month stay of the national team in Europe as part of the preparations plan.
But the PHF, which has no funds as it has still to make daily payment to members of the national squad, currently on Australia tour plus a visit to South Korea later, carries little hope for participation in the qualifiers, if the government does not release the funds in time.
About a year ago, the PSB sent to the prime minister a summary seeking Rs350 million as annual grant for the PHF but still it is still to see the day light.
The PHF has been running without any grant from the federal government for the last two years.
There are reports that Mujahid will treat the meeting as an opportunity to raise the issue of summary — seeking the grant — and to inform the higher authorities that the participation of the national team will not be possible, if the government does not release the required funds.
Had the Punjab chief minister not released Rs10 million for the PHF last year, the federation would have not been able to continue its working.
Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, around two months ago, had said the government had some reservations over the expenditure made by the PHF, which received around Rs1 billion during the 2008-2012 period.
The minister had also said that the PHF accounts would be audited, before the release of further funds to the federation. However, so far no audit of the PHF has started.
Pakistan, former four-time World Cup winners, suffered a huge setback when they failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
Now another disaster seems to be in the offing if Pakistan do not make it to the 2016 Rio Olympics, just because of poor financial condition of the PHF.
Dawn