News for 27 February 2016
All the news for Saturday 27 February 2016
Indian eves continue winning run in South Africa
Anuradha Devi scored the fourth goal for India. (AFP Photo)
STELLENBOSCH: The Indian women's hockey team continued its winning streak on its tour to South Africa by routing Scotland national team 5-0 here.
The first period of the match started with the Indian eves looking for an early goal but the Scottish defence refused to give away any clear short at the goal.
The Scottish girls tried to make a comeback in the second period but the Indians refused to give away any ball possession as both the sides failed to break the deadlock at the halfway stage.
The third period started with the Indian team looking determinant to score. The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Rani scored from a penalty corner.
Rani soon made it 2-0 for India with another penalty corner conversion in the 42nd minute before Deepika made it 3-0 on the 45th minute through a field strike.
India continued in the same vein and scored their fourth goal which came from the stick of Anuradha Devi Thokchom in the 54th minute.
Gurjit Kaur rounded off tally for India when she scored the fifth goal a penalty corner in the penultimate minute of the match.
The Times of India
Perlis Lions edge TBSS Tampin 4-3 for quarters
By Jugjet Singh
PERLIS Young Lions Juniors came back from a goal down to beat TBSS Tampin 4-3 and qualify for the quarter-finals of the TNB CUP on March 4.
The four teams from Division Two which qualified for the quarter-finals after the play-off are Anderson Thunderbolts, BJSS Juniors, Sabah Sports School and Perlis Young Lions Juniors.
Tomorrow, BJSS will play against Anderson in the final while the other two teams will play in a third-fourth classification.
Anderson and BJSS Juniors also qualified to play in Division One next year, while Nur Insafi and SSTMI Juniors were relegated.
From Division One, SSTMI Thunderbolts, BJSS Thunderbolts, SSP-MSP Thunderbolts and UniKL Young Guns qualified for the last eight action.
TBSS, needing only a draw to play in the quarter-finals, took the lead off V. Vengadeswaran in the 12th minute, but Perlis played their hearts out and won the grueling battle.
The other TBSS goals were scored by Aiman Shahmi (37th) and Farhan Zain (50th)
While Perlis got their goals off Faiz Nasri (20th), Nur Hakin Bakri (34th), Syawal Najmi (42nd) and the winner was delivered by Syukur Abu Bakar in the 63rd minute.
In a Group X match, Sabah Sports School hammered Penang MSSP-USM 8-3 to finish second and qualify for the quarter-finals. Sabah will now play in the third-fourth classification match against xxx.
RESULTS: Group X: Sabah Sports School 8 Penang MSSP-USM 3; Group Y: TBSS Tampin 3 Perlis Young Lions Juniors 4.
GIRLS JHL -- Group A: SSTMI Thunderbolts 9 SMK Tun Hussein Onn 0, Southern Girls 0 Sabah Sports School 2, SMK Za'aba 0 Selangor Girls 0.
Group B: MSN Kedah 9 YP-MSP-PHP 0, SMKGR Highlanders 2 MSNT-SMKPM 5, Kuala Lumpur Wipers 17 SMK Sultan Ibrahim 0.
TOMORROW: JHL Division Two play-off: Final -- Anderson Thunderbolts v BJSS Juniors (7pm); Third-Fourth: Sabah v Perlis (5pm).
Note: Both matches at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
GROUP X
P W D L F A Pts
ANDERSON 2 2 0 0 15 5 6
SABAH 2 1 0 1 12 8 3
PENANG 2 0 0 2 4 18 0
GROUP Y
P W D L F A Pts
BJSS JNRS 2 1 1 0 5 4 4
PERLIS 2 1 0 1 7 7 3
TBSS TAMPIN 2 0 1 1 4 5 1
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Anderson through to Division Two playoff final
KUALA LUMPUR: Anderson-Thunderbolt have sealed their spot in the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) Division Two playoff final.
Anderson recorded their second win in Group X after edging Sabah Sports School Malaysia (SSSM) 5-4 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Thursday.
Anderson scored four field goals through Muhd Najme Ahmad Hayazi (10th and 50th minutes), Muhd Akram Hakkam Jamaluddin (20th) and Muhd Fuad Zaquan Saidin (57th) before Muhd Nur Syahmi Zulkifli added the fifth off a penalty corner set piece in the 65th minute.
SSSM’s replied through a Muhajir Abdu Rauf field goal in the 16th minute, two penalty-corner goals by Mohd Saifuddin Azli (23rd and 48th) and another field goal by Mohd Haziq Asyraaf Berahim (60th).
The win also secured Anderson-Thunderbolt a berth in Division One next season, where they will join three other Thunderbolt teams – Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI)-Thunderbolt, Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS)-Thunderbolt and Pahang Sports School (SSP)-MSP-Thunderbolt.
The Perak side began the playoffs with a huge 10-1 win over Penang MSSPP-USM on Wednesday.
The fight for a place in the playoffs final from Group Y was blown wide open after Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors were held to a 1-1 draw by TBSS Tampin.
TBSS went ahead through a Muhd Faiz Nazwan Mohd Azhar penalty corner in the 41st minute but BJSS Juniors equalised through Mohd Shafie Jamdin in the 45th.
BJSS Juniors top the group with four points, TBSS have one point and MSN-PHP Perlis Young Lions prop up the group with no point.
BJSS Juniors will now have to await the outcome of the TBSS versus MSN-PHP Perlis Young Lions tie today to know their fate. TBSS must win to make the final.
The Star of Malaysia
De Voogd reflects on shooting for the EHL stars
“It was probably the craziest hockey moment I have experienced” – a year on, Oranje Zwart’s Bob de Voogd still struggles to get his head around his club’s incredible Euro Hockey League final win over UHC Hamburg.
He ultimately slotted home his shoot-out chance at the second attempt after 11 rounds and 30 minutes of over-time drama. De Voogd had scored during normal time and it was his third goal of the shoot-out in a superb individual performance.
He told the EHL website it was an experience like no other, especially after they missed out on the title a year earlier to Harvestehuder THC, also in a shoot-out.
“After losing the final at our home ground the year before, we were so eager to win. We took that experience to our advantage and did everything we could to be the number one,” he said.
“To play against all the best teams from Europe and win the cup is something special. It's special for the players, for the club but also for all the fans we have at Oranje Zwart. It's a prize I really wanted to win. We can say we are the best club team in Europe and I think everyone wants to say that right!”
OZ will return to competitive outdoor action this weekend with an away trip to Den Bosch’s impressive new tribune as preparations ramp up for the Euro Hockey League KO16. The Eindhoven club will meet a marquee encounter against Royal Leopold on March 26 in Amsterdam.
Looking back on their run to the Alain Danet trophy, the Dutch striker said it was anything but plain sailing and that every opponent can cause problems in the EHL.
In the KO16 last time, Austria’s SV Arminen pushed his side all the way with Mink van der Weerden’s late goal finally seeing off their opponent 2-0. A 4-1 win against Club Egara followed soon after.
“It made us realize that getting to the next round isn't easy against any team. We knew we had to fight every game to get a good result. And that is what we did last year.”
That led to a FINAL4 game with Bloemendaal and yet another shoot-out.
“Games against Bloemendaal are always something special. OZ won their first ever Dutch title at Bloemendaal in 2005 and, since then, we always like to play there. We knew it would be a close game with two top sides and a lot of support from both the fans.
“Personally, I love to play this kind off game; it's something special. Bloemendaal had the chance to win it but our goalie, Vincent Vanasch, made some incredible saves.
“He kept us in the game that day. We practiced shoot-outs every training; I actually miss most off them,” de Voogd laughs. “But I had better luck during the games!”
And so, to the final, de Voogd says his side did well to stop the key UHC Hamburg players but plays down his goal, saying he “only had to put the ball in the net” after Mink van der Weerden’s excellent assist. Of course, it went to that epic shoot-out.
“When we had to take shoot-outs again, I was pretty confident we could win it. We've been there before, everyone knows what to do and we have an amazing goalie.
“That confidence is something we kept in our mind throughout the whole series. The moment we thought we had won the title but then we didn't was probably the most crazy hockey moment I have ever experienced.”
He is referring to the eighth round of the shoot-out when a UHC video referral saw Jan-Philipp Rabente initially denied only to get a second chance when Vanasch was deemed to have fouled him. It kept the shoot-out going.
“The way we got our focus back and finished this game was incredible. I remeber saying to each other: ‘this is our title, we just keep on going till we have it’. And so we did. The moment we won it we were even more ecstatic than a few minutes earlier. This is what we worked for so hard for.”
De Voogd is now looking forward to trying to retain the title after a busy winter. He missed out on the World League finals in India with a hamstring injury but rejoined the Dutch panel for their South American tour to Brazil and Argentina.
With OZ, they played three games in Barcelona, beating Atletic Terrassa, Club de Campo and Polo. Following those games, he says he “can’t wait to start again” in the Hoofdklasse and the EHL.
And he adds that the latter is a particular highlight: “You play against so many good teams and world class players. To compete at that level is something special.
“Combined with the exellent media coverage, the EHL is a tournament I want to play every year. It really helps the hockey grow and get more professional. I'm glad i can be a part of it!”
Euro Hockey League media release
Butali Sugar Warriors go flat out for wins in weekend double header
By BRIAN YONGA
Billy Mollah of Butali Sugar Warriors clears the ball during their Kenya Hockey Union Premier League match against Nairobi Sikh Union at City Park Stadium on January 24, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Champions Butali Sugar Warriors will be looking to win their two Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League matches this weekend and move to within two points of leaders Kenya Police.
The team takes on Coastal sides Mvita XI on Saturday and Mombasa Sports Club (MSC) on Sunday at the City Park Stadium.
Butali, who have 46 points, are seeking to close the gap between them and rivals Police who lead the standings on 54 points, with the title race shaping up a two-horse race.
Police, however, have played 21 matches compared to Butali’s 17 games.
Butali are favourites to bag maximum points against the two Coastal sides that occupy the last two places in the league.
But coach Cliffe Okello has warned his charges against complacency. The former Kenya international has urged his charges to collect maximum points from the two matches.
“At this point in the league, every point matters and our target is to win all our remaining matches to increase our chances of retaining the title,” Okello told Saturday Nation Sport.
“We respect our opponents. The lads know what is at stake, we are going for nothing short of the six points,” he added.
Mvita, who lie second from bottom with nine points, will need to be on top of their game. The team lost 0-5 in Mombasa in the first leg and coach Bill Olang has called for an improved performance.
“We are battling relegation and we need to fight hard for maximum points. Butali are a great side with very good players but should not fear them because they are beatable,” he said.
Fifth-placed United States International University of Africa (USIU) men’s team will be looking to move into third place with maximum points in their two matches.
They face MSC this evening before taking on Mvita tomorrow at the City Park Stadium.
In Kakamega, Western Jaguars will Saturday afternoon welcome Parkroad before tackling Kenyatta University Vultures on Sunday as they seek to move away from the relegation zone.
In the women’s National League, the battle for second spot takes centre stage as third-placed Sliders take on Daystar Falcons in the only women’s encounter this weekend.
A win will move Sliders to within two points of second place Strathmore University Scorpions.
FIXTURES (All matches at City Park Stadium unless stated)
Saturday
National men: MKU v TUK (12pm), Karate Axiom v Kabarak (2pm)
Premier men: Western Jaguars v Parkroad (3pm) - Kakamega, Butali v Mvita (4pm), USIU v MSC (6pm)
Sunday
USIU v Mvita (9am), Western Jaguars v KU -Kakamega (9am), Butali v MSC (11am)
National men: Wazalendo Youth v Kabarak (1pm)
National women: Sliders v Daystar (3pm)
Daily Nation
Solomon Islands sporting success thanks to FIH Targeted Assistance Programme
The next generation of Solomon stars with Oceania Hockey Federation Secretary General Bob Claxton (Photo: Oceania Hockey Federation)
14 months ago there was no hockey federation to promote and deliver any hockey competitions or programmes in the Solomon Islands. However, since then they have become a source of inspiration to other Oceania nations thanks to a joined up approach involving various sporting organisations, including the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Hockey has been played in the Solomon Islands since the 1980s and even played in the very first Oceania Cup held in Papua New Guinea in 1981. However, lack of leadership, government instability and regular cyclones and earthquakes meant that hockey disappeared from the sporting landscape in the country.
The Oceania Hockey Federation paved the way for the successful reintroduction of the sport by engaging with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and promoting the idea of a smaller game – Hockey5s.
After helping establish an efficient and professional governing body in the country, the Oceania Hockey Federation teamed up with FIH to facilitate this development through the world governing body's Targeted Assistance Programme (TAP).
One of the first main targets of the newly formed Solomon Island Hockey Federation was to enter a team into the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea in July 2015. To achieve this, they strategically aligned themselves to an educational institute, Don Bosco College, where they introduced a group of male students to the game.
The College had a small concrete space between the classrooms that became the training and playing area. 14 players trained with nine selected to represent the Solomon Islands. One of the students became the Coach and another the Manager.
With a football background, the players were already athletic. They took to their new game quickly and during the Pacific Games excelled against some of the Oceania members. Their progress was clear as they reached the bronze medal game where they eventually lost to hosts Papua New Guinea.
14 months on and the sport has gone from strength to strength. Just recently the Federation held their first Secondary Schools Championships, with six boys and six girls teams competing. Four clubs have also started up and the Executive have built their own portable goals as they have to rotate matches onto whatever field they can find.
Women's participation has also been addressed. The Oceania Continental Development Officer, Gill Gemming, on her initial visit in 2014, identified a bowling green that was not utilized. Since then it has been converted into the centre for the women to play their Hockey5s.
As hockey has grown in popularity, volunteers have been recruited and trained to make the game sustainable. The FIH Academy Coach Education programmes were piloted there in December 2015 where 27 participants attended a four day workshop.
All the Pacific Games players attended and are now involved in coaching or umpiring. However, the most significant development was that 15 of the participants were teachers, which bodes well for the 2016 School visit programme which will see their new hockey Development Officer introduce hockey to primary schools.
Taking up that role is Joseph Iniga, a local who coached the Pacific Games Team. Through the TAP funding, Joseph was also able to attend Oceania Cup in Stratford in October 2015, as the first part of his training. There he was one of eight participants in the FIH Educator's Programme.
Also in Stratford, 22 new Development Officers representing Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu were trained. It was also a great networking opportunity for these individuals as they shared ideas and discussed future plans with one another.
Tonga and Vanuatu are now ready to follow the same path with in country indigenous Development Officers. Through the TAP programmes and partners, it is hoped that the these new positions will be filled by May 2016.
This Oceania development is the latest success story from the FIH Targeted Assistance Programme. That global initiative is a key component of the FIH's Hockey Revolution - the 10 year strategy aimed at making hockey a global game that inspires the next generation.
One of the four big goals designed to achieve that ambition is to increase the degree of professionalism in the sport, therefore coach education and effective governing bodies will remain key tactics in delivering results in this area.
For more information about the Hockey Revolution, click here.
To find out how you can get involved in hockey in a Oceania country, click here.
FIH site
IOC President appoints Leandro Negre to Youth Olympic Games Tripartite Working Group
FIH President Leandro Negre and IOC President Thomas Bach (Photo: IOC)
International Hockey Federation President Leandro Negre was appointed to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Tripartite Working Group by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach yesterday.
The Working Group will be tasked with making recommendations to improve the Youth Olympic Games in-line with the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020.
Speaking of his appointment, FIH President Leandro Negre said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of the Youth Olympic Games. This event plays a hugely important role the Hockey Revolution, our 10 year strategy aimed at making hockey a global game that inspires the next generation. I am looking forward to some interesting discussions with the Group and hope that we can make what is already a hugely successful youth event even better."
During the last Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014, the Hockey 5s event drew huge praise from athletes, coaches and fans who witnessed fast paced, action packed matches which offered lots of goals and plenty of excitement. For more information about that event, click here.
The next Youth Olympic Games will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018. In December, hockey legend Luciana Aymar was the first ambassador to be appointed for those games. You can read more about that news here.
FULL IOC PRESS RELEASE:
IOC President announces composition of new Commissions and Working Group
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach today announced the composition of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, and the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Tripartite Working Group.
IOC Members Alexander Zhukov, Frank Fredericks and Uğur Erdener were named Chairs of the Coordination Commission Beijing 2022, Evaluation Commission 2024 and YOG Tripartite Working Group, respectively.
Alexander Zhukov was the Chair of the Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Winter Games 2022. The IOC Session 2015 in Kuala Lumpur elected Beijing as host.
“The Coordination Commission under Chair Alexander Zhukov will support the Organising Committee to further develop the Games plan with a special focus on sustainability and environmental protection, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.
Frank Fredericks, Olympic medallist and former Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, was previously a member of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXX Olympiad and the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.
President Bach said: “Olympic Agenda 2020, with regard to the organisation of the Olympic Games, puts a special focus on sustainability and the athletes’ experience. This is where Frank Fredericks, as a four-time Olympic silver medallist in sprint and former Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, has great expertise.”
The Candidate Cities* for the Olympic Games 2024 are Los Angeles (USA), Rome (Italy), Budapest (Hungary) and Paris (France).
Uğur Erdener, an IOC Executive Board Member, will lead the YOG Tripartite Working Group, which is primarily made of up of high-ranking experts from the IOC, International Federations and National Olympic Committees, including athletes’ representatives.
“The first four editions of the Youth Olympic Games were a great success. But nothing is so good that it cannot be made better,” said President Bach. “Following the recommendation of Olympic Agenda 2020, this Working Group will now have a wide-ranging debate about potential improvements and adjustments of the overall format of the Games. The diversity of the members guarantees an interesting discussion.”
Buenos Aires will host the next summer edition of the YOG in 2018, with Lausanne picking up the winter YOG baton from Lillehammer in 2020. From the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2023 onward, the YOG will be organised in non-Olympic years.
The scope and makeup of the Commissions and Working Group are closely aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020. President Bach said: “The composition of the two Commissions and Working Group reflects the commitment to even closer cooperation with the International Federations and National Olympic Committees, with a special focus on the athletes.”
FIH site