News for 13 March 2016
All the news for Sunday 13 March 2016
Winning start for Malaysia against Koreans
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia got off to a winning start in their two-match Test series against South Korea with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory at the Lord Elsmore Park in Auckland yesterday.
The Malaysian went into the match fresh from a four-match Test series against New Zealand, which they won one, lost two and drew one.
Yesterday, South Korea took the lead through a Kim Juhun field goal in the seventh minute before Shahril Saabah equalised with a penalty corner drag flick in the 49th minute.
Mohd Ramadhan Rosli scored the winner with another penalty corner goal in the 55th minute.
National coach Stephen van Huizen was happy with the team’s performance.
The second Test will be played at the same venue today and the team will leave for Perth tomorrow for a tour of Australia.
The tours are part of the team’s preparation for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup next month.
The Star of Malaysia
RM2.1 million for Azlan Shah Cup
By Jugjet Singh
SULTAN Nazrin Shah yesterday received a total of RM2.1 million in sponsorship for the Azlan Shah Cup which will be held in Ipoh on APril 6-16.
Among the sponsors were Yayasan Sultan Azlan Shah (RM300,000), ASTRO (RM350,000) and various Perak State agencies (RM650,000).
In the Silver Jubilee of the tournament, Malaysia will be up against world No 1 Australia, defending champions New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Canada and Japan.
Four of the teams; Australia, India, Canada and New Zealand, have qualified for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The national team are currently on a 10-test tour of Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand, they lost two (4-2, 4-1) drew one (0-0) and won one (3-2) against the Kiwis.
Yesterday, they beat South Korea 2-1, after trailing 0-1.
Kim Juhun scored for South Korea in the seventh minute, while Shahril Saabah equalised off a 49th minute penalty corner and Ramadhan Rosli nailed the winner off a 55th minute penalty corner.
National seniors coach Stephen van Huizen said: "It was a solid win, especially as the team came back from 1-0 down at half time.
"We had problems with the dry surface in the first half as a number of skill errors were observed which included a crucial turnover resulting in a break away goal".
Malaysia played a well composed game as they restricted the Koreans to just two shots at goal, and two penalty corners. The national team had five penalty corners and two were converted into goals.
"Like Malaysia, Korea are in the process of rebuilding and they have a young and disciplined team. We are pleased with the result, but there is still a lot more to do," van Huizen said.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
PHF skips Champions Trophy, eyes 2018 World Cup
LAHORE: In what seems to be another major blow to the national game, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Saturday decided not to take part in this year’s Champions Trophy to be staged in England in June.
The move is another significant setback for Pakistan, who for the first time in its history will not be playing in the 2016 Olympic hockey event after failing to qualify for it.
The incumbent PHF management, which took charge in August last year, should have by now raised a national team which could feature in June’s Champions Trophy, one of the toughest events in world hockey.
But the federation after having failed to do so, perhaps has some other plans. It is also yet to announce a clear, comprehensive policy for regaining Pakistan’s glory in world hockey.
PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior told reporters that it would be better not to take part in the Champions Trophy, saying the federation was aiming to prepare a strong team for the 2018 World Cup.
Interestingly, the PHF has decided to participate in next month’s Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, and has set up a training camp in Lahore for the said contest. But for the Champions Trophy it did not follow the same approach.
Dawn
Final play-off spot still not sealed
Kim Leiper in action for Holcombe. Credit: Andy Smith.
The race for the final play-off spot in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division will go right down to the wire with both Holcombe and East Grinstead taking impressive victories on Saturday
Holcombe beat the University of Birmingham 3-1 thanks to goals from Leigh Maasdorp, Emily Maguire and Sarah Jones, while Erica Sanders scored for the students.
East Grinstead are still very much in the hunt for that fourth spot after an impressive 3-2 win over second-placed Canterbury. They led 3-0 at the break with goals from Alice Pyrgos, Sophie Bray and Josephine Blunt.
Dirkie Chamberlain set up a tense final with two late goals for Canterbury but East Grinstead held on and are two points behind Holcombe going into the final games of the regular season.
They will have to wait until next weekend to see who clinches a spot at the League Finals Weekend at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on April 16-17.
At the bottom of the table, Buckingham are putting up a real fight and could avoid automatic relegation with victory in their final game. They faced Bowdon Hightown, just one place above them and came out with a 2-1 win.
Zoe Shipperley put Buckingham ahead only for Tina Cullen to level for the home side a minute later. But Alyson Billington scored five minutes later to bag the win.
Surbiton top the table and took a 1-0 win against Reading, Jenna Woolven scoring the only goal of the game. Reading could have equalised late on but Emma Thomas missed a penalty stroke.
Leicester’s hopes of going to the League Finals Weekend are gone but they still put on a good performance to beat Clifton 6-2. Nikki Laybourne scored twice and other goals came from Emily Kilner, Katie Long, Liz George and Holly Payne. Els Mansell and Claire Thomas were on target for Clifton.
Investec Women’s Conference East
Maidenhead have given themselves hope of avoiding the relegation play-offs with a shock 3-2 win over Investec Women’s Conference East champions Slough.
Jane Smith scored twice and Alison Lubbock claimed the winner to keep them within touching distance of Chelmsford who lost 3-0 to Cambridge City. Tess Howard hit a brace.
Sevenoaks beat St Albans 1-0 with a goal from Maddie Thompson and Wimbledon also took a 1-0 win over Harleston Magpies courtesy of a Rosie Macpherson. Hampstead and Westminster were 5-0 winners at Ipswich, with Joyce Esser scoring two.
Investec Women’s Conference North
Wakefield were crowned champions of the Investec Women’s Conference North after a 3-1 win over Whitley Bay and Tynemouth.
Cat Horn, Heather Stafford and Emma Berry scored the goals that see them move out of the reach of Ben Rhydding. Whitley Bay and Tynemouth will take part in relegation play-offs.
Springfields face relegation after losing 2-0 to Liverpool Sefton. Ben Rhydding won 3-0 over Brooklands Poynton with two goals from Jo Ellis and one from Laura Smith.
Ellie Tait scored twice in Loughborough Students’ 4-0 win over Belper and Beeston beat the University of Durham 5-1 with Sophie Robinson grabbing a brace. In the evening match, Stourport and Oxford Hawks drew 2-2.
Investec Women’s Conference West
Sutton Coldfield took the title in the Investec Women’s Conference West after a 1-1 draw with Swansea. Jennifer Parkinson-Mills scored the all-important goal for Sutton Coldfield.
The University of Bristol were long-since relegated and there was no let-up for them as they lost 8-1 to Isca. Megan Crowson starred with four of the goals.
Trojans and Bristol Firebrands are level on points going into the final game and one of them will face relegation play-offs.
They both lost with Trojans getting beaten 3-0 by Olton and West Warwicks and Firebrands losing 1-0 to Gloucester City.
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, March 12 2016):
Investec Women's Premier Division: Holcombe 3, University of Birmingham 1; Clifton 2, Leicester 6; Reading 0, Surbiton 1; Bowdon Hightown 1, Buckingham 2; Canterbury 2, East Grinstead 3.
Investec Women's Conference East: Cambridge City 3, Chelmsford 0; Slough 2, Maidenhead 3; St Albans 0, Sevenoaks 1; Wimbledon 1, Harleston Magpies 0; Ipswich 0, Hampstead and Westminster 5.
Investec Women's Conference North: Beeston 5, University of Durham 1; Loughborough Students 4, Belper 0; Liverpool Sefton 2, Springfields 0; Ben Rhydding 3, Brooklands Poynton 0; Wakefield 3, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 1.
Investec Women's Conference West: Swansea City 1, Sutton Coldfield 1; Gloucester City 1, Bristol Firebrands 0; Olton and West Warwicks 3, Trojans 0; Isca 8, University of Bristol 1; Stourport 2, Oxford Hawks 2.
England Hockey Board Media release
Parkroad fight-back to edge out Parklands in thriller
By BRIAN YONGA
Douglas Mamwacha (left) of Nakuru Hockey Club and Samuel Ogaji of Mvita XI vie for the ball during their Kenya Hockey Union men's premier league match at City Park Stadium on March 12, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Parkroad came from behind to beat debutantes Parklands Hockey Club 2-1 in a Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) men’s Premier League match at the City Park Stadium on Saturday.
Franklin Kiyondi gave Parklands the lead at the half hour mark with a field goal. Philip Omunyin and Andrew Kamau hit back for Parkroad in the second half.
Parkroad coach Saeed Gakuria praised his side for turning around the game after a poor first half.
“They (Parklands) started well and pressed us. They disrupted our game plan. However, we settled in the second half and changed our system,” Gakuria told Sunday Nation Sport.
Because of the loss, Parklands missed the chance to move further clear of the relegation zone. They remain in 13th place with 14 points.
The home side dominated the first half and should have gone ahead in the fifth minute when Kelly Adolwa missed a golden chance after he was set up by Kiyondi.
Another opportunity for the home side went begging five minutes later when Kiyondi and Adolwa again combined to carve open the Parkroad defence but the latter’s keeper Maurice Musyoka Adolwa’s backhand shot.
Parklands took the lead at the half-hour mark when a sweeping move that was completed by Kiyondi whose first time shot beat Musyoka at his near post to the delight of the home fans.
Parklands ended the half on top with Parkroad failing to test the home keeper Farhad Shire.
The second half was a different affair as Parkraod returned a rejuvenated side following the introduction of midfielder Gilbert Langat for the ineffective Andy Biko.
Langat’s presence bore fruit setting up Omunyin for the equaliser in the 43rd minute.
Five minutes later, Parkroad scored the winner when Kamau finished off Langat‘s perfect cross from the right. Parklands went in search of an equaliser but Parkroad held out for the win with excellent defending.
“We were in command for the better part of the match but two lapses allowed our opponents to change the game and we were unable to hit back,” Parklands team manager Amos Ngari said.
Daily Nation
NBP win 35th National Junior Hockey Championship
LAHORE: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) won the 35th National Junior Hockey Championship after beating Sui Southern Gas Company 2-0 in the final at the National Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.
The floodlight final turned out to be one of the best matches of the championship, which was played under wet conditions and witnessed by a large crowd who fully enjoyed the proceedings.
The match started on a high note as SSGC demonstrated excellent possession of the ball making a couple of fine forays in the first quarter. In the 3rd minute, Ali Raza, Asif Iqbal and Mohamed Asim launched a fine move but the agile goalkeeper of the Bankers stopped a direct hit to frustrate their attempt.
NBP bounced back in the 7thminute through Azfar Yaqoob who took the ball from the half line and sprinted to enter into the circle where he gave a pass to Mohammed Dilber who neatly pushed the ball to give lead to his team. In the 29th minute the Bankers got their fourth penalty corner which Abubakar Mehmood successfully converted.
The match entered into an interesting stage in the last two quarters as SSGC intensified their efforts and exerted their pressure. Particularly, their forward Adeel Latif was outstanding who spearheaded a couple of moves for the amusement of the spectators who cheered the brilliant stick work. Adeel first along with Zeeshan Bukhari initiated an attack in the 39th minute but hard hit of Zeeshan was stopped by the goalkeeper. Then, he and Samiullah made a move in the 48th minute to earn the third penalty corner for their team which couldn’t be converted amid brilliant save by the goalkeeper. Sohail Janjua and Abdul Mannan supervised the match.
The winners received Rs.500,000 cash prize while the runners-up pocketed to Rs.300,000. PHF president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, PHF secretary general Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, PHF director general Mussarat Ullah Khan were also present at the prize distribution ceremony. Earlier, the third position match between Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Whites and Pakistan Army could not be played because of heavy rain. Both teams were declared joint winners and shared prize money of Rs.200,000.
The Daily Times
TNB Cup final: BJSS gunning to regain glory
BY Jugjet Singh
SSTMI Thunderbolts will be gunning for their fifth straight double, while BJSS will be trying to regain their old glory in the TNB Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Sunday.
Both the teams last met in the 2009 Overall title clash, and BJSS were champions after a penalty shoot-out.
But after that BJSS sank into the abyss, and only resurfaced this season, as SSTMI stole the limelight with convincing wins.
However, this season SSTMI look a little out of shape, while BJSS has stronger side on paper.
In the League, the SSTMI-BJSS clash went to the wire as the score was 6-5, and SSTMI stole the win in the 70th minute off a Luqman Hakim penalty corner.
BJSS have a hockey 'Messi' in their fold in Hafiizhuddin Zaidi -- who has scored a total of 19 field goals. Every season the top-scorer always scored the majority of the goals off penalty corners, but Hafiizhuddin has been deadly in field attempts.
BJSS also have Arif Sabron, 13 goals and third on the scoring list, and he has also been amazing as he scored 12 field and one off a penalty corner rebound.
As for SSTMI, their goal-getter has been Akhimullah Anuar on 10 goals. None were field and one off a penalty corner.
BJSS team manager K. Rajan said: "I believe my players are ready to lay their hands on the trophy after a long absence as they have showed progress in every match. In the league clash, we were unlucky not to have won the match which we controlled."
SSTMI coach Wan Roslan Wan Rahman was modest about his chances.
"We have not been very impressive this season, and did just enough to win the League title and reach the TNB Cup final.
"But now that we are within touching distance of the trophy, I believe we are good for our fifth conseutive double."
Which ever team wins, Tenaga Nasional's Thunderbolts programme will emerge as the biggest winner this season, as all four semi-finals were under their Thunderbolts stable.
SUNDAY: TNB CUP Final: SSTMI v BJSS (8.30pm); Third-Fourth: Anderson v SSP-MSP (5.45pm).
Note: Both matches at Pitch II of the National Hockey Stadium.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
MILO U-16: Selangor Boys and Girls off to good starts
By Jugjet Singh
SELANGOR Boys' got of to a super start in the 1MAS-Milo National Under-16 hockey tournament when they hammered Perak 8-3.
The Selangor Girls' were also impressive as they beat Johor 4-1.
Kuala Lumpur Boys' suffered a shock 1-0 defeat in the hands of Malacca, while the City Girls' played much better to hammer Kelantan 9-0.
Alif Salehhin gave Selangor the lead in the second minute itself, but Perak equalised off their skipper Fahmi Khalid in the eight minute and took the lead off Ariff Aiman in the 20th minute while Syazwan Syafiq scored their third goal in the 27th minute.
But a seven-goal blitz from Halif Fadzly (22nd, 50th), Zafri Afiq Azlan (26th, 34th, 37th, 38th), Asrullah bin Rohaizat (48th) saw them win comfortably.
The 9s format is being played 25 minutes each half.
RESULTS: BOYS' -- Group A: Pahang 2 Sabah 1, Kedah 0 Penang 5; Group B: Terengganu 3 Perlis 1, Malacca 1 Kuala Lumpur 0; Group C: Perak 3 Selangor 8, Johor 5 Kelantan 1.
GIRLS' -- Group A: Selangor 4 Johor 1, Perlis 0 Malacca 9; Group B: Negri 2 Terengganu 2, Kuala Lumpur 9 Kelantan 0; Group C: Penang 3 Sabah 2, Kedah 2 Perak 0.
TODAY -- BOYS': Group C: Johor v Negri (MOE, 8,45am), Kelantan v Selangor (8,45am, KLHA).
GIRLS': Group C: Pahang v Perak (MOE,7.30am), Penang v Kedah (KLHA, 7.30am).
TOMORROW: BOYS': Group A: Sabah v Kedah (MOE, 3pm), penang v pahang (KLHA, 3pm); Group B: Kuala Lumpur v Terengganu (MOE, 4.25am), Perlis v Malacca (KLHA, 3.15pm); Group C: Negri v Kelantan (MOE, 5.30pm), Perak v Johor (KLHA, 5.30pm).
GIRLS': Group A: Malacca v Selangor (MOE, 7.30am), Johor v Perlis (KLHA, 7.30am); Group B: Kelantan v Negri (8.45am, MOE), Terengganu v Kuala Lumpur (KLHA, 8.45am); Group C: Kedah v Pahang (MOE, 10am), Perak v Sabah (KLHA, 10am).
NOTE: All matches at Ministry of Education (MOE) and Kuala Lumpur HA (KLHA) stadiums at Jalan Pantai.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Pahang on course to retain hockey title with winning start
by S.Ramaguru
KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Pahang got their campaign in the 1MAS-Milo Under-16 hockey championships off to a winning start.
The boys’ defending champions edged Sabah 2-1 in a Group A match at the Education Ministry Turf in Jalan Pantai on Saturday.
Sabah took the lead through Muhajir Abdul Rauf in the 30th minute before Pahang hit back with two second-half field goals through Mohd Syawal Razak (42nd) and Mohd Syamin Naim (48th).
The tournament is being played under a new nine-a-side format of 25 minutes each half.
Last year’s runners-up Malacca also struggled in their opening Group B match, edging former champions Kuala Lumpur 1-0, courtesy of a Amir Saifuddin Rahim penalty corner goal in the 50th minute.
Perak, another former champions, were not so lucky as they lost 8-3 to Selangor in Group C.
Mohd Zafri Afiq starred for Selangor with four goals – in the 26th, 34th, 37th and 38th minutes.
Mohd Halif Fadzly added a brace in the 22nd and 50th minutes while Mohd Alif Sallehin (second minute) and Mohd Asrullah Rohaizat (48th) bagged one each for Selangor.
Perak got their goals through Mohd Fahmi Khalid (eighth minute), Mohd Ariff Aimat (20th) and Mohd Syamin Syafiq (27th).
RESULTS
BOYS
Group A: Pahang 2 Sabah 1, Kedah 0 Penang 5.
Group B: Malacca 1 Kuala Lumpur 0, Terengganu 3 Perlis 1.
Group C: Perak 3 Selangor 8, Johor 5 Kelantan 1.
GIRLS
Group A: Perlis 0 Malacca 9, Selangor 4 Johor 1
Group B: Kuala Lumpur 9 Kelantan 0, Negri Sembilan 2 Terengganu 2.
Group C: Kedah 2 Perak 0, Penang 3 Sabah 2.
The Star of Malaysia
Kampong the next stop on Trophy Tour
SV Kampong will be the second venue along the EHL Trophy Tour on Sunday, March 13 with the Alain Danet Trophy visiting their club for their big Hoofdklasse game against Oranje Zwart.
The trophy will be at the ground from 2pm to 4pm with all welcome to come along and get their photo taken with the famous piece of silverware.
It follows last week’s visit to AH&BC Amsterdam’s Wagener Stadium with Taeke Taekema and EHF President Marijke Fleuren the special guests at the event.
Euro Hockey League media release
Born to be stars
Jessica Lee, Kayla Brathwaite and Kayla-Marie Escayg (Trinidad & Tobago)
Sarah Juggins
Kayla Brathwaite (TTO), 2012 Junior Pan American Championship in Guadalajara. Photo: Paul Winstanley
It was almost written in the stars that Jessica Lee and Kayla Brathwaite would become international hockey players wearing the red, white and black of Trinidad and Tobago.
“I was basically born into this sport; I come from a hockey family,” says Jessica. “My father, mother, sister, uncles and aunts all play hockey. My mother even continued playing hockey right up until she was five months pregnant with me. My father coaches a developmental team, he coached the last U21 national women’s team, also he played national hockey for many years and still plays at club level. He has a great influence on me. I was always surrounded by hockey people, hockey sticks, hockey balls and all of my father’s hockey kit.”
And it is the same story for Kayla: “My family has always been involved in hockey, especially my father. He encouraged me to participate and he's been my inspiration to continue in his footsteps ever since.”
Both women started playing hockey when they were just toddlers and made the national side 10 years later: Kayla at 15, Jessica at 16.
At the other end of the experience spectrum sits Kayla-Marie Escayg. She took up hockey at the age of 16 – just two years ago – and has been training as a goalkeeper for the past six months. The forthcoming Pan American Junior Championship will be the first time Kayla-Marie has pulled on the Trinidad and Tobago shirt.
And yet, just from a brief interview with the player, you know that Kayla-Marie has the mindset needed to make it to the top. Not the least because she quit her first choice sport, football, because she wasn’t getting enough training.
That Kayla-Marie is now an international hockey player is thanks to a chance suggestion from a friend. Upon hearing that Kayla-Marie was leaving football, current international teammate Cyan Lue suggested that the talented teenager took up hockey. “She told me: ‘It’s basically football with a stick,’ says Kayla-Marie. “After that, I was hooked.”
Now the goalkeeper is playing catch-up and she is certainly getting enough training to satisfy her quest for excellence. “I train on average 10-12 hours a week for the national squad. I also get extra training sessions where I train with the junior men’s national team. As we get closer to the Championship, there are more sessions being added, as well as longer, more intense practices. It is how we know it's the final stretch before the big games.”
Jessica Lee is an old hand when it comes to the international scene. She first played in 2012 at the Junior Pan American Championship. Four years on and she has this to say about her sport and its impact upon her. “By being involved in elite sport and representing my country, as an individual, I have grown and developed in many ways with respect to my discipline, responsibility, maturity, time management, commitment and sacrifice. I have learned to work with others, I’ve developed the confidence to depend on others to do their jobs, on and off the field, and I have a better understanding of what they’re about; and how my actions can affect them.
“I was given a leadership role with another teammate and we were able to work together in building the team. I feel like the team has grown together tremendously and has also grown closer. There is far more encouragement and support for each other on and off the field. I have also learned so much more about the game of hockey, like tricks, skills and techniques.”
There is certainly a focus to the Trinidad and Tobago junior squad. The team trains five times a week, with gym sessions as well as pitch time. The players also meet with the team psychologist and if, like Jessica, players have to miss any sessions for study time or work, then there is an assumption that the players will make this time up on their own.
With both the men’s and women’s junior teams gearing up for the Pan Am Junior Championships, it can be tricky getting ‘turf time’, but the women’s junior side has entered a team into the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board’s hockey league so they are getting regular competition against top club teams.
Kayla Brathwaite has also represented the senior side at five tournaments in the past few seasons, so she will be bringing all that experience to bear later this month. She says: ‘Playing with the senior team as opposed to the junior team is a very intense experience. As one of the younger ones on the senior team, the older players push and expect a lot from me. Competition is also very tough and challenging for us but they always encourage me to never give up and continue working hard.”
Like Kayla, Jessica has represented the senior team, making her debut just recently at the 2015 Hockey World League Round Two, in Uruguay. She says that one of the things that stood out for her was the discipline. “Things didn’t have to be repeated more than once to be completed. Our Under 21 squad for these Pan Am Championship is quite young but the girls have shown their commitment, hard work and love for the sport. But, the level of discipline, seriousness and maturity is lower than the senior team, largely due to age difference.”
All three players are just embarking on the next stages of their lives as they prepare for university or the world of work, but all three say that hockey will be a big part of their lives in the years to come. For Jessica, the ambition is to continue to play for her country and, maybe, one day to lead Trinidad and Tobago to competitions all over the world. For now, she is doing the tricky juggling act of combining hockey and her studies. “Recently, it has become more challenging to balance everything, as I have begun university at UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad. So, I have clashes with some training sessions. I tend to do extra training on my own, especially with my father’s assistance, because it is hard to miss the work being taught in my courses.”
Kayla says that it has been her hockey experiences that have fired her career ambitions: “Being involved in elite sport and representing my country has encouraged me to focus upon my goal of becoming a physical therapist. Hockey has also opened a lot of potential avenues and has piqued my interest in coaching.”
While Kayla-Marie’s involvement in hockey has only been very short-term, her long-term aims are also centred around the sport. She says that she would like to go abroad to both study and develop her hockey.
With hockey still a relatively minority sport in the Caribbean, it is players such as this trio of Trinidadians who are at the forefront of raising the game’s profile. Inspiring others to follow in their footsteps begins with their obvious immense pride at representing their country. “Being able to represent my country is one of the most exciting experiences I've had,” says Kayla-Marie. “Not only have I gained knowledge on the field but also off field. I have a better understanding of people and how they work, as well as I've become more open and amiable. Knowing that I'm representing my country also made me more responsible and confident.”
Kayla echoes these sentiments: “To me being an international is an honor I cherish, I am very proud to represent and make my country proud. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication but it is all worth it.”
And for Jessica, both playing for her nation and the fact that Trinidad and Tobago are hosts to this year’s Women’s Pan Am Junior Championship is: “a chance to show what this country has to offer as well as attracting attention and publicity to this sport that we all love.”
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Ancients
By Patrick Rowley
The author Pat Rowley in the centre at the back (with his doctor standing outside the goal to the left!)
Southgate Tankards played against Richmond Rogues at the old Polytehcnic Stadium ground in Hartington Rd, Chiswick, yesterday.
Tankards had a photo taken at the match as we thought we might have played the oldest side ever fielded, average age 74 (to be checked).
By playing at age 82, I became the oldest Southgate player ever and bumped up the average age as I was the only one over 80!.
We did well to keep Richmond to three goals( 3-0). They admitted their team was about 20 years younger per man
Fieldhockey.com