News for 01 October 2016
All the news for Saturday 1 October 2016
Brazil and Uruguay with first wins of South American Championship
Hockey World League Round 1
Photo: Talía Vargas / PAHF
All matches are being live-streamed. Please continue to also check the Pan American Hockey Federation’s website for the Women’s competition for photos and post-match interviews and more: http://www.panamhockey.org/en/competitions-54-2016-south-american-championships-women-
Uruguay-Peru (8-0)
The second match of the Women’s competition was between Uruguay and Peru. Uruguay took the lead less than one minute into the match off a goal by Maria Teresa Viana Ache. Uruguay continued to dominate possession and try to pressure on attack. Uruguay’s persistence paid off with the first penalty corner of the match in the 9th minute. The flick by Milagros Algorta sailed into net to give her team a two goal lead over host Peru. Two minutes later Uruguay was awarded another penalty corner. This time Sol Amadeo tipped in the initial shot by Algorta to make the score Uruguay 3, Peru 0 in the 12th minute. Malen Moccagatta, Maria Jose Fermi Blanco and Captain Claudia Ardiles played incredibly strong defense to keep Uruguay from scoring another quick goal and forced play into the midfield. For the next few minutes, Peru was able to have minutes of possession for the first time in the match, yet could not get past the Uruguay defense.
In the 18th minute, Uruguay was awarded another penalty corner, but the shot by Algorta went wide. Uruguay continued to pressure on attack and Manuela Vilar push from the far left side of the attacking circle into the right side of the goal gave Uruguay a four goal lead in the 22nd minute. Four minutes later, Uruguay’s Lucia Lamberti made it Uruguay 5, Peru 0 after Lamberti was able to rescue the ball in a scramble on the left post and shoot it past Peru’s keeper Chiara Conetta. Uruguay continued to pressure on attack, but Geraldine Quino and Fermi Blanco played strong defense together to keep Uruguay from scoring further in the first half.
The second half continued with Uruguay dominating on attack. Peru continued to play strong defense and Conetta blocked a Uruguay shot in the fourth minute. Soon after, Uruguay was awarded their first penalty corner of the second half, but the shot went wide. Minutes later, Uruguay was again unable to convert a penalty corner. Peru’s defense held off two more penalty corners by the 45th minute. Uruguay then substituted starting keeper Rosanna Paselle for Victoria Beares.
Peru prevented Uruguay from scoring off two more penalty corners, but Uruguay’s Camila Piazza finally broke through the tough Peru defense to make the score Uruguay 6, Peru 0 in the 50th minute. In the 52nd minute, Uruguay had another penalty corner and Vilar finally was able to convert a Uruguay penalty corner to put her team ahead by seven goals. Uruguay’s Janine Stanley was awarded a penalty stroke, but the shot went wide. In the 58th minute, Algorta scored her second goal of the match, this time a field goal, to make the score Uruguay 8, Peru 0. Peru’s first opportunity on attack came in the 61st minute when they had the ball in their attacking half, but Uruguay quickly regained possession. In the final minutes of the match, Peru’s Gretell Mejia and Camila Mendez fought hard on defense to push the ball into their attacking half, but again Uruguay quickly regained possession. Peru continued to play their incredibly strong defense to keep the final score Uruguay 8, Peru 0; and hold Uruguay to only three goals in the second half.
Brazil-Paraguay (0-0; SO: 6-5)
Day 1 of the South American Championship and Hockey World League Round 1 Women started with a match between Brazil and Paraguay. The matches during the tournament will be in two 35 minute halves. The tournament format is unique in that it follows a Round Robin format that means that no match can end in a tie. In the case of a tie at the end of regulation, the match will go into a shoot out. Two points are awarded to the team that wins the shoot out; and one point to the team that loses the shoot out.
Play started with both teams fighting for possession. Around 7 minutes into the match, Brazil was inside their attacking circle, but Tania Alfonso and Ivanna Romero Gehrmann played strong defense for Paraguay to keep Brazil from taking a shot. Lorena Alvarez ran fast on attack for Paraguay, but couldn’t get past the Brazilian defense. Paraguay kept trying to run attacking plays through Alvarez. About 15 minutes into the match, Brazil’s Mayara Fedrizzi had a fast attacking run down the pitch and passed to Wanda Olivares standing with a clear center shot to goal. Olivares’ shot was saved by Paraguay’s keeper Claudia Flores Guillen. Brazil soon earned the first penalty corner of the match, but Karolina Sluis’ shot went wide.
Brazil’s Eveline Beljon and Tatiana Noronhona Machado kept pressuring on attack on their right side of the pitch, but Paraguay’s Micaela Gomez and Tania Alfonso played strong defense. Both teams continued to fight for possession midfield and the crowd started to cheer loudly. Brazil’s Helena Betolaza had a strong run down the left side of the pitch into Brazil’s attacking circle. However, Paraguay recovered the ball quickly and earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 30th minute.
Paraguay’s Captain Olga Spiridonoff had two shots on goal, with one stopped by Brazil’s keeper Andrea Gomes to keep the match scoreless. Gomes soon came up with another save; and Brazil tried to go back on attack. Paraguay battled back and earned another penalty corner in the 33rd minute. Nicole van Jaarsveld’s shot bounced around the Brazilian defenders and lead to another penalty corner. Van Jaarsveld took the shot again, but this time Gomes came up for the save. Thus, the first half between Brazil and Paraguay ended scoreless.
The first action of the second half between Brazil and Paraguay was a penalty corner by Brazil in the 39th minute. Brazil passed around to Betolaza whose shot from the far right side of the circle was saved by Flores Guillen. Play continued to be in Brazil’s attacking half. In the 44th minute, feisty attack by Paraguay’s Carolina Cacace Vely led to a penalty corner. Van Jaarsveld passed to Alvarez waiting on the post, but Gomes was there for the save. Paraguay continued to pressure on attack, but Brazil’s defense maintained good positioning to prevent Paraguay from taking shots inside their attacking circle.
Brazil earned another penalty corner in the 52nd minute. Brazil could not complete the penalty corner play, but maintained possession in the midfield. In the 58th minute, Brazil earned another penalty corner, but again could not complete the play. Brazil’s Sluis was then given a green card. Paraguay looked to take advantage on attack. With less than five minutes remaining in the match, Flores Guillen came far out of goal to hold off Brazil’s attack and keep the match tied 0-0. Brazil earned another penalty corner in the 67th minute, but Paraguay played strong defense to keep Brazil from taking a penalty corner shot. With the match ending in a 0-0 tie, the match proceeded to a shoot out.
Paraguay’s Spiridonoff went first and her shot went wide. Beljon then went for Brazil and her shot trickled past the stick of the keeper. Paraguay’s Cacace Vely then worked the ball around the keeper Andrea Gomes for the score. Brazil’s Noronha Machado’s shot went high past Flores Guillen’s arm into goal. María Catebra Martinez then went for Paraguay and got the ball under the Gomes’ stick. Flores Guillen then forced Brazil’s Sluis to hit the post. Paraguay’s Ivanna Romero Gehrmann then hit in a hard shot into goal. The shot by Brazil’s Helena Betolaza led to a penalty stroke that Sluis converted. Van Jaarsveld went for Paraguay, but shot after the 8 seconds was up. The shot by Brazil’s Fedrizzi went over the end line.
Following the draw in the shoot out, the match went into a sudden death shoot out round. Noronha Machado also put in her second shot; and then Cacace Vely also scored again for Paraguay. Betolaza for Brazil did not get a shot off before the 8 seconds. And then Catebra Martinez’s shot for Paraguay went wide. Beljon put in a hard shot for Brazil. And then Romero Gehrmann for Paraguay countered with her shot. Sluis’ shot was blocked by Flores Guilen. And then van Jaarsveld had her shot blocked by keeper Gomes. The second shot by Brazil’s Fedrizzi went in; and then Paraguay’s Captain Spiridonoff missed. As a result, nearly 20 minutes later Brazil came up with the first win of the tournament.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Hosts get stronger
Mexico beat Guatemala in the women’s Championship
Josefina Chavez Díaz
Siglo XXI Stadium was home of the women Championship in day 4. Mexico had a big win over Guatemala supported by their fans.
Guatemala’s girls had a full team for the first time; they played Mexico, today.
Arely Castellanos’ players, had an easy victory over the Central Americans. Mexico took the lead early, only 2 minutes of the match thru Michel Navaro.
México went into halftime with 12 goals lead.
Guatemala played the second half without a goalkeeper as Kristel Cuevas had to be treated for an injury she had coped with on the last days.
Meanwhile, the Mexicans continued adding to the count making it 21-0. The heavy result put Mexico’s Captain, Michel Navarro at the top of the scorers ranking with 12 goals.
Tomorrow Guatemala’s women will play against Trinidad & Tobago. USA will play Guatemala, and Barbados will face Mexico on the men’s side.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
India are the Dhaka Champions
s2h team
India's defining moments in Dhaka continued, as Sonepat lad Abhishek's opportunistic goal three seconds before the hooter, gave India the Asian Sub-Junior Champions title, as it set aside the tough challenge of the hosts Bangladesh in this way (5-4). Sixteen years ago, Baljit Singh Dhillon led Indians won the PM Cup here on the same turf, and now Sundargarh lad Nilam Sanjeeb Xess' team has done.
For Prime Minister Cup, India came out with colours in the tie-break, but here, Abhishek gently tapped in a pass from Sunny three minutes before the hooter to give Indian colts a dream victory.
The score was moving fast with full stands supporting the home team, who in fact took the lead through their potent weapon, penalty corner.
Shivam Anand equalized in the 22nd minute, that is a minute after Bangladesh took the lead.
At the stroke of half time, Bangladesh equalized through Mohsin.
On change of sides, playing amidst hot and humid climate, Hardik levelled the score. IN the 50th minute, Dilpreet Singh's athleticism saw India going up first time (3-2). But nine minutes later, Bangla hero Ashraful sent a scorching shot into the cage to even out.
Ibungo was on spot after set up by Dilpreet and Umar for India to take lead, which survived only two minutes.
When the match was meandering for the tie-break, Abhishek turned out to be the hero.
Pankaj of Indian team was declared Best Goalie of the tournament, while Roman Sarkar of Bangladesh walked away with the Player of the Tournament award.
India's lanky fullback Hardik Singh was declared best player of the final.
Stick2Hockey.com
India beat Bangladesh in pulsating finale to lift title
India exacted revenge for a 4-5 loss to the hosts in the tournament opener.
Indian U18 hockeey team pose with Asia Cup on Friday (Hockey India Facebook page)
The Indian men's hockey team lifted the 4th U-18 Asia Cup after defeating hosts Bangladesh 5-4 in a pulsating summit clash here on Friday.
The young Indians held their nerves in the dying moments of the nail-biting finale as they exacted revenge for a 4-5 loss to the hosts in the tournament opener. With the half time score tied at 1-1, the second half of the game began at a frantic pace as India took the lead with two quick fire goals before Bangladesh levelled the scores 3-3.
India responded immediately by slotting their fourth goal but the hosts kept their hopes alive by levelling the scores again. As the game wore on, Bangladesh slowly started to wrest away the rhythm.
However, Abhishek broke Bangladesh's hearts by scoring the decisive goal three seconds before the final whistle at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium. This is the second time that India have lifted the prestigious trophy after winning it in 2001.
DNA
India beat Bangladesh 5-4 to claim title
DHAKA: A last minute strike gave India a 5-4 victory in their final game against hosts Bangladesh and helped them lift the U-18 Men's Asia Cup on Friday.
In what was almost a replay of the opening game, the two teams treated the fans to a thrilling nine-goal encounter with India emerging triumphant in the end to be crowned the champions.
India got off to a quick start and kept the ball in their possession as they searched for an opening to penetrate the rival circle.
Their approach paid off as they won their first penalty corner in the 6th minute itself. After an initial error, India recovered and improvised to take a shot on goal, but the attempt went in vain.
While India held the possession, Bangladesh waited for the counter. From a counter, the home team won a penalty corner, and after the initial save by Pankaj Kumar Rajak, M Roman Sarkar netted the ball to give the hosts the lead.
India were quick to score the equaliser through Shivam Anand, who picked up a pass on the edge of the circle and cut back in, running past two Bangladesh defenders to execute a perfect reverse flick into the net.
India earned one more penalty corner but yet another error denied them a goal.
From a counter Bangladesh ran through the midfield, before a cross from the left found Mohammad Mohsin, who deflected the ball to give the hosts a lead again to go into the break 2-1 up.
After the break, India levelled the scores via Hardik Singh's PC before Dilpreet Singh netted the ball to hand the visiting team a 3-1 lead.
In a topsy turvy game, almost a replay of their opening encounter, Bangladesh equalised with Mohammed Ashraful Islam scoring a goal in the 60th minute.
But Ibungo Singh Konjengbam fired India back in the front again.
Bangladesh also fought back and Mahabub Hossain levelled the scores after a quick counter in the 64th minute.
With the scores tied 4-4 and the threat of a shootout looming, a quick counter saw Abhishek in the box and his deflection guided India to the title with just seconds to the hooter.
Hardik Singh was named the Man of the Match, while Pankaj Kumar Rajak was named the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
The Times of India
Day two of the Australian Hockey League
NT Stingers have match of the day
Holly MacNeil
The second day of the Australian Hockey League took place in Perth today with the match of the day the huge defeat of New Zealand courtesy of the Northern Territory Stingers.
Day two of the Women’s Australian Hockey League kicked off first, with Malaysia completely controlling the game against the Northern Territory with a huge 7 – 1 win.
In the ACT versus New Zealand game, Laura Gray scored a double, with Naomi Evans scoring a field goal to give the Strikers the advantage. New Zealand could only manage a field goal courtesy of Emily Wium.
Victoria defeated New South Wales convincingly, with Georgia Nanscawen starting the Vipers off, and Emily Hurtz following up with two of her own. Cara Simpson scored the only goal for the NSW Arrows in the second term.
Rounding out the competition for the day, the WA Diamonds won their second consecutive game with goals from Kathryn Slattery and Melissa Luff handing the Queensland their first loss of the tournament.
The Men’s AHL began with the NT Stingers smashing the New Zealand Futures 8 – nil, with goals from Matt Argent, Joel Rintala, Ross Hall, Brodie Gleeson, Oliver Crane, and Kookaburras’ player Jeremy Hayward.
The Queensland Blades played the Malaysian Tigers, with the reigning champions leading the field 4 – 0 at half time. The Blades held on to take out the game 5 – 2 after Malaysia staged a comeback effort with two goals in the last quarter.
India had their second win of the league, with a 3 – 1 victory over South Australia; while the WA Thundersticks also continued their winning streak with a 2 – 0 victory over Malaysia Blue thanks to goals from Tom Wickham and Nick Budgeon.
Victoria were defeated by New South Wales, with goals from Kookaburra Simon Orchard along with Landon Morley, with Victoria’s goal a penalty corner from Josh Simmonds.
In the final game of the evening Tasmania scored their second win against the Canberra Lakers with a final score of 2 -1, leaving them at the top of their pool alongside the WA Thundersticks.
The under 13’s round robin saw half of the boy’s teams compete, with half on a bye. New South Wales State remain at the top of the board at the conclusion of day two. In the girl’s competition, it was again a six game day, with the New South Wales State also at the top of the girl’s round robin competition.
For full results on the day, please use the following links:
Men’s league
Women’s league
U/13 Boys
U/13 Girls
Today’s AHL results:
Women’s League
NT 1 – 7 MAS
ACT 3 – 1 NZL
VIC 3 – 1 NSW
QLD 0 - 2 WA
Men’s League
NZL 0 - 8 NT
QLD 5 – 2 MAS T
IND 3 – 1 SA
WA 2 – 0 MAS B
VIC 1 – 2 NSW
TAS 2 - 1 ACT
Hockey Australia media release
Men fare miserably, women win
By Jugjet Singh
THE Malaysian national women's team hammered Northern Territories 7-1 in the Australian Hockey League in Perth Friday.
The win came at the back of a 3-1 defeat to New Zealand Futures on Thursday.
However, the men's teams hit another bad patch as both the national and back-up squads lost their matches.
The Malaysian Tigress, as the women are registered in the AHL, got their goals off Siti Rahmah Othman (ninth, 52nd), Nurul Nabihah Mansur (10thm 56th), Hanis Nadia Onn (20th), Wan Nor Faiezah (41st) and Raja Norsharina (58th).
However the men's national team, known as the Malaysian Tigers, suffered a 5-2 defeat in the hands of Queensland Blades.
The Queensland Blades scored five goals before the Tigers got back two off Shahril Saabah (47th) and Ramadan Rosli (57th).
And Malaysia's back-up squad, called Malaysian Blues, lost 2-0 to WA Thundersticks.
Saturday: Women -- Malaysian Tigress v New South Wales.
Sunday: Men -- Malaysian Tigers v Northern Territories, Malaysian Blues v SA Hotshots.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Champs Telkom Orange set sights on top spot
By BRIAN YONGA
Telkom Orange players celebrate a goal against Strathmore University during their Kenya Hockey Union women's Premier League match at City Park Stadium on July 24, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Champions Telkom Orange will be out to reclaim top spot when they take on Vikings in a Kenya Hockey Union women’s Premier League match on Sunday at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.
Nine matches will be played this weekend - five on Saturday and four on Sunday.
In the men’s Premier League, Pool B leaders Greensharks face newly promoted Chase Sailors in a battle for the play-off slots while Wazalendo tackle Parkroad in the same pool.
At Kakamega High School grounds, Western Jaguars welcome Kenya College of Accountancy of University (KCAU) this afternoon as they look for their maiden win of the season.
Kenyan international Rachel Ousa could make her debut for Orange who are currently in fifth in the log with seven points, three behind surprise leaders Amira Sailors.
Ousa, who was signed from arch-rivals Strathmore University Scorpions, is expected to add fire power to Orange’s forward line.
This season’s women league race is one of the most open in recent years and Orange coach Jos Openda has warned against any errors from her team.
“Our job this season is to defend all the trophies that we won and we are working towards that,” Openda said on Friday.
“It is exciting that five teams are contesting for the title and we therefore need to be on top of our game.”
Orange come into the match on the back of a 6-1 win over USIU Spartans last month and will be favourites to clinch the three points.
Evergreen striker Jackline Mwangi, who bagged a hat-trick against the students, will lead Orange’s attack.
A win for the 18-time national champions will move them above Amira on goal difference.
Vikings will looking to end a run of three successive losses in the league and coach Clyde Mbaha is looking for a positive response from his team.
“We have not played well in the last three matches and deservedly lost. Orange are a tough side and we need to be at our best,” Mbaha said.
Greensharks will move closer to a play-off spot should they beat Sailors tomorrow in the men’s top-tier clash.
Sharks edged out KCA-U 1-0 last weekend and a repeat result will leave them needing a point in their final pool match to book a place in the playoffs.
“The job is not yet done and we therefore cannot start celebrating. We need to get good results in our remaining encounters,” Sharks coach Nixon Nyangaga said. The tie is a must-win for Sailors who were upset 3-2 by Wazalendo last weekend.
The bankers had won their last three matches before last weekend’s loss at City Park Stadium. Sailors captain and the league’s current top scorer George Mutira will be hoping to inspire his team to a crucial win.
FIXTURES (All Matches at City Park Stadium unless stated)
Saturday
National Men : Kabarak University v Impala- 12pm, Multimedia v Thika Rovers – 2pm
Premier Men: Western Jaguars v KCAU – 3pm (Kakamega High School), Parklands v KU Vultures- 4pm, Sikh Union v USIU- 6pm
Sunday
National Men: Kabarak v Karate Axiom – 9am
Premier Women: Orange v Vikings – 11am
Premier Men: Greensharks v Chase Sailors – 1pm, Wazalendo v Parkroad – 3pm
Daily Nation
No. 4 Syracuse knocks off No. 7 Louisville in OT
Syracuse Athletics
The No. 4 Syracuse women's lacrosse team needed overtime to dispatch No. 7 Louisville, 2-1. Syracuse Athletics
The No. 4 Syracuse field hockey team (9-1, 2-1 ACC) rallied from allowing an early lead to No. 7 Louisville (8-2, 1-2 ACC) to down the Cardinals 2-1 in overtime.
After tying the game with just over 17 minutes left in regulation, the teams went to an extra session, where Lies Lagerweij finished the game 5:16 into overtime on a penalty stroke goal.
Minout Mink scored for Louisville with 15 seconds left in the first half to send the Cards to the locker room with the lead after taking the Orange defense baseline to finish the goal. The tally ended a back-and-forth first half with neither team scoring until that point.
Elaine Carey got the Orange on the board in the 53rd minute, when she deflected a Liz Sack shot into the back of the net for the equalizer. Sack drove into the circle and fired a backhand shot, with Carey there to send it home.
In overtime, the Cardinals were whistled for a penalty in the circle with Lagerweij stepping up to take the stroke. She buried it top left to send SU home with the win.
Regan Spencer made five saves in net for 'Cuse to preserve the win, with Alicia McFerran turning away nine for Louisville. Both teams drew three corners each in the game as well.
The Orange will next head to Bucknell on Sunday in hopes of earning their 10th win of the season. That game will begin at Noon.
NCAA
Veteran forward Thea Culley announces retirement from international hockey
Shaheed Devji
Thea Culley carries the ball in a match vs the Dominican Republic at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where Canada captured a bronze medal (By Yan Huckendubler)
Veteran Canadian forward Thea Culley announced her retirement from international hockey Friday in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The 30 year-old native of Rossland, British Columbia played in 157 senior international matches for Canada, making her the second most capped active Women’s National Team player and the fourth most capped all-time.
“The biggest thing I’ve gained from being on the team are friendships and relationships and the skills to the build friendships and relationships with people in pressure situations and stressful environments,” she says. “I’m always reminded by them when various songs come up, and that’s something I will treasure because I know that I will continue to have those (memories).”
After making her Junior National Team debut in 2004 in Chile, Culley began her senior international career in 2006 against Wales in Cardiff city.
She has since gone on to amass a long list of field hockey achievements, including being a part of the 2015 Pan American Games team which captured the bronze medal, the first team to medal at the Games since 1999 in Winnipeg.
“2015 was just really special,” she says. “It came in a year when at World League 2 we rose to the occasion and proved that we could compete and perform in those situations where in the past we had faltered – in close games, in games that we could win. And the Pan Am Games and the bronze medal was the same thing.”
Along with Stephanie Norlander, Culley was Canada’s top goal scorer in 2015. She was also the top goal scorer in 2013.
In addition to the 2015 Pan Am Games bronze medal, Culley cites playing in her first Commonwealth Games in 2010 as one of her proudest moments, as she realized a childhood dream having been inspired to compete for Canada when her grandfather took her to the Opening Ceremony of the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.
“It was just that ‘wow’ realization of where you are and where you come from,” she recalls of the 2010 Commonwealth Games experience. “Being a kid and receiving little trinkety pins and stickers as the athletes parading by…thinking how cool that was and at that time not even knowing what field hockey was. And then 16 years later actually being in a spot where now I am that athlete.”
She also cherishes a 2013 Pan American Cup bronze medal win, during which she scored two goals in the medal clinching game.
Culley played for the University of Victoria Vikes from 2003 to 2007 and was named a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Tournament All-Star in 2004 and 2006, as well as an Academic All-Canadian in 2004-05 and 2006-07.
Internationally, her career highlights included competing in two Commonwealth Games (2010 and 2014), two Pan American Games (2011 and 2015), and two Pan American Cups (2009 and 2013).
“Thea has been a fantastic contributor both on and off the field,” says Women’s National Team Head Coach Ian Rutledge. “It’s been a real privilege to have worked with her.”
“We have a young team and Thea has lots of different experiences and lessons and she has been able to pass on those lessons and share those experience and has really shaped our program in a really positive way. I think she can take confidence that she is leaving the program in a better place. ”
Culley’s achievements during her career are not limited to the field of play.
She is an active ambassador of field hockey in Canada, having served on the Field Hockey Canada Board of Directors as an Athlete Representative for multiple terms. She also serves as board member for AthletesCAN, a national athlete advocacy group.
And while her career competing internationally comes to a close, she sees retirement as a new beginning, albeit with a tried approach, tested through her field hockey career.
“I want to keep being involved in making a difference in whatever comes my way,” she says.
“The future is wide open. I think that’s probably the most exciting this for me.”
Field Hockey Canada media release
Revolutionary Cairns Hockey project short-listed for international award
Cairns Hockey goes above and beyond with indigenous project
This week's hockey #GlobalProject looks at an innovative programme running in Cairns, Australia, targeting indigenous communities.
For the girls and young women living in such communities in the northern outreaches of Australia, sport was something only the boys did. They were therefore missing out on valuable life lessons offered by sport – lessons in team work, problem-solving, winning, losing, competing and making life-long friends.
A new programme however is changing all that. Aspire to be Deadly is a project initiated and run by Cairns Hockey that offers mentoring and opportunities to indigenous populations, particularly in remote regions such as Torres Strait Islands, Cairns and Cape York as well as communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The programme aims to link mainstream hockey through a development programme that is educational as well as sporting.
In recognition of its work, Cairns Hockey recently learnt that it has been shortlisted for the prestigious international Beyond Sports Awards, which will be presented to the winners in London, England in October.
Cairns Hockey is one of four nominated bodies for the Sporting Federation or Governing Body of the Year Award. The others in the frame are: European Club Association with it’s 90 Minutes for a Hope programme; Major League Baseball, a USA and Canada based group; and National Rugby League’s (Australia) School to Work Program.
The Beyond Sports Awards have attracted entries from more than 160 countries since 2009, when they began awarding enterprises that used sport for positive change.
To demonstrate just how much impact the Aspire to be Deadly programme is already having, this is an extract from the Cairns Hockey website explaining why it has initiated an under-11 Festival of Sport in the northern town of Karumba.
“The Gulf Savannah Region has a special significance to Cairns Hockey Development Programs. This region was where Cairns Hockey in partnership with RIHP Hockey was first invited to develop its programs and invited by the community to assist in the development of hockey across the region. No-one in the region was aware or had any passion for female sport, in particular hockey. There were no facilities, no equipment, no awareness, no resources and certainly no hockey programs and no reason to think a competition would ever be established.
“As the hockey program involved itself and engaged with the community, the realisation and recognition that growth and advancement of the region as a whole was dictated to by nature’s balance. Too much rain – devastating floods, too little rain, devastating droughts, the right balance of rain and the region thrives.
“Indigenous culture is strong and the respect and recognition shown through culture and traditions reinforce the importance of balance in all aspects of life in the region. It was a natural progression that the development of hockey as a community support program needed to recognise and understand the importance of this state of balance.”
Even before Aspire to be Deadly was founded, hockey had been delivered by Cairns Hockey for more than 10 years and the association and the community has found a balance that works.
This year, 13 teams from schools in the region, plus two teams from Cairns, contested a three-day competition played on two grass pitches marked between the tee and green of the first hole at Karumba Golf Club.
The success of the venture was highlighted by the Cairn’s Hockey facebook page: “It’s official, it’s the biggest Karumba Festival of Sport ever with 15 teams including the Muddies and Barras (from Cairns). Two fields across the first fairway from tee to green, tents for all the school teams, hats, sunscreen and water to be sun safe and hydrated. It's healthy competition and the smiles stretch for miles. Cultures converge and understanding grows, families, parents, supporters are all here to help and celebrate the positive messages. Everyone involved should be proud.”
This is yet another example of a local organisation embracing the values of the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy, in particular the fourth Big Goal - to generate millions more followers around the world, and Major Initiative five which is focused on high performing sport.
To find out more about this project, visit the Cairns hockey Facebook page.
For more information about hockey in Australia, contact Hockey Australia.
FIH site
Etienne Glichitch Tribute – Truly a man for all seasons
A tribute by Steve Jaspan (Former FIH Council and Executive Board Member and current Chair of the FIH High Performance and Coaching Panel)
Etienne Glichitch, pictured centre, with former FIH Executive Board Members Photo: FIH
The brief obituary of Etienne Glichitch that appeared on the International Hockey Federation (FIH) website earlier this month chronicled many of the wonderful milestones and superb achievements in his rich and varied life. Sadly, many of the hockey stories behind the scenes will go unrecorded to the grave with this great man.
However, for countless hockey people whose lives he touched there was so much more to Etienne than the obituary revealed.
He was a gregarious person with an impish sense of humour. As far as I know, it was he who coined the phrase “The Hockey Family” to describe the spirit and camaraderie of hockey. This captured the essence of how he felt about the special band of people who run hockey worldwide.
I first met Etienne in Rome in the early 1980's whilst he was Secretary General of the FIH. An elderly Rene Frank was President at that time. It was clear in a brief meeting with them that Etienne’s complete mastery of the affairs of the FIH was a vital foil to the leadership of Rene.
Elizabeth Tummers was an important part of the day-to-day running of the FIH and the office - a very efficient and charming person who was also crucial in ensuring the FIH functioning effectively with a small staff. The FIH office was in Brussels at that time – later to be purchased by the European Hockey Federation.
It was also a time when the world of sport had condemned South Africa for the inhumanity of “apartheid”. Whilst the dictum of “no normal sport in an abnormal society” was the common stance, perceptive administrators such as Rene Frank and Etienne looked beyond the façade or conventional wisdom.
They realised that whilst it was simply impossible for South Africa to play official internationals or in world tournaments, to terminate South African Hockey’s membership of the FIH was to quench the flame of a latent contributor and future power within African Hockey. A nation that ultimately could contribute richly to the FIH and world hockey when the time was appropriate.
In the early 1990s soon after Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, the wisdom of their approach was to unfold but not before certain stringent pre-requisites were fulfilled at Etienne’s insistence. The farsightedness of Etienne was balanced by great humanity and the highest moral principles.
Like virtually all the FIH Presidents in recent history, after his election as President in 1984 he forged a team to achieve a vision for world hockey in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Around him a remarkable group of hockey people emerged - outstanding administrators and many colourful characters.
All three of the subsequent Presidents of the FIH, Juan Angel Calzado, Els van Breda Vriesman and Leandro Negre served on the FIH Council during Etienne’s tenure (the Council was the body that predated today’s Executive Board).
Etienne’s view that the FIH’s role within the Olympic Movement was a cornerstone of the healthy evolution of the FIH remains a key element of strategic planning to this day and his excellent relationship with IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch was to be a vital element in ensuring the strong bond.
Etienne was a top international umpire and Technical Delegate, with an intrinsic understanding of the hockey calendar, tournament structures and qualification. He had a clear vision of how Olympic and World Cup qualification should be fair and completely understandable for hockey enthusiasts.
He travelled very widely to support national associations and attend tournaments and I remember him saying that he had the stamps of over 100 nations in his passport.
But the essence of his travel was not only the support of national associations, but also to meet local sports authorities to garner support for hockey and to obtain a first-hand understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of national associations and how they could be assisted.
His humour and superb public relations in many of these important meetings was catalytic to macro sports bodies and sponsors intensifying their efforts for hockey.
He kept amazing records of tournament results and his memory was remarkable – verging on the photographic. He was an all-round sports enthusiast with a very broad general knowledge.
His charismatic and generous personality coupled with strong business principles and sports ethics were a magnificent example to successive generations of sports administrators, mainly volunteers who have successfully carried the torch and ensured that hockey is amongst the most respected sports with a very clean ethical record.
He laid the foundations for the modernisation of the game and its administration which his successors have successfully built upon to make hockey the exciting game it is today.
Little wonder that he finds a place amongst the Pantheon of hockey giants. A much loved and widely respected man who gave so much of himself to make hockey a greater game - a man who made the hockey family a cherished one to be part of. For so many it was an honour to serve hockey under his stewardship and to enjoy his friendship.
We will miss him greatly and our thoughts are with his family.
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