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News for 18 September 2016

All the news for Sunday 18 September 2016


Pakistan outplays Oman 6-1 in the second under 18 hockey test



After a disappointing 2-2 draw in the opening test, Pakistan displayed a vastly improved game in all the departments to defeat Oman 6-1 in the second test of 4-Match Pak Oman under 18 hockey test series at Lahore’s National Hockey Stadium.

The hosts made a statement of intent as early as the third minute when a left side attack found Awais at the top of the circle and he opened the account with a well- placed push which deceived the entire defence.

Pakistan continued with well combined moves and regularly entered the opponent’s circle. The lead was doubled in the 16th minute when a wonderful Moeen Shakeel cross from right beat the entire Omani defence and Naveed Alam at the far post easily put the ball in.

Pakistani attacks came in waves and the 19th and the 21st minutes saw two more goals. Khairullah scored off a rebound after a fine move from the left side. Then Naveed Alam in a moment of genius eliminated three defenders with delightful stick work before hitting the target.

Though, four goals down, Oman fought back and earned two penalty corners in a short span. But the drills couldn’t be completed due to fine interception by the Pakistani defenders each time. They also benefited from five minute suspension of Pakistan's Amjad Ali. Although their own Rashad Hamad was also sin binned for two minutes. Last 10 minutes saw up and down game. Some good chances came to Pakistan’s way in the last five minutes but were not availed.

It was 4-0 after the first half of 35 minutes.
 
Pakistan started from where they had left. Just four minutes had passed when unmarked Afraz at the top of the circle scored with an angular hit. Then the 41st minute witnessed another beautiful goal. Ali Aziz made a wonderful foray into the circle and slipped the ball to Afraz who made no mistake from a good position and it was 6-0.

Just two minutes later, Pakistani defence blundered and visitors Adnan Abdullah, unmarked at the top of the circle, easily netted his side's first goal. Oman continued to strive. First, a close range chance was well stopped by Pakistani net minder Waqar Younis and then off another penalty corner, the flick went high over the bar. Some pole to pole stuff was seen for a while with both sides entering opponents' circles. Pakistan had better opportunities but couldn't add to the score. Oman's fourth penalty corner wasnt stopped at the top of the circle.

Pakistan's only two penalty corners came in the last five minutes. Omani goal keeper brilliantly saved both attempts by Amjad Ali: first a low push and the second a high flick.

Pakistan 6: Naveed Alam 2 (16th & 21st minutes) , Afraz 2 (39 & 41 minute), Awais Rasheed 1 (3rd minute), Khairullah 1 (19th minute)
Oman 1: Adnan Abdulla (43rd Minute)

PHF Media release



Pakistan crush Oman 6-1 in second test

Azhar Khan

LAHORE - Pakistan bounced back in style to thrash visitors Oman 6-1 in the second test of the 4-match Pak-Oman under-18 hockey test series here at the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Naveed Alam and Afraz were star of the second match as both hammered two goals each for the winners while Awais Rasheed and Khairullah contributed one goal apiece.

For the losing side, Adnan Abdulla scored the lone goal.

After a disappointing 2-2 draw in the opening test, Pakistani youngsters displayed quality stick work and played aggressive hockey to down the visitors with a huge margin of 6-1.

The young green caps were off to flying starts as soon after entering the field, they started attacking the Oman goal and managed to convert their first goal in the third minute through Awais Rasheed to have 1-0 lead.

The hosts continued playing like a unit and kept on attacking the opponent’s circle.

Naveed Alam doubled the lead in the 16th minute on a pass of Moeen Shakeel and neatly put the ball in.

After that, Pakistani players started playing with more zeal and zest and pumped in two more goals in the 19th and 21st minutes as this time Khairullah slammed the third goal while Naveed Alam completed his brace to provide Pakistan 4-0 lead.

Oman players, who earlier held Pakistanis 2-2 in the first test, fought back well and succeeded in getting two penalty corners in a short span, but all their attempts were foiled by Pakistani defenders.

Last 10 minutes of the match saw both the teams playing superbly and striving to convert a goal but all their efforts went in vain as no goal was scored in last 10 minutes and the first half of 35 minutes ended with Pakistan enjoying 4-0 lead.

Pakistani players started the second half in great style and just after four minutes (39th minute), Afraz came from behind to hit an angular goal to stretch his team’s lead to 5-0.

Soon after two minutes (41st minute), Ali Aziz provided a pass to Afraz, who successfully put the ball in the goalpost to not only complete his brace but also to strengthen the team’s lead to 6-0.

Just two minutes later, Pakistani defenders made a mistake and provided visitors’ Adnan Abdullah a golden chance to easily net his side's first goal to make it 6-1.

It was all Oman could get as despite several attempts and efforts, they failed to score a single goal while on the other hand, Pakistan players also couldn't add more goals in their total tally and when the final whistle was blown, Pakistan was leading the match 6-1.

The Nation



Herewini shines in rain as Midlands win national title

By David Leggat


Canterbury's David Brydon attempts to break clear. Photo / photosport.nz

Two goals from lively forward Connor Herewini enabled Midlands to win their first national men's hockey title since 2008 in rain-drenched Whangarei yesterday.

Midlands beat Canterbury 3-1 in the Challenge Shield final, which was delayed by torrential rain which also put the women's final back by four hours. The Canterbury Cats held on to defeat North Harbour 3-2 in that game.

The conditions hindered both men's finalists in their pursuit of quality hockey but Herewini was a shining light.

Joseph Lyons had given Midlands an early lead, deflecting a ball driven hard into the Canterbury circle.

Black Stick Nick Haig equalised with a fierce drive from a penalty corner, flying into the top right corner of the Midlands goal.

Then Herewini stepped up.

A minute before the end of the third quarter, he broke down the right, dribbled along the baseline and flicked the ball over Canterbury goalkeeper George Enerson for a terrific individual goal. He then sealed the win two minutes from the end with a turn, swivel and hard drive into the Canterbury goal in the final quarter, celebrating by slamming his stick into the turf.

In the women's K Cup final, Canterbury came out firing and opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Olivia Merry went on a solo run before firing an amazing shot into the net past the shoulder of goalkeeper Brooke Roberts.

The Cats doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Joie Leigh capitalised on a bobbling ball from a penalty corner deflection and knocked into goal.

North Harbour struck back through Stephanie Elliot from a 27th-minute penalty corner before Canterbury netted again right on halftime from the stick of Jenny Storey.

Harbour lifted the intensity after the break and cut Canterbury's lead to one goal after Stephanie Dickins struck from a 46th-minute penalty corner deflection.

Canterbury's steeled themselves on defence in the final quarter and kept North Harbour from scoring an equalising goal despite huge pressure.

Canterbury captain Jenny Storey was named Most Valuable Player and Midlands striker Amy Robinson finished top goal scorer having netted five times during the tournament.

Central took third spot in the men's competition, beating North Harbour 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the sides had finished 3-3.

Capital beat Auckland in a goal bonanza, 6-4, to decide fifth and sixth places. Black Sticks attacker Stephen Jenness scored three times for Capital. That completed a miserable tournament for defending champions Auckland.

Midlands won the bronze in the K Cup, beating Auckland 2-1, while Capital beat Northland 3-2 in another shootout, after the fifth-sixth playoff finished 1-1.

The New Zealand Herald



Kookaburras & Hockeyroos taking part in AHL

Which State does your favourite play for?

Holly MacNeil



When the Australian Hockey League takes place in Perth from September 29 – October 9 at least 5 of our current Hockeyroos and Kookaburras will descend upon their home training ground at the Perth Hockey Stadium.

The difference will be that this time they will be facing off against one another to take the crown of State or Territory Champions, rather than uniting on the International Stage for Australia.

So far, thirteen Kookaburras are confirmed, including Daniel Beale, Matt Swann, Dylan Wotherspoon, and Jake Whetton – all Queensland; with Fergus Kavanagh, Aran Zalewski, Trent Mitton and Tyler Lovell confirmed for WA. Finally, Tom Craig, Matt Dawson, Flynn Ogilvie and Simon Orchard are to compete for NSW.

The women’s competition will see Edwina Bone and Anna Flanagan take part for the ACT, Kirsten Dwyer and Jodie Kenny for QLD, Kathryn Slattery and Ashlee Wells for Western Australia and Georgie Morgan, Grace Stewart and Mariah Williams flying the NSW flag. Finally Laura Barden, Rachael Lynch and Georgie Nanscawen will be on the Victorian Team.

With Queensland winning both the men’s and women’s competition last year, they will be the teams to beat.

To make sure you get in on all the action, buy your tickets HERE or tune into the live stream of the semi-final and finals action on epicentre.tv on Friday 7 and Sunday 9 October.

Hockey Australia media release



Sanders double helps Birmingham sink Bowdon


Erica Sanders celebrating the opening goal for the University of Birmingham. Credit: Andy Smith.

Erica Sanders ensured the University of Birmingham got off to a winning start in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division by scoring a brace in their 4-1 win over Bowdon Hightown.

Birmingham came out of the blocks quickly, stunning Bowdon with three early goals. Sanders scored either side of a Holly Hunt strike to see them lead 3-0 after 15 minutes.

Tara Melvin pulled one back for the visitors on the stroke of half time but Ameila Andrew sealed the win for the students with ten minutes remaining.

Emma Trunks scored a last-minute equaliser for Holcombe as they held reigning champions Surbiton to a 2-2 draw. With no score in the first half, Rebecca Titmuss brought the game to life with a goal for Holcombe on 37 minutes.

Goals from Jo Hunter and Robyn Collins gave Surbiton the lead but Trunks pounced from a corner to tie the game.

Clifton Robinsons also took a convincing win, beating Canterbury 3-0. Jessica Bloom found the mark from a penalty corner before Claire Thomas and Laura Bridge added to the scoring after the break.

Goals from Zoe Burrell and Pippa Chapman saw East Grinstead beat Reading 2-0. Leicester and Slough played out a goalless draw.

Investec Women's Conference East

Jen Wilson and Jess Denniff scored two goals apiece as Sevenoaks beat St Albans 5-0 in the Investec Conference East.

Harleston Magpies also hit five, running out 5-2 winners away at West Herts, with Lucy Whiting, Victoria Findlay and Kara Kilbourn all on target in the first half.

Second half goals for Tamsyn Naylor and Laura Bevan saw Wimbledon come from behind to claim a 2-1 victory at Hampstead and Westminster.

Southgate and Cambridge City could not be separated after an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Chelmsford also had to settle for a draw at Northampton Saints, a late Caroline McCabe goal securing a point for the hosts.

Investec Women's Conference North

Last season’s Investec Conference North winners Wakefield lost out 4-1 to Ben Rhydding in their opening match of the new season.

Laura Smith scored twice for the visitors, while Tanisha Janzen and Beth Cordukes were also on target.

Brooklands Poynton secured a 4-0 win at Loughborough Students with Ellen Lockhart scoring two, while Beeston took all three points with a 3-1 victory over Sutton Coldfield.

Belper were defeated at home 2-0 by the University of Durham and Timperley scored two minutes from time to earn a point in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool Sefton.

Investec Women's Conference West

Two goals from Kim Pullen helped Gloucester City beat newly-promoted Exe 4-1 in the Investec Conference West. Jessica Thomas and Samantha Roberts were also on target for the home side.

Last season’s runners up Stourport kicked off the new campaign with a 2-1 victory at Oxford Hawks.

A brace of penalty corner goals for Jill Tombs saw Trojans come from behind to take the points with a 3-2 win at Isca.

Elsewhere, Olton and West Warwicks ran out convincing 4-1 winners over Bristol Firebrands, whilst relegated Buckingham were held to a 1-1 draw away at Swansea City.

Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, September 17 2016):

Investec Women’s Premier Division: Clifton Robinsons 3, Canterbury 0; East Grinstead 2, Reading 0; Holcombe 2, Surbiton 2; Leicester 0, Slough 0; University of Birmingham 4, Bowdon 1.

Investec Women's Conference East: Hampstead and Westminster 1, Wimbledon 2; Northampton Saints 1, Chelmsford 1; Sevenoaks 5, St. Albans 0; Southgate 3, Cambridge City 3; West Herts 2, Harleston Magpies 5.

Investec Women's Conference North: Beeston 3, Sutton Coldfield 1; Belper 0, University of Durham 2; Liverpool Sefton 2, Timperley 2; Loughborough Students 0, Brooklands Poynton 4; Wakefield 1, Ben Rhydding 4.

Investec Women's Conference West: Gloucester City 4, Exe 1; Isca 2, Trojans 3; Olton & West Warwicks 4, Bristol Firebrands 1; Oxford Hawks 1, Stourport 2; Swansea City 1, Buckingham 1.

England Hockey Board Media release



Scottish National League off to a flyer


Western v Grove Menzieshill

National League opening weekend was a cracker with goals scored and great hockey played all over Scotland. In men’s National League 1 game of the day, title aspirants Grove Menzieshill went to Auchenhowie for the opening game of the first division campaign and came away with a well-earned 4-2 win over Western Wildcats.

At their first chance of the game Mike Ross fed the ball on to Cameron Golden and the Tayside teenager finished with a powerful reverse stick shot past Gavin Sommerville. The Wildcats had their chances through Joe McConnell, Rob Harwood and Adam McKenzie at a penalty corner, but it was the visitors who extended their lead with a set piece strike by Scotland under-21s Aidan McQuade.

Just before the interval the Wildcats clawed their way back into the contest, Ross Clunie fed the ball on to Fraser Calder and he slipped the ball home. Midway through the second half the Wildcats defence dithered, the ball fell kindly to Ciaran Crawford and he promptly dispatched it into the net for a 3-1 lead.

Wildcats believed they were back in the contest when Harwood turned a slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, but in less than a minute Adam Fallis restored the Dundonians two goal advantage with a powerful shot from the top of the circle.


Western v Grove Menzieshill

Elsewhere, Grange sent out their title aspirations with a 7-2 win over Gordonians, new signing Luke Cranney claimed a hat-trick, Aussie import Dominic Wild scored twice from penalty corners and the other goals came from Cammie Fraser and Callum Milne from the spot.

League champions Bromac Kelburne started the defence of their title with a 4-2 victory over Hillhead.  A double from Ben Peterson and goals by 14-year-old Finn Halliday and Josh Cairns did the damage.

Edinburgh University served notice on their top four intentions with a comfortable 5-1 win over PSL Clydesdale, their goals came from Ian Moodie, Nick Bryan and Jamie Wong in the first half with Dan Coultas and Callum White adding two more after the interval.

In the women`s competition there was goals aplenty. Edinburgh University started the defence of their title with a comfortable 4-0 win over Kelburne, Amy Brodie scored twice while the other goals came from Becky Dru and player/coach Sam Judge.

Elsewhere, Grove saw off Watsonians with the odd goal in seven. The incredible 4-3 win saw goals from Katie Robertson, Jenny Walls, Hanna Mckie and Sarah Jamieson. There was a big win for Milne Craig Western when they defeated Erskine Stewart`s Melville 8-2.

Hillhead won 4-1 against Edinburgh Cala in their opening game of the season. The scorers were Carla MacNiven, Louise Andrews and Nisha Kohli-Lynch.

Western Widcats opened their season with a 2-1 win over Dundee Wanderers with Scotland U21s player Chloe Hardie bagging one of the goals.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Moving day coincides with goal rush


The Gladiators at pains to keep out a rampant Elephants

MAYBE due to the jostle for semifinal spots, yesterday’s Premier Hockey League (PHL) was as much about a glut of goals as it was about moving on the men and women’s tables.

A whopping 35 goals (including three from a shootout) – the most on any day thus far – were scored as the semifinal lineups started taking shape, with four goals by the Addo Elephants’ Ignatius Malgraff and a hat-trick by the St Lucia Lakers’ Kate Koenig.

The sackfuls of goals by the two came from the first two games, which opened the floodgates with 6-1 victories over the SA Under-21 teams, the Namaqualand Daisies and the Golden Gate Gladiators. The Daisies’ defeat by the Lakers was hardly a surprise given that they were yet to win a game in the tournament.

So Koenig’s hat-trick – accompanied by strikes from Jacinta Jubb (two) and Kara Stella – and a consolation effort by Daisies vice captain Tarryn Glasby – had a sense of inevitability about it.

The result secured the Lakers a place in the semifinals as they moved into second place two points behind the unbeaten Blyde River Bunters (13), who play them this afternoon.

The humbling of the hitherto competitive Gladiators was less predictable as the Elephants had yet to win a game in the competition. But some inspired goal-scoring by Malgraff, Julian Hykes and Damian Kimfley did a lot to dent the confidence the youngsters had built for their World Cup campaign in December.

The bonus points win means the Elephants, who are fifth on four points, are suddenly in contention for a semifinal place after one victory from four games.

The next nine goals were scored in a much tighter match, between the Madikwe Rangers and the Wineland Wings. Having finished on three-all in regulation time, it was time for the dreaded shootout again. And given that the poor Wineland Wings were there again, one could have foretold the result.

The Wings, who have the hollow victory of not having lost a game in regulation time here, have played in all three shootouts in this tournament and now lost all three.

The game had been a tight one at 1-1 with a quarter to go until the threat of a shootout focused the two teams’ minds in the final quarter, with three goals (two by the Rangers’ Louise de Jager and Lisa Hawker, and one by Kaila Flemming for the Wings) in three minutes.

Then Anche Nortje forced the shootout with a late equaliser, only for three of their penalty takers, Robyn Johnson, Heather McEwan and Flemming to miss their shootout goals while Lisa Deetlefs, Bernadette Coston and Frances Carstens succeeded.

Suddenly the Wings find themselves in a fight to the death against the Orange River Rafters today, who will go through to the semis if they beat them by five clear goals.

The Garden Route Gazelles again displayed that they’ll be formidable foes in tight games after finding a way to win again by coming back from 2-0 down against the Drakensberg Dragons to somehow win 3-2.

Goals by Luke Schooling, a tap in from a goalmouth scramble, and a trademark fierce drag flick from a short corner by Dave Agar had given the Dragons a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.

But the Gazelles got one back immediately after halftime with Luthando Jonas, before some wonderful teamwork got Kurt Hensberg a tap in to equalise. Satchi Reddy’s overhead flick from inside his own half found an unmarked Lloyd Norris-Jones in the Dragons’ 25, and he made the cross for Hensberg’s goal.

Then just as everyone thought the second shootout of the day was on, the Gazelles got a penalty stroke after Mo Mea inadvertently got his foot in the way in trying to keep Pierre de Voux’s shot out of goal on the line.

Norris-Jones stepped up and completed the comeback win.

In the upset of the day the Mapungubwe Mambas gave the Maropeng Cavemen a bloody nose by handing them their first defeat. Using a viper’s nest-like defence and aggression in attack, they convincingly beat the Cavemen 5-2 thanks to goals by Brandon Panther (two), Callum Buchanan, Ross Hetem and Ross Gonsalves.

Ricky West and Brynn Cleak got goals for the Cavemen in what everyone thought at the time was a comeback, but the Mambas were not to be denied. The result elevates the Mambas to third place, even though they need results to go their way, having finished their round-robin fixtures, while the Cavemen are now second to the Gazelles.

SAHA Premier Hockey league media release



Kingmakers Tenaga control Gym



AFTER only one win in nine League matches, Tenaga Nasional are now Kingmakers in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League.

Tenaga lost five and drew three, but their awesome 2-1 win over League title contenders Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) on Friday has turned the tables upside down.

From a hopeless situation, the Tenaga win, propelled Terengganu Hockey Team into the title limelight -- as they too beat Sapura 4-1 at Batu Buruk Friday.

The maths for THT is easy, beat Tenaga Sunday at Batu Buruk and win the League title. THT can't afford to draw or lose, as Sapura and KLHC will be waiting to claim the title.

"We have had some really close matches with one-goal separating us from the favourites this whole season. We even lost the Alagendra Cup 2-1 to Sapura.

"And So, I told my players that we have nothing to lose in the last two League matches (as TNB are also out of the running for the Semi-finals of the TNB Cup) and play for the pride of the Club they represent.

"We beat KLHC (2-1) for the first three points of the seson and now will play for another win against THT at their own den.

"MY players have been trained not to fear any opponent. And even though we are the only team in the Premier Division without foreign players, our local lads have shown that they have promise in them," said Tenaga coach Amin Rahim.

Double champions THT have had a really sorry start to the season as they lost the Charity Shield 2-1 to KLHC, and wer never at the top of the standings until Tenaga propelled them to the top.

"Its easier to win a title than to defend it for the third-consecutive year. But now that we are in that position, I believe everything will fall our way again on Sunday," said THT coach Sarjit Singh.

For the record, THT have been the double consecutive double champions. The two aces up Sarjit's sleeves are South Korean Jang Jong Hyun who has scored 10 penalty corner goals, and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin with five field and two penalty corner rebound goals to his name.

Both are top two on the top-scorers list.

THT, Sapura and KLHC have qualified for the TNB Cup semi-finals, while the final slot will be a decider between Maybank and UniKL today.

SUNDAY -- Premier Division: Terengganu HT v Tenaga Nasional (Batu Buruk, 5.30pm), Kuala Lumpur HC v UniKL (KLHA, 8pm), Sapura HC v Maybank (Tun Razak, 6pm).

Division One -- Quarter-finals Second Leg: Nur Insafi (1) v TNB Thunderbolts (3) (Sungai Petani, 5pm), ATM Airod (2) SSTMI (5) (Tun RAzak, 8pm), Ipoh City Council (1) v Uitm-KPT (2) (Azlan Shah, 6pm), BJSS (2) v Politeknik (3) (Ministry of Education, 6pm).

Note: First Leg scores in parenthesis.

PREMIER DIVISION

            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

THT         9  6  1  2  26 15 19
SAPURA      9  6  0  3  15 15 18
KLHC        9  5  2  2  26 13 17
MAYBANK     9  3  1  5  17 30 10
UNIKL       9  2  1  6  8  13 7
TENAGA      9  1  3  5  16 22 6

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey



Terengganu close in on MHL title defence

by S. Ramaguru


Faizal scored his first league goal against Sapura recently.

KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu are just a win away from winning their third successive Premier Division title in the Malaysia Hockey League.

Before Friday’s match, they were third in the standings but a 4-1 win over leaders Sapura and second-placed KLHC’s shock defeat to Tenaga Nasional saw them lead the standings for the first time.

Now they just need a victory against bottom side Tenaga to lift the trophy.

Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh said they will not let their good fortune go to waste.

“We were given a lifeline as we did not expect the tide to turn in our favour.

“We played our best game this season to beat Sapura and top the standings. And with Tenaga Nasional pulling off a big upset against KLHC, the title run has changed direction in our favour.

“From outsiders we are now strong contenders.”

And there were more good news as their top striker Faizal Saari finally scored his first goal of the tournament against Sapura.

Their main goalgetter has been South Korea’s Jang Jung-hyun, who has scored 10 goals all from penalty corners.

“Jang is our main man and I expect him to get among the scorers again. And I’m happy for Faizal as the goal will give him confidence to do better,” added Sarjit.

But the former national coach warned his team not to take Tenaga for granted.

“Despite their position, Tenaga are playing well as shown by their win over KLHC. They have a young set of players but are improving with every match.

“They also have nothing to lose against us and that I think is ... dangerous.”

The Star of Malaysia



Butali lads overpower Nakuru to close in on league title

By BRIAN YONGA


Butali Sugar Warriors' Maxwell Fuchaka in action during their Kenya Hockey Union men's Premier League match against Sikh Union on August 6, 2016 at City Park Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Reigning Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) men’s premier league champions Butali Sugar on Saturday inched closer to a playoff spot after a 3-2 win away to Nakuru Hockey Club at the Menengai High School grounds in a KHU men’s league match.

Kisumu-based Butali made it four wins out of four as the club maintained their 100 per cent record this season. Butali coach Cliff Okello was pleased with the result but bemoaned the poor state of the pitch that made it difficult for both teams to play well.

Barnabas Odhiambo, back after recovering from a knee injury, fired the visitors ahead in the 21st minute with an impressive field goal. The hosts hit back in the 31st minute, drawing level through Caleb Kinjo.

Nakuru’s joy was however short-lived as Butali scored twice before half time through Frank Wanangwe and Emmanuel Simiyu for a 3-1 lead at the break.

The poor state of the pitch made the second half a dull affair as Nakuru tried to claw themselves back in the match. They hit a consolation goal in the 53rd minute as Eric Aywe scored from a penalty corner but Butali held out for the win.

“We need better pitches for top-flight matches. The match could have been taken to another venue. We were unable to play well on this pitch. It was however a good performance by the lads as we inch closer to the play-offs,” Okello told Sunday Nation Sport.

At City Park Stadium, Multimedia University held out to beat Daystar University 3-2 in a men’s national league encounter.

The Rongai-based team was 2-0 up after 14 minutes thanks to goals from Machibi Karnaja and Peter Chege. They managed to hold on to the lead going into the half time whistle with their opponents unable to create any chances.

Daystar did improve after the break and pulled a goal back in the 46th minute through Robert Kiserio’s field goal.

The goal gave them a lifeline in the match and they poured forward in search of the equalizer leaving their defence exposed. Multimedia hit them on the counter attack after holding out for some time as Chege scored his second of the match, lobbying the ball past Daystar keeper Ambrose Ochieng in the 54th minute.

Daystar scored a second goal in the 69th minute as Ambrose Kilonzo fired past MMU keeper Calvin Odhiambo but his teammates held out for the win.

“We controlled the match for the large spells but lapses in concentration allowed our opponents back in the game. We are glad we got the points but we made it difficult for ourselves towards the end,” MMU team manager Eric Oduor said.

Daily Nation



Immortalising Kenyan hockey heroes

By ROY GACHUHI


Kenya’s Olympian Avtar Singh Sohal admires pictures of legendary hockey players, including those featuring him, that will be on display during an exhibition from September 19, 2016 at Sikh Union Club, Nairobi. PHOTO | ROY GACHUHI |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

On Forest Road, home to the Sikh Union Club and where the story of Kenya hockey was first written in 1928, hundreds of players, technical staff and administrators have been made immortal.

On Monday night, Mr. Leandro Negre, the President of the Federation of International Hockey (FIH), will open the Hockey Section of the Club’s Mahan Hall of Fame – a stunning tribute to all the Olympic, World Cup and national players who have held that stick over the last 85 years.

The opening also coincides with ground breaking ceremonies to lay the club’s first astro turf which will be open to schools and colleges in a gesture of support for hockey development in the country.

“It’s a dream come true,” says Harbir Singh Rooprai, the Sikh Union club chairman. Unbeknown to many Kenyans, Kenya was once a hockey super power. It finished fourth in the first hockey World Cup in Barcelona in 1971, narrowly losing 2-1 to India in extra time in the semi-finals.

For years, it was a respected opponent of the countries that win Olympic gold today. And then, starting with the migrations to other countries that started in earnest in the early 70s, things went down sharply, never to recover.

In times gone by, it ran a highly competitive national league and its robust clubs and tournaments – the Dashmesh Cup, the M.R. D’Souza Gold Cup etc - were the stuff of dreams for a generation of hockey enthusiasts. But throughout the years of wilderness for this sport, characterised by the true Kenyan culture of politics of self-gratification and zero developmental ideas, the Sikh Union Club has remained a redoubt for the sport.

HOME OF KENYAN HOCKEY

The home of Kenya hockey is not the Kenya Hockey Union’s decaying City Park Stadium where you will not find just one photograph or historical document; it is the Sikh Union Club. Sports lovers with an interest in history will find the 85-year journey illustrated in the gallery a sentimental walk through time. It is a treasure trove of information. It is awe-inspiring.

Del Mudher is the researcher/curator who put it together. He roamed the world, searching for the legends wherever they lived, begged them for their stories and photographs and came up with what Mr Negre will inaugurate on Monday.

It was a labour of persistence, patience and not least cost. Clearly, what our national associations will not do for our sportsmen and women, some individuals and private clubs will. Mudher collaborated with historian Diljit Singh Bahra, a native of Maji Mazuri in Kenya who migrated to the UK in 1967.

He says: “I was part of the Sikh Union Club management committee in 2014/2015 and I got the opportunity to research the archives of the club and was amazed at its rich history. Equally, it saddened me that none of that history nor the vast sporting achievements were on show nor had any efforts been made to conserve and record past achievements.

“As an avid admirer of the Kenyan Sikh hockey greats of the past, I was always intrigued to find out how many players actually represented Kenya at the Olympics and World Cups that were played between 1956 and 1988. I started by speaking to the likes of legendary Olympians and honorary patrons of the club such as Avtar Singh Sohal and Surjeet Singh Panesar as well as Jasmer Singh Grewal amongst others who were immensely helpful with photos and their memories.”

Among the giants of Kenya hockey occupying pride of place in the gallery is Friends School, Kamusinga coach Avtar Singh Sohal. When I went to Sikh Union ahead of Monday’s ceremonies to see the exhibition, I found the 78-year-old working out in the gym. The veteran of six Olympic Games starting in 1960 is also the only Kenyan sports personality to feature in the Guinness Book of Records; in 1984, he was entered as the player who had made the highest number of international appearances for any country – 167 for Kenya between 1957 and 1972.

He told me: “This is our big day. I celebrate sportsmen and women. I have been involved with them all my life and will continue to do it to the end. I enjoy coaching school children; they’re a great joy for me. What I don’t like is the corruption in sports. And the last Olympics in Rio were a scandal. I find it terribly sad. I don’t know how we shall root out corruption in Kenya sport but we must keep on trying.”

The immensely fulfilling experience of watching history done so well had a down side for me. I kept thinking: we have clubs that we are proud of in this country – AFC Leopards, Gor Mahia. Where are their club houses? Where is their story recorded? Do they think it is a travesty to engage in such work?

Where is the home of Harambee Stars? Where is its story? Do the officials who go for office ever think about this? Politics for politics sake is just backwardness. It is a pity that so important a project, the preservation of history for future generations, does not register in the radar of our national federation and club officials.

Mahan Singh Sandhu is widely regarded as the father of Kenyan hockey. The Club’s Hall of Fame is named after him. He immigrated to Kenya from India in 1921 at the age of 19 and established the first links between the two countries. The first India tour of Kenya took place in 1947. A player, coach and administrator who was totally devoted to the game, Mahan played actively well into his 60s. He died in Malindi in 1967.

FIH chief Leandro Negre is himself a hockey legend. He is a former Spanish international goalkeeper and played at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

He served as President of the Spanish Hockey Federation from 1984 to 1992 and later took a position on the Executive Board of the European Hockey Federation (EHF) in 1993 eventually becoming the President in 2003.

He served as the head of EHF until 2008 when he was elected as the FIH President at the Congress in 2008. He is in his eighth year as President of FIH; he has been in one way or another part of the international federation since 1978. He has also been a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Daily Nation



Maryland field hockey secures a 4-1 win against Indiana to open Big Ten play

By James Crabtree-Hannigan


The team celebrates midfielder Olivia Reiter's goal in Maryland field hockey's 4-1 win over Indiana at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on Sept. 17. (Reid Poluhovich / The Diamondback)

In the Maryland field hockey team's match against Indiana on Saturday afternoon, the Terps experienced some frustration.

At one point in the second half, forward Welma Luus jumped up and down after a foul prevented her from taking a shot at point-blank range.

Yet despite the few slips, coach Missy Meharg's squad didn't succumb to the Hoosiers, capturing a 4-1 win at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in its first Big Ten game of the season.

"We weren't framing the goal cage well," coach Missy Meharg said. "We didn't have people on the help side."

Though the Terps controlled possession for the majority of the first half, the offense couldn't capitalize on many of its looks, out-shooting Indiana, 10-3, in the period. They struggled to connect in the circle, and the Hoosiers goalkeeper Noëlle Rother finished with eight saves.

Defender Courtney Deena, though, sparked the Terps' momentum when she controlled possession deep in Maryland's territory. Deena appeared to try to pass the ball forward and missed, but her backswing made the whiff into a fake, and she used the space to start a string of passes.

Midfielder Olivia Reiter was on the receiving end of the move and charged toward Rother. Reiter looked to take a shot, but didn't make initial contact.

Midfielder Lein Holsboer said Reiter's move was intentional. The team had practiced faking shots to beat Rother, who tends to come off her line. Instead, Reiter composed herself for her second look, which Rother saved. On her third effort, Reiter pushed the rebound in.

"It was perfect," Holsboer said. "She faked it and got around [Rother.]"

It wasn't the Terps' first shot at an empty net. About a minute before Reiter's score, Maryland earned its first corner of the game. Luus had a clear shot with Rother out of position, but she pulled it wide.

For Luus, it was the first of a few missed opportunities. She hit the post twice and couldn't capitalize on a look at the start of the second half.

"At halftime, Missy was talking about how we had so many balls go right across the cage," goalkeeper Sarah Holliday said.

In the 38th minute, though, Luus made a connection, taking a pass at the edge of the circle and backhanding the shot past a charging Rother.

After the Terps extended the lead to 2-0, the Hoosiers seemed to come alive. They earned a string of corners, one of which led to their first goal of the day.

"When [they] come back and [make] it a one-goal difference again, that adds some extra stressors that I thought we handled quite well," Meharg said.

The Terps responded with two goals to close the game. In the 60th minute, defender Grace Balsdon scored her sixth goal of the year, and midfielder Lein Holsboer scored two minutes later to secure the team's fifth straight win.

"You just gotta stay in it, and know that you're playing well, and know that they're going to fall," Meharg said. "Our women knew it was going to fall."

The Diamondback



Bhubaneswar to host 2018 men's hockey world cup

The 2014 Champions Trophy was the first major tournament to be held outside Delhi as part of Hockey India’s attempts to spread the game across the country.

Uthra Ganesan


A Hockey India League (HIL) match being played at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar.  – Lingaraj Panda

After the 2014 Champions Trophy, Bhubaneswar would host another high-profile hockey event in 2018 with the city finalized for the 2018 Men’s World Cup. The decision was taken by Hockey India about a month ago.

However, with the state government keen on making a formal announcement on a grand scale, the federation has delayed an official confirmation of the news. The 2014 Champions Trophy was the first major tournament to be held outside Delhi as part of Hockey India’s attempts to spread the game across the country.

“It is finalized. There were talks with Tamil Nadu government as well but now Bhubaneswar has been finalized,” a Hockey India official confirmed after Saturday’s Annual General Meeting in Jaipur. Bhubaneswar would also be hosting the Hockey World League Finals in 2017. The AGM, meanwhile, also ratified and amended certain provisions in the Hockey India constitution to make it more in line with those of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). One of the most important changes is the drastic reduction in the number of members in the Executive Board of the federation.

While the current EB has 27 members, the revamped one would have only 13. “The FIH has made it clear that it is not interested in local politics and would prefer the national body having a small executive board to take decisions. At the same time, the CEO would also now be a voting member of the board with more powers of decision making, even though the post itself would remain a nominated one,” the senior official said.

The changes have been made keeping in mind the fact that Hockey India president Narinder Batra has filed to contest for FIH president’s post and HI is keen to ensure that there are no technical issue that might lead to a disqualification. “There were also certain positions that were nominated to by the presidents at both state and national levels. We have now amended that to say ‘approved and ratified by the EB’ to give them further sanctity,” he added.

However, a decision on HI elections in case Batra gets elected to the FIH has been postponed with the federation believing that such an action would be presumptive and should be taken only after the election process is over in November.

Sportstar Live



Ritu Rani unsure of future in team

The 24-yeard-old Ritu had led Indian women to their first Olympic appearance in 36 years but had fallen out of favour with the team management after reportedly not being focused enough on the task at hand.

Uthra Ganesan


Ritu, named in the 29 probables for the national camp starting Sunday, is yet to decide on joining the camp or her future with the national side.  – Prashant Nakwe

Former Indian women’s hockey captain Ritu Rani, who was dropped from the team for Rio Olympics citing “attitude” issues, has been named among the 29 probables for the national camp beginning Sunday in Bhopal.

The 24-yeard-old Ritu had led Indian women to their first Olympic appearance in 36 years but had fallen out of favour with the team management after reportedly not being focused enough on the task at hand. She had also got engaged during that time. Having been part of the side for almost a decade, the talented midfielder had been left out of the Rio-bound side barely a month before the games. In her absence, Sushila Chanu was named skipper of the side.

Ritu, however, is yet to decide on joining the camp or her future with the national side. Having got married on August 18, she admitted she was still in the process of settling into the new surroundings even as she expressed anguish at missing out on the Games.

“No one spoke to me before including my name in the list, I got to know only a couple of days before. After all that happened, including being accused of not contributing to the team and not being focused enough, I am not sure of joining the camp. I haven’t decided anything yet, however, let’s see how things go,” Ritu told Sportstar.

This would be the team’s first camp after the Olympics, where the Indian women finished last. The team would be concentrating on improving on its skills ahead of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy, beginning October 29 in Singapore followed by a tour of Australia in November. “The Olympics was a major exposure for the players and they know now what it takes to be in the top league and play at the highest level. We will work towards improving our basics and develop the game ahead of a gruelling season,” chief coach Neil Hawgood said.

Ritu admitted that there was no incentive for her, at the moment, to get back to national duty. “Barring Olympics, I have played every other major international tournament in my long career. The Olympics was a childhood dream since I first picked up hockey. Even when it came true for the team, it didn’t for me. Now I need to think about it and decide whether I am motivated anymore,” she said.

Having continued her practice and training during this period, Ritu is confident of continuing on the domestic circuit for the next few years. The national team, though, remains uncertain.

The probables:

Goalkeepers: Rajani Etimarpu, Savita, Sonal Minz.

Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Deepika Thakur, Sunita Lakra, Sushila Chanu, Hnialum Lalruatfeli, Namita Toppo, Rukmani Dodray.

Midfielders: Ritu Rani, Lilima Minz, Navjot Kaur, Monika, Renuka Yadav, Lily Chanu, Nikki Pradhan, Narinder Kaur, Lalhlunmawii, Navdeep Kaur.

Forwards: Rani Rampal, Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Anuradha Devi, Preeti Dubey, Sonika, Anupa Barla, Jyoti Gupta, Punam Barla.

Sportstar Live

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