News for 03 January 2017
All the news for Tuesday 3 January 2017
Two Semifinals of 63rd Zaitoon National Hockey Championships Present Contrasting Flavours
13 teams appeared in the first phase, 'Premier League' of the the 63rd Zaitoon National Hockey Championships in National Hockey Stadium, Lahore.
Placed in four pools, the top two from each made it to the second phase, 'Super League'. These eight teams were further grouped in two pools. Now, after a total of 27 matches, stage is set for the semi finals on Tuesday.
First semi final:PIA vs WAPDA 12:00 (noon)
Second semi final: SSGC vs National Bank of Pakistan 2:30 PM
Interestingly, the two semi finals present contrasting scenarios.
The two sides in the first semi final are very rich in experience.
WAPDA and PIA include a number of present and past international stars.
WAPDA, in fact has as many as three national captains including Fareed, who skippered Pakistan in their last international outing, Asian Champions Trophy. The other two are former captains; both big names. Sohail Abbas, the legendary drag flicker, holds the world record for most international goals (348). While midfielder Waseem Ahmed has made the most international appearances for Pakistan (410). It was nice to see the 40 year old Sohail Abbas in a very good physical condition. In these nationals, he was played for long periods in all the matches.
Likewise, PIA, the two time defending champions, also boast a number of players who have played for Pakistan. Most of them appeared in the past and only a few appeared for Pakistan's national side in 2015.
The teams in the other semi final are relatively young.
National Bank of Pakistan has eight members of Pakistan's under 21 squad. This national under 21 were given a lot of international exposure in 2016. Till only a couple of weeks before these nationals, the team was in the final phase of preparation for the Junior World Cup; they were cruelly deprived of participation.
NBP coach Tahir Zaman is also the head coach of Pakistan under 21.
Sui Southern Gas Company comprises of a few senior, and a greater number of age group internationals including players from Pakistan under 18 squad.
Hence, it should be a battle of youth.
Final is scheduled on Wednesday.
PHF Media release
National hockey semi-finals today
Experienced PIA, WAPDA battle it out in first, youthful SSGC and NBP in second
By Syed Intikhab Ali
KARACHI: The semi-finals of National Hockey Championship will be played on Tuesday (today) at National Hockey Stadium, Lahore. The first will be played between PIA and WAPDA and the second between SSGC and NBP.
The prize money of the championship remains a secret. Not a single PHF high official is ready to reveal the amount.
A source said that the amount might be small and that was why the PHF was hesitant to announce the details. Another PHF official confirmed that
Sources said that PHF’s marketing department had not been successful in securing much sponsorship for the national championship.
PHF distributed a handsome amount in prize money at the last national championship which was held in Karachi. At other hockey tournaments also, large amounts were given in prizes.
Some former players said while talking to ‘The News’ that PHF’s failure to secure sponsorships was surprising. “There are hundreds of business entities, multinational companies, commercial banks that are earning billions of rupees. Why can’t they (the PHF) get sponsorship?” a former player said.
It is pertinent to mention here that this year 13 departmental teams appeared in the first phase, ‘Premier League’, of the National Championships.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the semi-finals have been finalised and there are contrasting scenarios.
The sides in the first semi-final are both very rich in experience.
WAPDA and PIA include a number of present and past international stars.
WAPDA has as many as three national captains, including Fareed, who skippered Pakistan in their last international outing, Asian Champions Trophy.
Another former captain is Sohail Abbas, the legendary drag flicker, who holds the world record for most international goals (348). The third is midfielder Waseem Ahmed, who has made the most international appearances for Pakistan (410).
Sohail Abbas, now 40, has been played for long periods in all the matches.
PIA, two-time champions, also boast a number of players who have played for Pakistan. A few appeared for Pakistan in 2015.
The teams in the other semi-final are relatively young.
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) have eight members of Pakistan’s under-21 squad, which had a lot of international exposure in 2016. Till only a couple of weeks before these nationals, the team was in the final phase of preparation for the Junior World Cup; they were cruelly deprived of participation.
NBP coach Tahir Zaman is also the head coach of Pakistan under-21s.
Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) comprises a few seniors and a greater number of age-group internationals, including players from Pakistan’s under-18 squad. First semi-final: PIA vs WAPDA from 12 noon
Second semi-final: SSGC vs NBP from 2:30pm
The final is scheduled on Wednesday (tomorrow).
The News International
Egyptian clubs arrive for continental showpiece
By BRIAN YONGA
Sharkia women's hockey club players at a past training session. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Sharkia men’s and women’s hockey club from Egypt are the first clubs to arrive for the Africa Cup of Club Championship that gets underway on Saturday at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.
The clubs arrived on New Year’s Day with the women’s team holding a light training session at City Park grounds on Monday afternoon, while the men’s team will have a feel of the pitch on Tuesday. Nineteen teams among them 10 women’s club will do battle in the continental competition that will run till January 15.
Men’s champions Eastern Company also from Egypt were due to arrive in the country on Monday night while Ghanaian teams among them Exchequers, Ghana Police and Ghana Revenue Authority are expected on Tuesday.
Other women’s teams expected include the Nigerian duo of Heartland and Elrufai, Weathered and Wananchi (both from Uganda) as well as Tanzania hockey club. Kenya will be represented by defending champions Telkom Orange and Sliders.
On the men’s front, Nigerian champions Niger Flickers, Weathered and Wananchi will make up the numbers alongside local sides Butali Sugar Warriors and Kenya Police. According to the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU), the fixtures are ready but await approval from the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Union chair Nashon Randiek said plans are at an advanced stage to ensure the country’s stages a successful tourney.
‘We are looking forward to a very competitive event and we call on all fans to come out and cheer on their teams,” he told Daily Nation Sport.
This will be the third time the country is hosting the competition, having previously hosted in 2006 and 2009. Kenya was awarded the hosting rights after Zimbabwe withdrew from hosting the annual tourney, citing financial challenges.
The tournament was initially meant to be held last December but was pushed forward as the dates coincided with last year’s Junior Hockey World Cup. Telkom Orange, who beat Ghana Police 3-2 on post-match penalties to win their eighth title last year, will be out to claim a record ninth title.
Sliders, on the other hand, are making their return to the competition after an eight- year absence. They won the continental title in 1999 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe but lost out to Orange in the 2009 edition played at the City Park Stadium.
The defunct Armed Forces Club is the only local men’s side to have won the competition back in 1998 in Windhoek, Namibia. Both Butali and Police have won bronze in previous editions.
Eastern Company defeated rivals Sharkia 3-2 in the men’s final. Sharkia have won the title a record 23 times.
Daily Nation
Champions Terengganu add top Dutch striker to their ranks
by S. Ramaguru
KUALA LUMPUR: Holland striker Valentin Verga is the big-name signing for this season’s Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
The 27-year-old Verga, a scorer of 22 goals in 134 internationals, will feature for defending double champions Terengganu.
The hiring of Argentine-born Verga is a big coup for the east coast team, making them head and shoulders above the other seven teams – Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC), Maybank, Tenaga Nasional, TNB Thunderbolt, SSTMI and UiTM-KPT – in the Premier Division.
Besides Verga’s firepower, Terengganu also have Jang Jung-hyun. The South Korean hitman is a penalty corner specialist, emerging top scorer with 14 goals last year.
Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh believes Verga will give them the edge to win the Premier Division and overall crown (TNB Cup) with ease.
“We struggled to win the titles the last three years. We won the three league titles only in the penultimate games. There were also some tight moments for the overall crown.
“I think Jung-hyun and Valentin should get the job done this time in a more comfortable manner,” said Sarjit.
There is only one snag as Verga will only be available to play for Terengganu from Feb 3 due to national team commitments.
“Valentin has to attend the Dutch training camp later this month. But we will have him during the crucial part of the league.
“He is a top class player and should fit into our plans without any problems,” said Sarjit.
Terengganu have also hired four other foreigners in the quest to win their fourth straight double. They are defender Muhamad Irfan of Pakistan, forward Pablo Javier Trevison of Argentina and Spanish midfielder Nicolas Ebrique Della Torre.
Pakistan midfielder Ahmad Shakeel Butt, who featured for Terengganu in 2015, has also been rehired.
In addition to the six foreign signings, Terengganu have also added two local players – national forward Mohd Firhan Ashaari and midfielder B. Namasivayam – to their stable.
Terengganu will kick off their season against Division One champions TNB Thunderbolt in the first round of the Tan Sri P. Alagendra Knockout Trophy on Jan 6. They were ousted by Tenaga Nasional in the semi-finals last season.
The Star of Malaysia
Hockey stick in hand, underprivileged teens flick woes away
Fareeha Iftikhar
1) Kishore Arya shows one of the trophies he won 2) Arya with his mentor and One Thousand Hockey Legs founder K Arumugam 3) Arya (second on left) with Indian hockey U-18 team
NGO One Thousand Hockey Legs aims to make the national game of India accessible to everyone; has trained thousands of students till now
For 17-year-old Kishore Arya, son of a driver, life took a dramatic turn in 2010, when he first picked up the hockey stick and then went on to knock down all hurdles in his path to glory. Seven years down the line, Arya will be representing India at the international level.
Arya was one of the thousands of underprivileged children who learned hockey with the help of NGO One Thousand Hockey Legs, an initiative by IIT graduate K Arumugam. The NGO aims to make hockey, the national game of India, accessible to everyone.
Arya was studying in Class VII of a government school in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar when the NGO members visited to select students for hockey training. “I was in the playground when Arumugam sir came to me and asked hockey khelega (Will you play hockey)? Since that day, I have not looked back,” says the Class XIth student, who is currently being trained at the National Hockey Academy. He was also part of the Indian hockey team that won U-18 Asia Cup in September last year.
“Earlier, when our family used to visit our village, nobody would come to inquire about our well being. Things have changed now. People throng to meet my parents,” says Arya, who hails from the Almora district of Uttrakhand, while talking about the change in people’s perspective towards his family after he became a national-level sportsperson.
Commenting upon Arya’s incredible journey, Arumugam says: “Arya is the first player from Delhi in the last two decades to have made it to the national hockey team in any age group. All the boys training under the NGO are extraordinarily talented. A little support can give wings to their dreams. That’s what happened in Arya’s case.”
The author of several books on hockey further shares that he established the NGO in Puducherry in 2008 with an aim to provide opportunities to the underprivileged children in the age group of 11-15 years. “We specifically focused on the urban poor because we noticed that in metros, such as Delhi, there are a lot of schools but not enough attention on sports in these schools,” he adds.
In a similar turn-of-fate story, Mohammad Zaseem, 17, who had come to Delhi in 2006 to help his elder brother after their father passed away, was supported by the NGO.
“The NGO supported me in every way possible. I could not have even imagined the life I’m living at present,” says the Class XII student, who now attends the Sports Training Centre in Patiala. He has also represented Delhi in several national tournaments.
Currently, the NGO is running training programmes in as many as 80 schools in Delhi, Kanpur (UP), Kolkata, Chennai and Puducherry. “As many as 90 per cent of the children receiving training under the NGO are from economically weaker and marginalised sections of society,” Arumugam says.
“We train children at their schools so as to encourage them to attend their classes regularly and develop interest in both academics and sports,” he says, adding that the NGO also provides free sports kits and shoes to the students.
Last year, on the occasion of the National Sports day, the NGO was presented with the prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar by President Pranab Mukherjee.
DNA
Harmanpreet Singh: Olympian, World Cup winner and a goal machine
Feroz Khan
NEW DELHI: Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh has been one of the brightest stars to have emerged for Indian hockey in the recent years. At 21 years of age, he counts being an Olympian and a World Cup winner among his career achievements. Harmanpreet's rapid rise as a disciplined and relentless performer has seen him shuttle between the senior and junior sides in major tournaments across the globe.
Harmanpreet first gained attention on the junior circuit in 2014 at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia, when he scored nine goals and followed it with a rich haul of 15 at the 2015 Junior Asia Cup. For his impressive performances, he was included in India's squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics and by the time the year came to a close, had played a key role in bringing home the Junior Hockey World Cup after 15 years.
TOI Sports caught up with Harmanpreet, who is gearing up for Hockey India League 2017 beginning January 21 where he will turn out for Dabang Mumbai.
Excerpts:
The Sultan of Johor Cup, Junior Asia Cup, Olympics and now Junior World cup. You have quite a CV. How does it feel to be a World Cup winner?
I am very proud. We have worked so hard all these years preparing for this moment and to have finally got the result has been an exhilarating experience. We played in the right spirit. Each guy was assigned a definitive role and we performed our duties brilliantly. The most memorable moment was lifting the Junior World Cup. We had a talk about how we have waited for this moment all these years and the time has finally come. We are told to enjoy our games and bring home the medal.
You have been shuttling between the junior and the senior team ...
There were several things which I didn't know (when in the company of seniors). The seniors were very helpful and they guided me. I got to play with and against some of the biggest names in world hockey. That helped in boosting my confidence level. So, being with the senior team was quite helpful. The biggest thing I took while my time with the senior players was the experience. It's not like you don't feel the pressure when playing for the junior team but it is at another level when it comes to the senior side.
Having said that, I would say that rest is pretty much similar be it training or the preparations prior to a match. I remember one match at the senior level where I didn't perform well because that was my first time at this level and pressure got to me. I was not happy with that but then the seniors advised me to not get worried and told to get over it and focus on my natural game and strengths. So thanks to them for helping me out.
How important has the contribution of Roelant Oltmans and Harendra Singh been?
Both Roelant Oltmans and Harendra Singh made us work very hard. They did all the work; creating strategies on match basis, the approach towards a particular team. I would say the credit for our performances goes to the coaches. I am fortunate that we got their services at the right time. We played as per their plans.
PR Sreejesh was also present with the team...
Sreejesh paaji's presence surely helped, it was a confidence booster. He shared his experience with us, used to speak to each and every member of the team and would give pointers. He was very helpful.
Your captain Harjeet Singh has also been praised for his performance...
He's been brilliant and knows how to lead the team, knows how to create a system. He ensured discipline and used to communicate with everyone. He used to guide us as a friend and as a brother. He's a nice person to talk to.
There was good crowd presence during the matches, especially at the final when it was jam-packed. How did you feel playing in front of them?
There was such a big crowd during the final of the tournament. I was elated on seeing so many people turning up to see a hockey match and support us. Obviously, this is a good sign for the development of hockey as so many people are taking an interest. In my opinion, the public is the one that can take this game of ours to another level. So I'm very thankful and happy.
Indian teams across levels have been putting up impressive performances of late. What do you think has changed?
It's all a culmination of better facilities and guidance. I would give the majority of credit to the team coaches. Mr Narendra Batra (former Hockey India president, currently head of the FIH) is taking Indian hockey in the right direction. A lot of things are working in our favour be it the right kind of diet, new techniques. We all are working very hard.
What aspects of your game would you like to improve?
I started playing aged 11. I enrolled in a private academy (Surjit Singh Hockey Academy). I spent three years there and from then on started playing in different tournaments, played in national events representing Punjab. I played in three national championships and eventually made it to the junior India squad. Honestly, I believe I have to improve each and every aspect of my game. I like to think I haven't learnt anything yet. I am a defender and also a drag-flicker and my aim is to get better at that. Rupinder Pal Singh has taught me a lot and has been an inspiration.
The junior team members come across as a fun-loving bunch.
Yeah, we enjoy each and every moment whether it's on or off the field. It's one of our plus points that we don't think too much. In fact, it's about situation. For example when we are in the team bus, we all are having fun but once we reach the ground, everyone gets serious. We all are a fun-loving people. Two-three players in particular are the biggest pranksters. One of them is Simran (Simranjeet Singh). He keeps us entertained. He's a funny guy.
2016 was a busy year for you and now you are preparing for the Hockey India League. What's your assessment of this league?
You get to learn from the overseas players, their techniques, how they prepare, thought process etc. We already know the Indian ways but when you are playing with players from different countries, it presents a good opportunity to learn more which will ultimately come handy in future. It's an important platform for everyone. We get to gel with players not only from different parts of India but from different corners of the world. It has helped me in identifying my strengths and weaknesses.
Your expectations from the season?
Last year we played quite well. We missed making the cut for the semi-finals by a small margin. It all came down to the result of one match and unfortunately we couldn't qualify. We have the right balance and some of the best players from India and abroad. We have good 10 days to regroup and prepare for HIL. From January 10 we have a camp. We will give our best shot and I am positive this time around we will go the distance.
The Times of India
Global Projects 2016: Europe
Photo: chrishobsonphotos.co.uk
As part of our series looking at some of the standout Global hockey Projects from 2016, we look at some projects in Europe that have the potential to inspire others in 2017...
Accessibility is a key factor in many European countries. Providing opportunities for people with physical or mental challenges is at the heart of many development projects on the European continent.
ParaHockey provides sport for all
The German Hockey Federation (DHB) has been working hard to promote, support and develop hockey activities for people of all abilities.
The result of many months of talks, planning sessions and promotion was the annual ParaHockey tournament held at ETB Essen earlier this year.
Participants from 10 teams, representing five nations, took part in the event, with teams from Italy and Spain meeting in the final. The Italian side emerged as the winner but every team left with a gift of 10 hockey sticks given by the DHB.
The tournament was administrated and officiated by the European Hockey Federation Youth Panel.
Taking the initiative a step further, the DHB then organised a meeting of groups and individuals interested in developing inclusive hockey further.
Titled ‘Theme days ParaHockey and Inclusion’, the discussions included how to organise and run training sessions, provided support programmes for coaches and administrators, opportunities for different organisations to work together and share ideas and, of course, the chance for communication between different, but similarly motivated groups.
It is the aim of the DHB to encourage all clubs in Germany to offer inclusive activities. A press release on its website says: "There are so many possibilities to support the growth of ParaHockey and establish a range of possibilities and choices for people with handicaps in every sport. Hockey is a brilliant sport to train individual skills and the hockey family has the strength to encourage development."
The Euro ParaHockey Championships will take place 17 – 20 August, 2017 in Amsterdam as part of the EuroHockey Championships 2017.
Turkish success
Turkey is a country with more than its fair share of issues, but in the sphere of hockey it is making progress. A seminar on indoor hockey was held last year and was attended by more than 250 coaches, umpires, club managers and players. This year, Turkey entered the Hockey World League Round 1 where the men finished third and the women finished fifth.
The indoor hockey seminar received Olympic Solidarity funding and was organised and run by the Turkish Hockey Federation. As in West Africa and Oceania, this development work in Turkey is part of the FIH Targeted Assistance Programme (TAP).
FIH is working with the Turkish Hockey Federation, the European Hockey Federation (EHF) and Netherlands National Association - KNHB – on developing a long-term strategy to build a good participation base for hockey, both indoors and outdoors in the southern European country.
Speaking of this seminar, the Turkish Hockey Federation President, Kıvanç Hudogan, said: “From feedback received, the Education and Development seminar had a great attendance and was really beneficial. Without doubt it has accelerated the progress of hockey development in Turkey.”
This year Turkey men have moved up the FIH World Rankings from 51st to 46th, while the women are ranked at 36th.
Hockey for Heroes
“These guys are really something, we know we sacrifice a lot to be hockey players, so we understand a little of what they go through, but they are truly inspirational."
George Pinner, the Great Britain goalkeeper shakes his head in admiration as he talks about his role as ambassador to the Hockey for Heroes movement.
Hockey for Heroes came into existence in 2012, when a squad was formed comprising a number of military and ex-military personnel who all rally for the cause. The movement is an off-shoot of charity Help for Heroes who raise money to help injured and fallen military personnel. The funds raised help run a series of country-wide recovery centres, all focused heavily on the role sport can play.
The Hockey for Heroes team uses hockey-based challenges to raise funds for Help for Heroes. In 2013, the squad took on an inaugural tour, which encompassed 26 matches in seven days; in 2014 they took part in a tough mudder adventure race, then ran up Mount Snowdon before playing two hockey matches; and their most recent challenge saw them play 33 matches in 10 days, while completing the three peaks challenge [climbing the three highest peaks in the UK, Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike].
In 2017, the ambition is even greater – a 200 mile hike between the national stadium in Wales to the National Hockey Centre in London, playing a number of matches along the way, all while carrying a man on a stretcher.
Great Britain men’s involvement with Hockey for Heroes was instigated by team manager Andy Halliday, a longtime supporter of the charity.
"I was a member of the police force for 15 years," explains Halliday. "I have an affinity with and a huge admiration for these guys who give their all to serve their country.”
Gary Ryder, Managing Director of Hockey for Heroes, added: “We hope the link between hockey for heroes and the GB hockey team is a long one. Our aim is to support our charity but it's also to promote hockey as a sport.” For more information about Hockey for Heroes, click here.
For more information about hockey in Europe, visit the European Hockey Federation website by clicking here.
FIH site