News for 21 March 2018
All the news for Wednesday 21 March 2018
2018 Test Matches: ESP v GER (W) - 1st Test
Malaga (ESP)
ESP - GER 2 - 2
FIH Match Centre
England's women finalise Commonwealth Games squad
Suzy Petty
England have finalised their squad for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games after announcing 16 athletes on Thursday last week.
Unfortunately recent injuries to Lily Owsley, Shona McCallin and Nic White mean they will miss the games and have been replaced by Emily Defroand, Jo Hunter and Suzy Petty. The trio will all be competing at the Commonwealth Games for the first time.
Head coach Danny Kerry said “We are all incredibly sympathetic to Lily, Shona and Nic, it is a real bitter blow for them given the fantastic nature of the Commonwealth Games.
As always this presents an opportunity to other athletes, and we are obviously delighted to have Emily, Jo and Suzy available and we look forward to them taking the opportunity it presents to them."
England begin their campaign against South Africa on April 5 before taking on Wales, India and Malaysia in pool A.
England Squad:
Giselle Ansley (Surbiton)
Grace Balsdon (Canterbury)
Sophie Bray (Kampong)
Alex Danson (Clifton Robinsons)
Emily Defroand (Surbiton)
Sarah Haycroft (Surbiton)
Maddie Hinch (Stichtse)
Jo Hunter (Surbiton)
Kathryn Lane (Leicester)
Hannah Martin (Surbiton)
Hollie Pearne-Webb (Surbiton)
Suzy Petty (Wimbledon)
Ellie Rayer (East Grinstead)
Amy Tennant (East Grinstead)
Anna Toman (Wimbledon)
Susannah Townsend (Canterbury)
Laura Unsworth (East Grinstead)
Ellie Watton (Holcombe)
England Hockey Board Media release
England women call-ups after Olympic trio injured
By The Hockey Paper
Wimbledon’s Suzy Petty has won seven England caps
England women have been dealt a blow ahead of the Commonwealth Games after three Rio golden girls were ruled out from travelling to the Gold Coast.
England’s two attacking players Shona McCallin and Nicola White failed in their late bid to be fit ahead of Saturday’s departure to Australia.
McCallin suffered concussion during the recent tour to Argentina, while White, who has overcome an ankle injury, picked up concussion during a friendly game against Ireland last week.
Meanwhile, Lily Owsley’s omission was also only realised last week when she injured her hand during the friendly against Ireland.
Coach Danny Kerry said: “We are all incredibly sympathetic to Lily, Shona and Nic, it is a real bitter blow for them given the fantastic nature of the Commonwealth Games.”
It means that England’s 16-strong squad will be supplemented by the additions of Emily Defroand and Jo Hunter, who both played in last summer’s EuroHockey bronze-winning side, and Suzy Petty, who has seven England caps.
Kerry added: “As always this presents an opportunity to other athletes, and we are obviously delighted to have Emily, Jo and Suzy available and we look forward to them taking the opportunity it presents to them.”
England begin their campaign against South Africa on April 5 before taking on Wales, India and Malaysia in pool A.
Both England squads depart for the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Meanwhile in international news, it has been reported that former Pakistan cricket skipper Shahid Afridi would pay for the medical treatment of Mansoor Ahmed, the former hockey goalkeeper.
Ahmed, the hero of Pakistan’s 1994 World Cup victory, has been suffering a heart ailment, with his heart functioning at a reported 20 per cent. He has been advised to travel abroad for an operation, with Afridi’s foundation paying for treatment.
OPRO has announced the renewal of its official partnership agreement with England and GB Hockey for another three years across the national set-up.
The Hockey Paper
Repton win 2018 English Investec Girls' U18 Schools Championship
Repton win 2018 Investec Girls' U18 Schools Championship
Repton are the 2018 Investec Girls’ U18 Schools champions after beating Cranleigh in a tense final at Nottingham Hockey Centre.
A 28th minute penalty corner strike from captain Hannah Davey was enough for the defending champions to retain their title in a game where chances came at a premium.
Cranleigh fought hard throughout and had three penalty corners themselves in the final minute but were not able to convert them.
Elsewhere Millfield took home the bronze medal after beating Framlingham College 2-0 in the play-off for third.
With all the fixtures condensed into a single day due to the snow, Repton eased through their group, starting with a 4-0 win over Dean Close before they defeated Framlingham 3-1 and St. Peter’s York 5-0, Maddy Wray netting a hat-trick in the latter.
Cranleigh enjoyed similar dominance in Pool B as they did not concede a goal on their way to three victories, firstly defeating Oakham 3-0 before dispatching Sedburgh to the tune of four with Surbiton’s Izzy Petter bagging her own hat-trick. A narrow 1-0 win over five-time champions Millfield then followed in a winner-takes-all affair to qualify for the showpiece event.
The final itself also proved to be an affair where one goal was enough to win as both sides struggled to break each other down, although it was Repton who had the upper hand in the first half, with Cranleigh ‘keeper Millie Regan forced into a smart save from a corner.
There was nothing she could do to keep out Davey’s strike eight minutes into the second half however, a goal that was to prove crucial as the Repton defence then held firm to ensure they won their third consecutive U18 title.
England Hockey Board Media release
UNDER 16: Johor boys look good
by Jugjet Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor boys held defending champions Perak to a goalless draw in Group A, to indicate that they are a team to be reckoned with in the Malaysian National Under-16 tournament.
Playing at the National Hockey Stadium, Johor soaked in all the pressure from Perak and relied on counter-attacks but failed at the last attempt.
The draw saw Perak top Group A on 10 points, while Johor have seven points with a match against Perlis in hand.
Both the teams, as well as Pahang and Kuala Lumpur from Group C have qualified for the medal rounds.
Penang and Malacca look like the best bets to qualify from Group B.
A fresh draw will be conducted today (Wednesday) for a new grouping with three each in two groups. These six teams will be playing for honours.
"Johor is basically made up with boys from Datuk Bentara Luar (School) in Batu Pahat and we have been training for the past two months for this tournament.
"Last year we ended sixth, and now we are looking at a medal performance," said Johor coach Nor Affazly Abdul Gaffar.
And after the Under-16, the boys will compete in Division One of the Junior Hockey League (JHL) with funding and coaching expertise from Universti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).
RESULTS: Boys Group A: Johor 0 Perak 0, Perlis 1 Sarawak 0; Group B: Selangor 3 Terengganu 1.
Girls Group A: Perlis 0 Kuala Lumpur 4; Group C: Johor 2 Selangor 1, Perak 1 Terengganu 2.
WEDNESDAY: Boys -- Group A: Johor v Perlis (5pm, Pitch I), Negri Sembilan v Sarawak (6.30pm, Pitch I); Group B: Selangor v Penang (5pm, Pitch II).
Girls Group B: Penang v Sabah (7.30am, Pitch I), Sarawak v Malacca (8.45am, Pitch II).
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
UNDER 16: Velappan sees improvements
by Jugjet Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: 1Mas chief boys coach S. Velappan said the quality of play has improved tremendously in the ongoing Malaysian National Under-16 tournament as compared to previous years.
There is better preparation from states, the boys have better basis skills and even the coaches employ cunning tactics at this age-group level.
"Most of these boys have gone through the various 1Mas programmes at their states and compared to previous years, I can see vast improvement in many areas.
"The top six boys teams like Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Johor, Penang and Malacca are playing at a maturity level is also better team work, commitment and tactics employed in the ongoing tournament," said Velappan.
The 1Mas programme was started by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) in 2010 with an objective to widen the base and pool of young players in the country.
While it did not work out in some states, many other states are still strongly involved with the MHC programme.
"After this tournament we will select 27 players to be called up for various camps and programmes to make them better. The core group of youth are presently with the Project 2020 team coached by Nor Saiful Zaini, while this Under-16 group will be coached as the second wave of youth talent for the nation," said Velappan.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
PHF Extending Full Support to Mansoor Ahmed
Pakistan Hockey Federation is trying to help ailing national hero Mansoor Ahmed in all the possible ways.
Former Pakistan captain and legendary goal keeper Mansoor has been battling a deteriorating heart condition for quite some time. PHF has paid for his outstanding dues, amounting to Rs three hundred thousand, at the hospital where he remained admitted recently. In addition, the federation has sent a cheque of Rs half a million to Mansoor’s mother.
On federation’s request, the Prime Minister’s office has already contacted Mansoor’s family to inquire about the requirements relating to his treatment. Director General Pakistan Sports Board has also been requested to help the great player who played heroic role in Pakistan hockey’s last two big victories, World Cup 1994 and the Champions Trophy 1994.
PHF’s representatives remain in constant touch with Mansoor’s family and also visit him quite often.
PHF Media release
The Breakaway with Marsha Cox
by Tyron “Jabu” Barnard
We had a little chat with Marsha around what’s been keeping her busy since she decided to hang up her stick.
South African hockey has been blessed with some incredible players over the years. These players have broken world records, become household names and endeared themselves to the South African public. In our newest feature, The Breakaway, SA Hockey will be catching up with former national players and finding out what exactly they have been up to since calling an end to their careers. We couldn’t think of a better player to start with than former captain Marsha Cox.
In 2015 South African legend Marsha Cox hung up her stick and retired from international hockey. From her debut in 2001 aged only 18 to her 330th cap in 2015, there was never a time that South Africa as a nation got anything other than world class service from our world superstar. Marsha’s career encompassed three Olympic Games, three Hockey World Cups, and Four Commonwealth Games. Marsha was also recognised globally being nominated for the FIH World XI three times, in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
“Being a mum, work and being co-chair of the FIH Athletes committee as the athlete’s rep on the FIH officials Committee and African Hockey Athletes Rep and board member keep me busy these days” shared Marsha. Marsha has served on the committee since she was elected in 2014 and was appointed as the co-chair in 2016, where she also sits on the officials committee and the responsibility does not end there: “I sometimes step in if Annie (Panter) cannot attend Board meetings and I am also the athlete’s representative on the Hockey Pro League management panel”
Marsha has also been involved in work with the International Olympic Committee which started when Thomas Bach invited her to be part of an athlete’s group with the launch of agenda 2020 way back in 2014: “Since then I was invited to the IOC athletes forum in 2015 and attended the IOC athletes forum again last year as the FIH representative. I am also a member of the IOC steering committee alongside Penny Heynes and the other representatives across the globe and across a number of sporting codes. The steering committee will be establishing an Athletes charter of rights.”
Of course, the game of hockey is still incredibly close for Marsha as her husband Alexander coaches Kampong in the Hoofdklasse and last year won their first title for 32 years. “Being close to hockey, that’s the massive advantage of the Dutch hockey culture of going to watch the Hoofdklasse every week and staying close to the game and players while supporting my husband’s team!” They have also welcomed a child into their lives, which Marsha perfectly describes as “really exciting but busy at times”
I asked Marsha if there was one hockey memory that stood out for her in her career, “there are so many, to be honest, but one of my all-time favourites is our Olympic qualifier in India in 2012. Winning that tournament will never be forgotten but just the whole story about why we were there, how we go there and what we achieved under challenging conditions was just incredible.”
Of course, Marsha has also been keen on giving back and recently was involved in an initiative with the Drakensberg Dragons kit collections and Greenwood primary school. “It’s a kind of long story but was actually two initiatives that came together. One being the Dragon Drive on the back of the PHL and the other being my own initiative to revive and help elevate the hockey at my primary school in Durban, Greenwood Park Primary. Together with the help of Wayne Phillips (Riverside Hockey Club – the club of Marsha’s youth before the merger) the two initiatives came together nicely and will helpfully grow with Riverside Hockey Club too!” You can read all about the handover of equipment here – http://sports24seven.co.za/sa-hockey-heroes-team-up-with-rhc-to-uplift-and-empower-kids-at-greenwood-park-primary/
As the topic of the Premier League came up as we discussed the Drakensburg Dragons Drive, I asked Marsha for her thoughts on the PHL and its role in South African hockey. “I think that it’s great! I think it has the potential to grow into something similar to the AHL or the NZHL and it would be great to see grow to the point that the occasional international guest player could be involved. I would love to see it grow and get more backing from supporters and corporates.”
Marsha herself participated in four Commonwealth Games and is quite excited about some of the young talents in the South African squad heading to the Gold Coast and singled out Kristen Paton and Ongi Mali for praise. “I think they both present a very promising future for the team. I also am looking forward to seeing some of the players who I played with that have grown immensely since I stopped like Candice Manuel!”
As our conversation headed towards its completion I had to ask Marsha what her plans for 2018 were, “2018 is an exciting year with the World Cup and our role as the athlete's committee to support the next AC elections. I will also continue to be involved with the IOC steering committee as well as all the other committees too! I hope to help support the first African athlete’s committee election in 2018! Well in my personal life I’m looking forward to the summer with the husband and the little one while trying to keep fit as well (I run my first half-marathon this weekend!)”
One thing is for sure, Marsha was well known for giving her full go on the field and there is no stopping that effort or determination on the field! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us Marsha and good luck for the big year ahead!
The Breakaway is written for SA Hockey by Tyron “Jabu” Barnard (@TyronBarnard)
SA Hockey Association media release
Hockey heroes handover hockey collection to Greenwood Park Primary
The handover of the collected kit was spearheaded by a former learner at the school and former SA Ladies Hockey Captain, Marsha Cox, and current SA men’s hockey captain, Tim Drummond.
Greenwood Park Primary school learners getting ready for the hockey season using their newly donated equipment. Principal Ian Africa and SA Hockey men's captain, Tim Drummond with delighted learners, Nandi Mkhize, Tariq Mohamed, Jadine Fraai and Lee Ogle.
THERE were cheers aplenty last week as Riverside Hockey Club and South African hockey player Tim Drummond handed over a collection of hockey kits to learners at Greenwood Park Primary School. The handover of the collected kit was spearheaded by a former learner at the school and former SA Ladies Hockey Captain, Marsha Cox, and current SA men’s hockey captain, Tim Drummond.
Cox, who regularly keeps up to date with her old school maintains that through hockey so many doors have been opened to her.
“I know how vital sport can be in not only offering kids opportunities to live healthier lives but just the opportunity to experience new things, be it challenges or the experience of making friends. It’s this opportunity that we want to offer the kids from Greenwood Park Primary.
“Through my hockey career I have met and made so many friends from different backgrounds, communities and countries that I would have never had the chance of meeting any other way. Ideally through this gesture of donating kit, I hope that at some point down the line some of these kids will get to experience it too,” Cox said.
The sizeable donation of the hockey kit was collected during the PHL 2017 season by the Drakensberg Dragons, which Tim Drummond played for, with the intention of giving back to the sport and communities in need. It was through having discussions with a fellow former Riverside Hockey Club and SA player – Marsha Cox – about her existing project to develop and nurture talent at her former school that the decision was made to donate all collected gear to these children in need.
The donation was also welcomed by school principal, Ian Africa.
Riverside Hockey Club’s (RHC) Caryn Bentley-Springate who played with Marsha at club level, and who heads up the mini hockey division for the Durban North club, re-affirmed RHC’s commitment to assist with growing the sport at Greenwood Park Primary.
“We hope this much needed donation and Riverside Hockey Club’s offer to create a sustainable way of coaching hockey will result in another one of our pupils becoming a SA hockey and sporting legend, just like Marsha,” said Bentley-Springate.
Northglen News
St Joseph’s Kibwezi in search of happy ending
By Elizabeth Mburugu
St Joseph Kibwezi's Defender Anne Mwikali console her colleague Goalkeeper Josephine Kasanga after losing to Moi Girls 1-0 during the Metropolitan games held at Laiser Hill school on friday, March 25 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD.
St Joseph’s Girls Secondary School Kibwezi are on a mission to retain their regional hockey title.
The Makueni County students launch their defence today, when the Eastern Region Secondary Schools Term One Games begin at Kangaru School, Embu.
Hosts Kangaru will also be out to defend their rugby 15s and basketball titles, while Meru School and Kirigara will defend the boys’ hockey and girls’ basketball titles respectively.
St Joseph’s, who finished fifth in last year’s national games, are determined to impress this year. Exuding confidence, coach Gabriel Ndunga said after they accomplish their mission at the regionals, they will focus on securing a ticket to the East Africa games.
“Without a doubt, we will retain the regional title. Our aim is to play at the East Africa games and my girls are determined to achieve that goal,” Ndunga said.
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They are in Group D together with Embu champions Gategi, Tala and Waita Girls. Last year’s finalists, Moi Marsabit, who lost to St Joseph’s 3-0 in the final, are in Group C alongside Kiundwani of Machakos, Barazani of Makueni and Kianjuki of Embu.
Group A has Kibirichia (Meru), Muthambi Girls (Tharaka Nithi) and St Ann’s Kiriari of Embu.
The Standard Online
Qualified Umpires & Technical Officials Wanted For 2018 Masters World Cup
Alexie Beovich
The International Masters Hockey Association is seeking qualified umpires and technical officials for the 2018 Masters World Cup.
The Masters World Cup (>35 up to < 60 years of age) will be held in Terrassa, Spain between 27 July and 5 August 2018.
This event will be the largest ever with some 145 teams registered to participate in the competition.
As you can imagine, this requires an enormous number of umpires and technical officials to ensure the success of the event.
The IMHA is urgently seeking qualified umpires and technical officials to assist with the event.
Can you help? Would you like to be part of the 2018 IMHA World Cup in Terrassa?
For further information or to express an interest, please contact HA Women’s Masters Council, National Program Coordinator, Linda Hunter This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call on 0419 719 885.
Appointment of officials must be finalised by COB Friday 23rd March 2018.
Hockey Australia media release