News for 23 September 2015
All the news for Wednesday 23 September 2015
Grambusch propels RWK to double wins
Defending champions Rot-Weiss Köln got their season off to a perfect start last weekend in Germany with two wins from two.
They started with a 6-1 win over SW Neuss with Tom Grambusch scoring three times. He raised his weekend tally to four goals in the 5-1 win over Club an der Alster while Marco Miltkau also got in on the act with two goals of his own.
New coach André Henning said he had not expected things to come together so smoothly in his first competitive games in charge but was delighted with the performances.
He said its "a good sign”. "The interplay worked well and the team spirit is outstanding. Former coach Frederik Merz has formed a great team in recent years and I look forward to taking it on now and further developing."
Krefeld started their campaign with two wins, too. They beat Club an der Alster 5-1 with Christian von Ehren scoring twice, adding to goals from Oskar Deecke, Felix Klein and Niklas Wellen.
A day later, they beat newly promoted SW Neuss 6-1 with Linus Butt and Patrick Schmidt netting twice a piece.
TSV Mannheim went goal crazy over the weekend with 5-4 wins over both Blau Weiss Berlin and then againster Berliner HC.
Mannheim HC are the fourth side with a perfect half dozen points from the opening weekend. They started with a 3-2 win over Berliner and then beat BW Berlin as they swapped rivals with city rivals TSV.
Harvestehuder THC gave up a strong lead on day one of the competition against Nürnberger HTC, drawing 3-3 after they led 3-1 with 21 minutes remaining.
But they bounced back well on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Uhlenhorst Mülheim with Michael Korper firing home a hat trick in the second half.
UHC were also winners over Mülheim with a 4-1 success on Saturday but they tied 2-2 with Nürnberger HTC.
Next week is a huge set of fixtures with Rot Weiss meeting both Harvestehuder and UHC Hamburg while Crefelder will also make the trip to Hamburg to play the city’s two leading lights.
Euro Hockey League media release
Mokrousov pinpoints key game with Leopold
Dinamo Elektrostal Evgeny Mokrousov has pin-pointed his side’s date with Royal Leopold as the key fixture in Pool C of Round 1 of the EHL in the race for the KO16 ticket.
Speaking to the EHL website as part of our team-by-team Hamburg previews, Mokrousov is looking forward to his side’s fourth EHL campaign, one which starts with a tie against newcomers SG Amsicora from Italy on Friday, 9 October.
But it is the Belgian side that he really hopes his side will get the better of and reach the knock-out phases for the second time.
“The last two times we twice participated in this tournament, each time the Belgian clubs have knocked us out of the race!” he said.
“I think that we will go through to the next round if the Belgians do not stop us. With SG Amsicora, we have not encountered the Italian club before and I hope they will not give us too many problems. From there, we will have time to analyse Royal Leopold.”
His side are currently riding high in the Russian league, winning five out of five games so far in the competition, beating Tana Asov and DSP "Krylatskoye" Moscow twice each before running up a 5-2 win at St Petersburg last weekend with Mara Khairullin nabbing a hat trick and Andrey Kuraev scoring twice.
Indeed, it is a busy spell for Elektrostal with several more fixtures before they arrive in Hamburg, leading into their lengthy seven-month winter break.
The focus for the club this season has been to build their young players through their own club and so have imported no players, trusting in their homegrown talent.
To this end, Mokrousov believes Khairullin, Georgii Arusiia – aged just 16 – and Mikhail Proskuryakov – who celebrated his 20th birthday this week – will be key players alongside old hands Yaroslav Loginov, Roman Rogov and Alexander Zhirkov.
And he is looking forward to getting back into the fray having missed out last season on the EHL.
“It’s a great hockey festival with very good organization; last year we attended the semi-final games and it was awesome! In order for us to develop the level of hockey in Russia, it is necessary for us to compete and go beyond what we have done before.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Police marksman Cheplaiti thirsts for more league goals
By Brian Yonga
Moses Cheplaiti (second, right) of Kenya Police celebrates his goal against Kenyatta University with his teammates during their men’s hockey league match on September 19, 2015 at the City Park Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya Police striker Moses Cheplaiti has set his sights on finishing this season’s Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) men’s premier league as top scorer. Cheplaiti’s double against Kenyatta University Vultures on Saturday took his team to the top of the league for the first time this season.
Police beat the university students 3-0 at the weekend to displace defending champions Butali Sugar Warriors from the top of the standings after another impressive performance.
Cheplaiti’s brace took his goals tally of the season to 10. He has scored seven in the last three matches as his team kept a third straight clean sheet. Skipper Brian Saina scored the third as the 2013 champions recorded their seventh successive league win since they lost away to Western Jaguars on May 12.
Police lead the table with 33 points, two more than Butali with both teams having played 12 games each. Both teams have two matches left to play in the first leg as the league title shapes up into a two-horse race.
Cheplaiti said all the goals scored would count for nothing if he and his team-mates fail to wrestle the title from their arch-rivals. “It is a long league, there are still a lot of matches to be played and we need to take each game at a time. We are now top of the league and we need to stay there till the end of the season, “Cheplaiti said.
The Kenya international is hoping to keep his fine form ahead of the Africa Cup of Club Championship in December where Police and Butali will compete.
The defeat saw Vultures who were sixth prior to the game drop to eighth on 19 points. Greensharks missed the chance to move to third even after coming from behind to force a 3-3 draw against Wazalendo in Sunday’s late game played at the City Park Stadium.
Daily Nation
Launch of Ireland's EY Hockey League shows value of commercial partners
EY provide crucial sponsorship to help Irish domestic hockey league grow
Ireland's domestic league has been transformed thanks to EY partnership
Club hockey in Ireland will take a big step forward this week with the launch of the EY Hockey League thanks to the generous support of Professional Services provider Ernst & Young (EY).
The first round of matches of the inaugural EY Hockey League are due to tip off this Saturday, 26 September and for the first time, teams from across Ireland will compete in 18 rounds to earn their place in Ireland's Champions Trophy weekend.
EY has contributed subsidies for each club, plus umpiring and administration costs, including promotion and marketing. Such support has been key to the creation of this League and will undoubtedly help hockey grow throughout Ireland.
This partnership serves as a inspiration to other hockey nations looking to develop the sport, with Ireland showing just how important key commercial partners can be.
The new full-season EY Hockey League mirrors the domestic league structures in the likes of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Eugene Magee, Banbridge star and the most capped Irish player in the League, sees huge potential in the role the EY Hockey League can have at all levels of hockey in Ireland.
He said: “Having played in professional clubs in Holland, Belgium and Germany their competition is extremely high in their leagues making them incredibly exciting games to watch. The youth of those clubs then gain a significant interest in hockey and perhaps this is why they develop such skills from such a young age. I'm hoping the same will apply to hockey in Ireland with the massive buzz that this league is creating”.
Magee also recognised the benefits of the EY Hockey League for players. He continued: “This league will bring out the best in all its international athletes and help to improve them, as well as everyone around them. There will be fierce competition with the standard of hockey in Ireland being so high at the moment”.
The new structure of the League means teams will be travelling around the country and the highest quality of hockey will be on display in all four provinces.
Ernst & Young Managing Partner, Mike McKerr, expressed their enthusiasm for the all island League saying: “We at EY are delighted to be partnering with the most impressive hockey competition on our island. By supporting the highest performing teams in the sporting arena, as exemplified by the EY Hockey League, we hope to expand on our own strategy to inspire effective and engaged teaming within our firm. We are extremely proud to be supporting Irish hockey as we embark upon what promises to be a highly competitive season”.
Hockey Ireland CEO Mike Heskin is looking forward to the forthcoming season and the next chapter for hockey in Ireland. He said: “In the past six months, in particular, the Green Machine and Green Army have filled us all with equal parts inspiration and confidence. We now move into a new season and the league, much like our Association, has a new name but the values we hold and that which our players personify very much remain steadfast. Moving from the IHA to Hockey Ireland positions us alongside other Olympic and all Ireland sports, we are a progressive sport and are moving into the next chapter for hockey in Ireland”.
FIH site
EY Hockey League Men's Preview
by Stephen Findlater
Hockey Ireland moves into a new era this weekend as the EY Hockey League tips off, bringing together the top ten teams from across the island for the first ever full season league.
The introduction of the EY Hockey League represents a vital step in raising the standard of the sport in Ireland, providing an elite level of competition with the best players in the club game meeting each week.
On the men’s side, the inaugural season will feature five teams from Leinster, four from Ulster and one from Munster with each club looking to Monkstown as the team to beat.
The south Dublin outfit have won the short-form Irish Hockey League for the last three seasons under the tutelage of Graham Shaw. During the summer, he stepped up to take on the coaching reins with the Irish women’s national team, opening the door for men’s assistant coach and former Belfast Harlequins man Jonny Caren to step into the hot seat.
He takes on a panel packed with talent and now includes four of the Irish senior men’s panel that won bronze medals at the European Championships. Kyle Good returns to the club after a spell in the professional league in Belgium while Jonny Bruton moves from Three Rock Rovers, linking up with in situ stars Peter Caruth and goalkeeper David Fitzgerald.
With four Cole brothers – Stephen, David, Lee and Geoff – in the mix along with two new Australian players arriving in the form of Josh Gregory and Robbie Campbell, they have an expansive panel that look on paper one of the big favourites.
Their first fixture sees them play Railway Union in a Dublin derby at 4.15pm in Sandymount. The Park Avenue club qualified for the competition via the wildcard playoffs at the end of last season thanks to a strong finish to the campaign from David Bane and his side.
They will need to find a new source of goals, however, as top scorer Rob Abbott has retired to pursue a top-level umpiring career. As such, Mark English and Kenny Carroll will be key figures in their campaign.
Out for revenge on Monkstown are Banbridge. Runners-up on the IHL stage for the past three seasons, the Co Down club has been producing international calibre players frequently in the past few seasons and have a very solid core to their line-up.
Eugene Magee – Ireland’s second most capped player of all time – captains the team and he has top notch support throughout the spine of the team. Matthew Bell is another who starred in the European bronze run, coming of age in the victory over England, while Stephen Dowds and Drew Carlisle were key players in the fifth place finish in the World League in July, a performance that has brought Olympic qualification within touching distance.
They start their campaign with a fixture against Annadale in a tasty opening battle. The Carryduff club have been guided by the developmental hand of Andy Smyth for many years, producing top quality players like star man Michael Robson as well as four current Irish underage internationals.
Cork C of I are the southern representatives in the competition and their Garryduff home will be the venue for the first touches of the new season, playing in the early 1.30pm start against Cookstown on Saturday.
They have strengthened their hand significantly with David Harvey returning to the club after a spell in Dublin with Pembroke Wanderers while Julian Dale moves across the city from Cork Harlequins.
John Jermyn, Ireland’s record goalscorer, will be a key figure in midfield while David Hobbs – another international centurion – is the player coach. Their run to last season’s Irish Senior Cup final suggests they will be competitive with a smart outlook and, with no major departures, they are potentially dangerous outfit.
Cookstown make the longest journey of the competition from Co Tyrone down to Cork but are in a happy place following the laying of a new blue turf pitch at their home, Steelweld Park in time for the new campaign.
Goalkeeper Ian Hughes will be a key figure as will the vastly experienced Andy Barbour and Keith Black, guiding a number of strong young players.
Pembroke’s hosting of Lisnagarvey is one of the highlights of the opening weekend of the competition, a meeting between two of the perennial challengers on the national stage.
Pembroke have appointed former national coach Dave Passmore as their top dog for the campaign as he becomes head coach having previously worked with the club in a couple of different roles.
Their hand has been strengthened by the arrival of Alan Sothern from Racing Club de Bruxelles in Belgium while Jason Lynch moves from Garvey, two major additions to their line-up.
Indeed, Lynch joins a large Cork-born contingent, linking up with younger brother Karl as well as Nick Burns, Patrick Shanahan, Adam Pritchard and Scott Sullivan.
Garvey, for their part, have strengthened significantly with internationals Neal Glassey and Paul Gleghorne on their books. Gleghorne, though, suffered a tear to shoulder muscles in a heroic performance at the European championships and will miss the early part of the campaign.
Timmy Cockram is their forward talisman and rising star Sean Murray pulls the strings in midfield of a strong outfit. Jonathan Bell and James Lorimer will be important cogs in their machine if they are to win a first title since 2012.
Three Rock Rovers – semi-finalists in the IHL in the past two seasons – look set to be in transition this year with a very young line-up, guided by Irish Under-16 coach Niall Denham.
Recently capped Jamie Carr and Luke Chadwick have arrived at Grange Road but their arrival is tempered by Mitch Darling’s move to Rotterdam, Ali Haughton’s work switch to Paris Jean Bouin and Bruton’s switch to Monkstown.
It means greater responsibility falls on the shoulders of young players like Ross Canning, Harry Morris and Luke Madeley while Peter Blakeney, Jody Hosking and Daragh Walsh provide bundles of energy in midfield.
In Glenanne, they play a side now coached by Joe Brennan who was in the hot seat at Rovers for the past three seasons. They have bolstered their hand with a few new arrivals with Laurin Hartwig arriving from Stuttgart and Philip Byrne returning to the club from Trinity.
The Tallaght side outdid expectations last season when they finished second in the Leinster league to qualify for the IHL. A key factor was Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Domachowski and he provides an imposing figure in the last line of defence.
It makes for a thrilling opening weekend to the first season of the EY Hockey League with ten well-matched sides tussling to claim the biggest prize.
The league sees these ten sides meet on a home and away basis with the top placed finisher qualifying for the EY Hockey Champions Trophy, the end of season playoffs and qualifying for European competition.
Second and third in the league will also qualify for the EY Hockey Champions Trophy along with the winner of the Irish Senior Cup. Should the cup winner be one of the top three sides in the League, then fourth place will complete the Trophy line-up.
That final four will playoff for the national title in an end of season finale.
In terms of relegation, tenth place in the regular season will return to their provincial league to be replaced by the winner of the EYHL provincial playoffs. Ninth place goes into the playoffs with the runner-up of the EYHL provincial playoffs.
Dates, times and venues for all the men's matches can be found here.
Irish Hockey Association media release
EY Hockey League Women's Preview
by Stephen Findlater
Pegasus carry the mantle of reigning national women’s champions as Hockey Ireland moves into a new era this weekend with the EY Hockey League taking the stage for the first time.
Four Leinster clubs, three from Ulster, two from Munster and one from Connacht will battle it out over an 18-week regular season, vying for a place in the end of season EY Champions Trophy and become the first ever winner of the expanded competition.
The introduction of the EY Hockey League represents a vital step in raising the standard of the sport in Ireland, providing an elite level of competition with the best players in the club game meeting each week.
It is the first time that Irish hockey will embrace a full-season, all-island and Pegasus – as winners of the short-form Irish Hockey League last May – start with a tasty all-Ulster clash at Ards. Pegs’ coach Arlene Boyles says that the new league will have a huge impact on the hockey landscape on the island.
"We want to pit ourselves against the best opposition, week in, week out, and help inspire and create the next generation of interpro and international players.
"It is very different but it should be grasped with both hands. It provides an opportunity for clubs and players to develop on an All-Ireland stage," said Boyles in the build-up to the competition.
Former Irish captain Alex Speers leads the Pegasus line in unison with Suzanne Beaney and Vanessa Surgeoner with Stephanie Thompson pulling the strings.
They meet an Ards side that they lost to 2-1 last weekend at the preseason Marie Curie Cup in Lisnagarvey, a tie that suggests their meeting on Saturday in the opening EY Hockey League game will be a cracker.
Ards’ diminutive striker Chloe Brown missed that game through injury but will be a key figure for them throughout the season, as will Sara Alexander, Caroline Adams, Kerri McDonald and Scarlett Holdsworth.
UCD and Hermes is the big Dublin derby, pitching two sides who have shared many players over the past decade with many of the latter having graduated from Belfield.
This season is no exception with the vibrant international triangle of Anna O’Flanagan, Chloe Watkins and Nikki Evans all making the short hop to Booterstown to play for Hermes after glittering careers with the students.
Key defender Sarah Greene makes the same move and Clare native Naomi Carroll moving to Dublin to Hermes, too, and Liz McInerney returns to the club after a successful spell in Syracuse in the US. It means the Leinster league and cup champions have made a huge amount of big signings and look to be a contender for the ultimate prize.
Under new coach Miles Warren, UCD have, themselves, made a number of additions to try and fill the void created by their graduates. Kate Lloyd is an important addition while Aisling Naughton – the top scorer in Leinster last year – will be a speedy fulcrum to their attack.
Lloyd joins Irish international team mates Katie Mullan, Emily Beatty, Gillian Pinder and Deirdre Duke. It makes for an explosive fixture at the National Stadium which will give a first assessment about how well the two sides are adapting to their new line-ups.
Both Cork sides – Harlequins and UCC – are on the road for the opening weekend. Quins, Munster’s regular leading lights, have made extensive additions to their squad for the 2015-16 season with Katie Campbell (Catholic Institute) and Olivia Roycroft (Bandon) among the marquee names.
Rachel Hobbs is back after a year out to have her first child while Irish Under-18 goalkeeper Emma Buckley is likely to don the number one smock following Vanessa Sargent’s retirement. Irish vice-captain Cliodhna Sargent is the stand-out in defence.
The vastly experienced Rachael Kohler and Karen Bateman bring a huge amount of know-how while Stephen Dale, in his sixth year at the helm, has a huge amount of coaching insight.
Their first test is a trip to a well-heeled Railway Union team that will have full access to recently retired Irish duo Kate Dillon and Emma Smyth.
Imparting knowledge to the next generation will be on the agenda for them with a glut of strong young players rising through the ranks. Colm Blennerhassett has taken on the coaching role following spells with UCD and Corinthian.
Galway’s Greenfields – coached by Deirdre McDermott – come into the competition as the Connacht league and cup champions for the past two seasons.
The emerging club have been growing on the national stage and became the western province’s first side to play in the IHL in the past couple of seasons.
Just one win has been forthcoming to date but a draw at Ards last season and a competitive showing on the road against Ulster Elks show they are improving quickly.
Their opening game is a key one, meeting UCC at Dangan in round one of the new league. The students have added a number of new freshers but the departure to Dublin of Amy Kate Trevor is a loss.
She will play with Pembroke’s ever-improving side – coached by Keith Crawford for a fourth season.
They travel to Ulster Elks with a couple of strong additions. Natalie Fulton – previously a South African international who used to be player coach at Pembroke – has rejoined the club after a spell in her homeland.
Claire Mulcahy misses the first part of the season through injury and the side will look to Orla Macken, Laura Hanlon and Erika Hinkson for their impetus.
The Elks, the Irish Senior Cup champions, have a European trip on the horizon this season and a couple of the island’s biggest stars in their line-up. Irish captain Megan Frazer brings her dynamic presence to the fray while Shirley McCay – the most capped female player – has experience to burn either at the back or down the left flank.
Gemma Frazer is another important component in Ricky Lee’s side. The coach has been at the heart of the Elks rise from the lower tiers to the very top of the game and he will be keen to see his side push for the national title.
The league sees these ten sides meet on a home and away basis with the top placed finisher qualifying for the EY Hockey Champions Trophy, the end of season playoffs and qualifying for European competition.
Second and third in the league will also qualify for the EY Hockey Champions Trophy along with the winner of the Irish Senior Cup. Should the cup winner be one of the top three sides in the League, then fourth place will complete the Trophy line-up.
That final four will playoff for the national title in an end of season finale.
In terms of relegation, tenth place in the regular season will return to their provincial league to be replaced by the winner of the EYHL provincial playoffs. Ninth place goes into the playoffs with the runner-up of the EYHL provincial playoffs.
Dates, times and venues for all the women's matches can be found here.
Irish Hockey Association media release
Teams to beat
Find out the teams to beat at this year’s AHL
We’re now on the home stretch to the men’s and women’s Australian Hockey League tournaments, which push back in Darwin and Sydney on Friday. Don’t forget you can watch all the action live on tenplay (links below)
With the New South Wales Arrows and Tassie Tigers out to defend their 2014 Australian Hockey League crowns later this week, we asked the question ‘who are the teams to beat?’ to some of this year’s captains. Read their responses below.
Shelley Watson
Canberra Labor Club Strikers
“The Queensland Scorchers are always a team to watch out for. They have a talented pool of players and are always a tough side to play against. We enjoy a challenge and look forward to playing them this year.”
Madonna Blyth
Queensland Scorchers
“The NSW Arrows always have a strong squad and boast many players from the national senior and development squads. As the 2014 defending champions, they will be out to defend their title this year.”
Mark Knowles
Queensland Blades
“The NSW Waratahs is the team to beat. They have a quality bunch of experienced senior internationals and a good crop of juniors from the U21s and U18s. There’s no doubt they’re coming into this year’s AHL as favourites.”
Rachael Lynch and Stacia Joseph
Victorian Vipers
“The Queensland Scorchers will definitely be tough this year. Their midfield and defence is made up of some of the Hockeyroos’ strongest performers and newcomers like Stephanie Kershaw. They will certainly be hard to beat.”
Hannah Calvert
Tassie Van Demons
“We will be watching out for the NSW Arrows this year. Not only did they win the women’s 2014 title they also have the home crowd advantage this year.”
Eddie Ockenden
Tassie Tigers
“The men’s competition is fairly even with the format of two pools, however, the big four states will be the ones to watch. Hopefully the Northern Territory show some good form on home soil.”
>> Watch the women's AHL live on tenplay
>> Watch the men's AHL live on tenplay
Day one fixtures
Women’s AHL, Sydney
1:00pm AEST – Victorian Vipers v NT Pearls
3:00pm AEST – Queensland Scorchers v SA Suns
5:00pm AEST – WA Diamonds v Tassie Van Demons
7:00pm AEST – NSW Arrows v Canberra Labor Club Strikers
>> Download the full fixture list for the women's AHL
Men’s AHL, Darwin
2:00pm ACST (2:30pm AEST) – NSW Waratahs v SA Hotshots
4:00pm ACST (4:30pm AEST) – Tassie Tigers v Queensland Blades
6:00pm ACST (6:30pm AEST) – WA Thundersticks v Victorian Vikings
8:00pm ACST (8:30pm AEST) – SRA Territory Stingers v RAMS Home Loans Canberra Lakers
>> Download the full fixture list for the men's AHL
Hockey Australia media release
HA signs Malaysia deal
Hockey Australia agrees MOU with Malaysian Hockey Confederation
Hockey Australia and the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see the two organisations work together to develop hockey in their respective countries.
The five year arrangement, which runs from 1 January 2016 until 31 December 2020, will see collaboration across all facets of the sport, from grassroots development to high performance, including:
i. Hookin2Hockey, Hockey Australia’s national grassroots junior development program, licensed to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation and implemented into its coach education program
ii. Invitations for national teams to compete in competitions and events in both countries
iii. Coaching, umpiring, officiating and administrative staff exchanges between the two countries
Hockey Australia Chief Executive Cam Vale was in Kuala Lumpur to put pen to paper on the MOU, which follows similar bi-lateral agreements signed with Hockey India, Hockey New Zealand and Singapore Hockey over the past seven months.
As part of the arrangement, Australia’s men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, will be invited to participate in the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup each year and the Australian men’s junior team, the Burras, will receive an invitation to the Under 21 equivalent, the Sultan of Johor Cup.
In return, Hockey Australia will invite Malaysia’s men’s and women’s national teams to take part in new international events hosted in Australia. Malaysian teams will also be invited to compete in the Australian Hockey League and under-age Australian Championships.
Cam Vale said, “This MOU marks the formalisation of an already strong relationship. It represents a continuation of our efforts to strengthen ties and play a leading role in the growth of hockey in the region.
“Our high performance department already enjoys excellent relations with Malaysia; the Kookaburras and Burras frequently compete at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Sultan of Johor Cup, and both Malaysia’s men’s and women’s teams took part in the International Super Series in Perth previously.
“By working together more formally we can improve hockey in both countries more holistically than simply at the top end of the sport.
“Hookin2Hockey will provide Malaysia with a proven junior development program and will further strengthen the brand for us. The opportunity for the sharing of knowledge through the exchanges is an equally exciting prospect.”
MHC President Dato' Sri Subahan Kamal believes that this is a great opportunity for Malaysia to progress.
"We have much to learn from Australia. It is a fact we must acknowledge. Australia has been the perennial powerhouse of world hockey. The fact that we have come to a common agreement speaks volumes of our talent pool. We must use this opportunity to grow".
The Australian men’s junior team, the Burras, had previously been invited to compete at the 2015 Sultan of Johor Cup and will travel to Johor Bahru for the tournament, which runs from 11-18 October.
It marks the first competitive tournament opportunity for the Burras in their build-up towards the Junior World Cup qualifying tournament in early 2016 and will see them take on the likes of Argentina, Great Britain, India, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Hockey Australia media release
Hockey India and Hockey New Zealand announce six-match Test Series
New Delhi: Hockey India and Hockey New Zealand today announced a six match series between India and New Zealand scheduled to take place from 2 to 11 October 2015. The matches will be played in Auckland, Nelson and Christchurch.
While India will play the first two matches against the New Zealand A team, the last four matches will be played against the New Zealand senior men team.
For India the Tour will be in preparation for the all important FIH Hockey World League Final 2015 to be held in Raipur later this year, followed by Rio Olympics slated in 2016 while for New Zealand it is a preparation for the upcoming 2015 Oceania Cup wherein a win there would confirm a berth for them in the Rio Olympics 2016.
Indian players are going through training session in New Delhi and getting ready for the series. India would look at using the experience to prepare for the forthcoming tournaments in the next one year.
In June 2015, New Zealand finished at 6th position in the FIH Hockey World League Semi-Final 2015 held in Buenos Aires, Argentina after a defeat against Canada in the quarter-final match. With this set-back and another defeat against Spain in 5th-6th Classification Match, they missed the opportunity to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
However, New Zealand still has a chance to qualify for the Olympics if they win the 2015 Oceania Cup, which will be held at their home-turf coming October and hence their clash against India will be an important ground to gear up for the upcoming challenge.
Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, Secretary General, Hockey India: “The series was planned keeping in mind the upcoming important tournaments that are lined up for the Indian team. Series like this will help our team to understand the continuing changing game style of the opposition and this helps us to further work on our strategies. The team is very excited and are looking forward to continue their good form in the series.”
Malcolm Harris, Hockey New Zealand Chief Executive: “We are very excited about this upcoming series - it’s the first time since 2009 that India Men have toured New Zealand. Our fans can’t wait to welcome India – it’s a great chance for Kiwis to see world-class hockey here in New Zealand. It also provides the Black Sticks Men with some strong competition ahead of the important Oceania Cup (Stratford, 21-25 October).”
All games will be LIVE streamed. More details about the live stream will be published on www.hockeynz.co.nz before the start of the series.
Schedule
Date Local Time Indian Time Team vs Team City
2 Oct. 2015 13:00 06:30 India vs New Zealand A Auckland
3 Oct. 2015 13:00 06:30 India vs New Zealand A Auckland
6 Oct. 2015 19:00 12:30 India vs New Zealand Nelson
7 Oct. 2015 19:00 12:30 India vs New Zealand Nelson
9 Oct. 2015 20:00 13:30 India vs New Zealand Christchurch
11 Oct. 2015 13:00 06:30 India vs New Zealand Christchurch
Stick2Hockey.com
Black Sticks goalie signed in India
Black Sticks goalie, Devon Manchester. Photo / Greg Bowker
Devon Manchester is relishing the prospect of his first stint in the Indian Hockey League.
The Black Sticks goalkeeper, among the best in the game, is one of five New Zealand players who have been signed up for the fourth edition of hockey's equivalent of the higher profile, and longer running, Indian Premier League cricket event.
Manchester has been hired by the Delhi Waveriders, a perennial high achiever in the six-team league, and has New Zealand captain Simon Child and midfielder Steve Edwards for Kiwi company.
Canterbury's Nick Haig will play for the Punjab Warriors while fellow Black Sticks squad member Shea McAleese is with the Mumbai franchise.
"When it first came around (2013), I thought it was something I'd definitely like a crack at," Manchester said.
"I've been to India a few times but I think this will be quite different. We're over there longer and are more immersed in an Indian environment.
"We're travelling around the country, with Indian team mates and other players from different countries. It adds a different dimension and you experience a lot more."
Manchester, who was bought by Delhi for $42,000, expects to face a high calibre of opposing attackers throughout the tournament, and hopes that will bring out the best in his game.
He will be battling for game time against India's reserve goalkeeper, Harjot Singh, but is confident he will get plenty of opportunities.
"I wouldn't expect to play all the games, with the sheer volume of them, but I haven't had any indication from the coaches yet."
The tournament will also feature new rules, including two goals for a field goal and a foul committed during a penalty corner will result in a penalty stroke worth two goals. The changes are designed to encourage more attacking, skillful hockey.
"There's a lot of talk about penalty corners having too much emphasis on the result of games. They want to try and encourage more field play, like getting in the circle and actually trying to score goals rather than living off penalty corners," Manchester said.
However he suspects teams might be prepared to defend more aggressively to try and stop attackers getting off shots, on the basis that conceding a penalty corner is less of a punishment than a goal scored in open play.
"Generally I just expect people to be shooting at me all the time. I don't think it'll change too much for me."
Squads of 20 must have 12 Indian players and eight overseas, of which only five are allowed on the field at the same time.
That will lead to coaches having to keep their wits about them at substitution time.
Delhi won the 2014 league title, were second in the inaugural 2013 event and third last year.
Next year's tournament starts on January 18 and wraps up on February 21.
Germany's world player of the yeare Moritz Furste was the highest priced item at this year's auction, costing the Kalinga Lancers $164,000, with fellow Germans Florian Fuchs (to Mumbai) and Tobias Hauke (to Uttar Pradesh Wizards) next most expensive at $153,000 apiece.
The New Zealand Herald
Will suggest FIH to launch a six-a-side World Cup: Dilip Tirkey
NEW DELHI: Impressed with the ever-growing popularity of T20 cricket, former India hockey captain Dilip Tirkey has decided to suggest the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to introduce a six-a-side World Cup to popularise the game in new countries.
"There used to be only one 50-over World Cup in cricket but now they have T20 WC which is immensely popular. It has bought new viewers for cricket. We can do similar experiment in hockey with six-a-side World Cup," Tirkey said.
"We have only one World Cup in hockey. I strongly believe that we need a mini six-a-side World Cup in hockey," he added.
The three-time Olympian, who is considered as one of the greatest defenders of Indian hockey, said that he will write to FIH regarding this.
"I will write to FIH and Asian Hockey Federation in this regard. This format is very popular in Europe and it can be accepted globally," said Tirkey, a Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha.
Tirkey feels that World Cup has its own charm and it can popularise hockey in new countries.
"There are so many World Cups in shooting and archery hence these games are played in so many countries. We need similar approach in hockey to spread it globally. Six-a-side World Cup can be held between the World Cup and Olympics with the participation of 16 to 18 teams," said the veteran.
He also spoke in favour of the new rule of counting one field goal as two in the next Hockey India League.
"We can add more spice in the game with new experiments. This new rule of counting one field goal as two is good as it will reduce dependence on penalty corner specialists. We will be able to see fantastic field goals which are rare now-a-days. Apart from this players will become technically sound," Tirkey said.
"This will promote artistic hockey which will suit Asian countries including India as we have always played artistic hockey. This rule will make defenders and strikers equally important," he added.
The Times of India
Five Boys of Dar HA in Pakistan junior side for Sultan of Johor Tournament
Ijaz Chaudhry
Things have never been as bad for Pakistan hockey as present. Failed to qualify for the World Cup 2014; green shirts will also be absent in the next year’s Olympics.
Where to go from here? Everyone agrees it is the juniors who could bring any hope for a revival.
Pakistan junior team would be competing in two international tournaments, both in Malaysia, in the coming two months: Sultan of Johor tournament and Junior Asia Cup. The latter event would also serve as the qualifier for the 2017 Junior World Cup.
Sultan of Johor tournament for juniors starts from October 11. The annual tournament, now in its fifth year, has become the most significant invitational international tournament for the juniors- comparable with the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for the senior national teams.
This edition would feature six strong teams from four continents: Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Australia, England and Argentina.
The Pakistan team for the tourney has been announced. The side includes as many as five players from the Dar Hockey Academy: Bilal Qadir, Sikander Mustafa, Rizwan, Adnan and Sohail Riaz.
Of these the first three have played for Pakistan’s age group teams before. But for the other two, it would be their international debut.
Apart from getting training at home by competent coaches, the Dar HA teams have also made four tours of Europe since 2010 where they played matches against age group as well as the first teams of the club sides of top hockey nations of the continent, Holland, Germany and Belgium. This experience has contributed a lot towards the development of the academy colts. No wonder, a surfeit of boys have made it to the Pakistan’s national teams, age group as well as the senior national sides. All the five academy players selected for this year’s Pakistan team for the Sultan of Johor tournament have made at least two European tours with the Dar HA teams.
Ijaz Chaudhry writes on hockey and other sports. For more about him and his work, visit www.sportscorrespondent.info
Fieldhockey.com
Sultan of Johor Cup: ‘Players selected on merit for the first time’
By Nabil Tahir
KARACHI: While it is too early to judge the performance of the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) new management and its impact on the nation’s sport, national junior team coach Tahir Zaman is buoyed by the selection of youngsters for the Sultan of Johor Cup, claiming it to be the first time that players have been selected on merit.
“This is the first time I have seen players being selected purely on the basis of merit and physical fitness,” Zaman told The Express Tribune. “The new selection committee [headed by Olympian Rashid Junior] has done a great job, which has increased the morale of the athletes and the coaches as well.”
Twenty six players and five reserves have been training at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad for the Sultan of Johor Cup, which will begin on October 11 in Malaysia, and Zaman is confident that these players will excel at the tournament.
“The way these players are performing in training is very impressive. If these players maintain their level of performance at the Sultan of Johor Cup and in future tournaments, they will take hockey to unprecedented heights,” he added.
Zaman also said that the players are currently in the first phase of training, which will end of Wednesday, while the second phase would start on September 27.
The team will depart for Malaysia on October 8 and will play a practice match against Argentina on October 10.
The Express Tribune
PHF mulls premier league to entice youth
ISLAMABAD: Taking a leaf out of Pakistan Cricket Board’s books of starting a cricket league next year at an offshore venue, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is now thinking of launching a hockey premier league in the country later this year.
According to new PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed, since discussions between the federation officials has just started it would be premature to say anything concrete at this point in time.
“At this stage, I can’t share further details, but we will try to hold this event within 90 days,” Shahbaz, a former national skipper, told Dawn on Tuesday. “To bring improvement in our hockey the PHF has to give incentive to the players. We will have to do something special for the youth, otherwise who will play hockey? Why youngsters would opt to become professional hockey players if there is no future.”
Shahbaz added the idea of starting a premier league is to attract youth.
Asked whether PHF will invite international players to participate in premier league, Shahbaz said: “As I already mentioned, things are at initial stage at the moment. But in the coming days and weeks, the picture will become clear.”
The secretary, in the meantime, said that the juniors’ camp for the Sultan of Johar Hockey Tournament and the Junior Asia Cup will be restart on Sept 28 at the Army Hockey Stadium in Rawalpindi. After the camp ends on Oct 5, the national side will leave for Malaysia.
A total of 26 junior players — including 21 team members and five reserves — will attend the training camp.
Meanwhile, as part of the federation’s development plan to coach on modern scientific lines and to improve upon the technical know-how; the PHF is organising a coaching education programme on Sept 28 at the Army Hockey Stadium.
For national coaches’ clinic, Olympian Tahir Zaman, who is also a FIH master coach will be the course conductor. He will be assisted by Olympian Khawaja Mohammad Junaid as chief coordinator and Lt Col (retired) Nadeem Ahmed Bhatti.
The following coaches have been directed to report to Tahir at the appointed venue:
Major Asad Zia Malik (Army), Mohammad Usman (PIA), Mohammad Saqlain (Allied Bank), Mohammad Sarwar (Allied Bank), Mudassar Ali Khan (Wapda), Mirza Waheed Baig (Wapda), Babar Abdullah (Allied Bank), Mohammad Khalid (PIA), Khawar Javed (National Bank), Mohammad Ali Khan (Pakistan Customs), Kamran Ashraf (PIA), Atif Bashir (PIA), Mohammad Rasheed (Lahore), Rehan Butt (Wapda), Kashif Jawwad (Port Qasim Authority), Mohammad Imran (Army), Junaid Khan Jadoon (Navy), Kamran Sabir (Quetta).
Dawn
PHF Coaching Education Programme from 28th
KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is organising a Coaching Education Programme on the sidelines of the training camp of national junior team at the Army Hockey Stadium in Rawalpindi from Sept 28 to Oct 5.
For the National Coaches Clinic, Olympian Tahir Zaman, FIH Master Coach, will be the course conductor. Olympian Khawaja Junaid will be the chief coordinator and Nadeem Ahmad Bhatti will serve as the course coordinator during the programme.
Following are to attend the programme:
Major Asad Zia Malik (Army), Mohammad Usman (PIA), Mohammad Saqlain (ABL), Mohammad Sarwar (ABL), Mudassar Ali Khan (Wapda), Mirza Waheed Baig (Wapda), Babar Abdullah (ABL), Mohammad Khalid (PIA), Khawar Javed (NBP), Mohammad Ali Khan (Customs), Kamran Ashraf (PIA), Dr Atif Bashir (PIA), Mohammad Rasheed (Lahore), Rehan Butt (Wapda), Kashif Jawad (PQA), Mohammad Imran (Army), Junaid Khan Jadoon (Navy), Kamran Sabir (Quetta).
Dawn