News for 11 September 2018
All the news for Tuesday 11 September 2018
USWNT Set to Face Top 15 Ranked Opponents at Four Nations Women's Ibaraki International Tournament in Japan
OSAKA, Japan - Starting Wednesday, the U.S. Women's National Team is set to face Top 15 Hero FIH World Ranked opponents at the Sompo Cup Four Nations Women's Ibaraki International Tournament in Osaka, Japan. This round robin event will take place from September 12-16 with the USWNT opening with No. 10 Korea followed by host nation No. 14 Japan on Thursday before taking on No. 3 Australia on Saturday.
Four Nations Women’s Ibaraki International Tournament Schedule:
Wednesday, September 12 USA vs. Korea 3:30 a.m. ET
Thursday, September 13 USA vs. Japan 5:30 a.m. ET
Saturday, September 15 USA vs. Australia 1:00 a.m. ET
Sunday, September 16 TBD TBD
Japan Hockey Association will live stream each game online for free. A link to view will be provided before the game on the official event page.
Kind of an unfamiliar opponent, the last time No. 12 USA met No. 10 Korea was this past November at the 2017 Sentinel Homes Hockey World League Final in Auckland, New Zealand. A second quarter goal for USA was equalized late in the fourth by Korea as the opening match finished in a 1-1 tie. Prior to that it was twice at the 2013 Four Nations Invitational Tournament in Hamilton, New Zealand where they split results and the 2015 Hawke's Bay Cup in Hastings, New Zealand where Korea prevailed 1-0.
USA and No. 14 Japan have faced off four times since 2017. The first two came in April 2017 at the Hawke's Bay Cup where Japan took the first match 2-1, but USA triumphed in the second meeting to win 4-1. Next they met in July at the 2017 FIH Hockey World League Semifinals in Johannesburg, South Africa in the quarterfinal round. USA played solid collective defense to secure the 1-0 victory on their way to gold at the event. Finally, they saw each other at a pre-Sentinel Homes Hockey World League Final round robin event, the Melbourne Four Nations, in November. The score line finished locked at zeroes.
Since 2016, USA and Australia competed against one another a total of nine times. The most notable match-ups for USA came at the 2016 Champions Trophy in London, England in the 3rd/4th place game. USA showed true fight to come back from a two-goal deficit to secure the win with a 1-0 shootout tally. This momentum carried over to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where USA upset higher ranked Australia 2-1.
Four Nations Women’s Ibaraki International Tournament Roster:
Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.), Catherine Caro (Martinsville, N.J.), Anna Dessoye (Mountaintop, Pa.), Ali Froede (Burke, Va.), Jill Funk (Lancaster, Pa.), Laura Hurff (Newark, Del.), Jess Jecko (Sauquoit, N.Y.), Amanda Magadan (Randolph, N.J.), Alyssa Manley (Lititz, Pa.), Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.), Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.), Kealsie Robles (Seaford, Va.), Caitlin Van Sickle (Wilmington, Del.), Carissa Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Taylor West (Princess Anne, Md.), Nicole Woods (Beverly, Mass.), Julia Young (Yorktown, Va.)
For more information regarding the Sompo Cup Four Nations Women’s Ibaraki International Tournament, including full schedule, check out the official event page by clicking here.
#SompoCup
USFHA media release
Olympic Focus Begins For Hockeyroos In Japan
Ben Somerford.JPG)
Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin says the Four Nations Tournament which starts in Osaka on Wednesday is about commencing the side’s preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Australia (ranked third in the world) will play against South Korea (10th), United States (12th) and hosts Japan (14th) in the Four Nations which runs from 12-16 September and will be streamed at https://sompocup-hockey-ibaraki.com.
The Hockeyroos’ opening match of the Four Nations is against Japan on Wednesday 12 September.
The event comes shortly after Australia finished fourth at the World Cup in London and gives the Hockeyroos a taste of Japanese conditions with less than two years until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin said: “It comes at a difficult time straight after the World Cup. The girls have had some time off and have only been back in training for a short period of time.
“It allows us to immerse ourselves and have a look at Japan in preparation for Tokyo.
“We get to play some good opposition. We play the Asian champions, Japan, and South Korea who are a very good side and the US who are always good but rebuilding.
“On top of that, we want to explore our way of play, change some things in order for us to be flexible going into Tokyo.
“We need to discuss more about how to play and not only have one way of playing.”
The Hockeyroos travelled from Osaka to Tokyo on Monday, visiting some of the facilities for the 2020 Olympics.
“It’s about immersing in a foreign country and understanding what it’s going to feel like,” Gaudoin said.
“Obviously the Olympic Village is very separate but around that the Japanese culture is very different to ours and we want to make sure we have a good feel of what might be around, so there’s fewer surprises for us in two years’ time. This gives us an opportunity to do that two years out.”
Follow @Hockeyroos on Twitter for match updates and @HockeyroosOfficial on Instagram throughout the Four Nations.
The Japan Hockey Association will live stream each game online, via this link: https://sompocup-hockey-ibaraki.com.
Victorian pair Sophie Taylor and Hayley Padget and ACT’s Naomi Evans will make their debuts during the tournament, while SA’s Jane Claxton (150 games) and Queensland’s Stephanie Kershaw (50 games) will bring up milestones.
Hockeyroos team for Four Nations:
Athlete (Hometown, State):
Jocelyn Bartram (Albury, NSW)
Kristina Bates (Mont Albert, VIC)
Edwina Bone (Orange, NSW) *Plays for ACT
Lily Brazel (Sydney, NSW) *Plays for VIC
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA)
Naomi Evans (Goulburn, NSW) *Plays for ACT
Ashlea Fey (Sunshine Coast, QLD)
Madison Fitzpatrick (Cabarita Beach, NSW) *Plays for QLD
Savannah Fitzpatrick (Cabarita Beach, NSW) *Plays for QLD
Stephanie Kershaw (Townsville, QLD)
Ambrosia Malone (Burleigh, QLD)
Georgina Morgan (Armidale, NSW)
Hayley Padget (Doncaster, VIC)
Mikaela Patterson (Blackbutt, NSW)
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW)
Renee Taylor (Everton Park, QLD)
Sophie Taylor (Camberwell, VIC)
Ashlee Wells (Morwell, VIC)
Match Schedule:
Wednesday 12 September 2018 5:30pm AEST – South Korea v USA
Wednesday 12 September 2018 7:30pm AEST – Japan v Australia
Thursday 13 September 2018 5:30pm AEST – Australia v South Korea
Thursday 13 September 2018 7:30pm AEST – Japan v USA
Saturday 15 September 2018 3pm AEST – Australia v USA
Saturday 15 September 2018 5pm AEST – Japan v South Korea
Sunday 16 September 2018 2:45pm AEST – Third place play-off
Sunday 16 September 2018 5pm AEST – Final
Hockey Australia media release
PAHF announces teams qualified for 2019 Pan American Games
2019 Pan American Games - Lima, Peru
Following the conclusion of the South American (ODESUR) Games in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) can announce the teams qualified for the 2019 Pan American Games, to be held in Lima, Peru, from July 26 to August 11 2019.
In accordance with the Qualification Procedure published in November 2015, eight teams qualified for the men’s competition and eight teams qualified for the women’s competition.
The Teams that qualified for the men’s competition are:
- Peru (host)
- Argentina (1st at the 2018 South American Games in Cochabamba)
- Chile (2nd at the 2018 South American Games in Cochabamba)
- Cuba (1st at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla)
- Mexico (2nd at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla)
- Canada (2nd at the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
- USA (3rd at the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
- Trinidad & Tobago (4th at the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
First reserve for the men’s competition is Brazil (5th at the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
The Teams that qualified for the women’s competition are:
- Peru (host)
- Argentina (1st at the 2018 South American Games in Cochabamba)
- Uruguay (2nd at the 2018 South American Games in Cochabamba)
- Cuba (1st at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla)
- Mexico (2nd at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla)
- Chile (2nd 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
- USA (3rd At the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
- Canada (4th At the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
First reserve for the women’s competition is Brazil (7th at the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster)
The hockey competitions of the 2019 Pan American Games will be played on the new pitches at the Centro Deportivo de Villa Maria del Triunfo to be inaugurated later this year.
In both competitions, the winners will earn an automatic berth for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. It should be noted that only the respective winner can qualify through the Pan American Games: If the winner also qualifies for the Olympic Games through another channel (World Series, Pro League), the runner up in the Pan American Games does not automatically inherit the qualification berth.
PAHF is now finalizing the list of Technical Officials appointed for the 2019 Pan American Games. They will be announced by December 2018.
For more information on the PAHF competitions and programs, please visit the Pan American Hockey Federation web site at www.panamhockey.org
The Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) is recognized by the FIH as the governing continental federation for all field hockey in the Pan American region. There are 29 member Nations of the PAHF. For more information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
SPAR South Africa named to take on Namibia
The South African Hockey Association have released the names of the 12 players who will play for SPAR South Africa in a 5 match test series at Danville Girls High School in Durban. It will be a massive series for both teams as it’s the first indoor hockey that Namibia have played since the Indoor Hockey World Cup, while SPAR South Africa are on the back of a superb 15 match winning run since they drew the final of the African Qualifier last year.
The SPAR South African team, although on a tremendous run that included the Croatian Cup title, are still in a rebuilding phase with all eyes looking towards the next World Cup. With that in mind they have called up three new caps to the team. Alex Kavanagh, who played for the St. Lucia Lakers at the CTM Premier Hockey League, is given her first opportunity. Another Under 21 player that just played in the Under 21 IPT with Kavanagh, Jessica Lardant is also given a chance to play senior international indoor hockey for the first time for South Africa. The third new cap is no stranger to SA Hockey fans as she has already played more than 100 outdoor test matches for South Africa, Lilian du Plessis, who was the top scorer at last year’s indoor IPT, offers coach Lennie Botha a lethal goal scoring striker.
There is also a recall for Amy Greaves who will add to her 37 caps for SPAR South Africa, while the impressive Edith Molikoe, who was a star in the Zimbabwe series, gets to add to her 5 caps. Robyn Johnson and Eloise Walters are both retained up front from the Zimbabwe series and in goals Cheree Greyvenstein and Zimi Shange will continue to battle it out for the role of keeper.
Amore de Wet, arguably one of South Africa’s top performers in Zimbabwe, is once again going to be called on to form a defensive partnership with senior player Jessica O’Connor. SPAR South Africa will also continue to be led by the inspirational Cindy Hack, who will be excited to take on Namibia again.
The team will be under the guidance of Lennie Botha, fast approaching 100 international indoor test matches, video analyst Bright Mashaba and the manager for this series will be Karen Bowyer.
The five-match series will be played over three days at Danville Park Girls School in Durban North and we are looking forward to hosting international indoor hockey in front of a packed crowd once again.
First Test: Thursday 4 October – 18:00
Second Test: Friday 5 October – 10:00
Third Test: Friday 5 October – 18:00
Fourth Test: Saturday 6 October – 10:00
Fifth Test: Saturday 6 October – 18:00
SPAR South Africa Squad for Namibia Test Series (Caps in Brackets)
No, Name, Province, Caps
1, Alex Kavanagh, Southern Gauteng, 0
2, Amore de Wet, North West, 29
3, Amy Greaves, KZN Inland, 37
4, Cheree Greyvenstein (GK), SPAR KZN Raiders, 14
5, Cindy Hack (C), SPAR KZN Raiders, 67
6, Edith Molikoe, Eastern Province, 5
7, Eloise Walters, KZN Inland, 33
8, Jess Lardant, SPAR KZN Raiders, 0
9, Jess O’Connor, SPAR KZN Raiders, 65
10, Lilian du Plessis, Southern Gauteng, 0
11, Robyn Johnson, Southern Gauteng, 10
12, Zimi Shange (GK), SPAR KZN Raiders, 5
Team Staff
Lennie Botha (Coach)
Brighty Mashaba (Video Analyst)
Karen Bowyer (Manager)
SA Hockey Association media release
Gurjant Singh 'tricks in ONGC’s win over Railways
Indian Army fights past Central Secretariat
K. Keerthivasan
Out of my way! Rajnath about to score Indian Army’s third goal. Photo Credit: K_Pichumani
Being dropped from the 2018 Asian Games squad did not leave Gurjant Singh despondent. Instead, he has been busy ironing out his weaknesses and seeking ways to improve his game.
In a crucial Pool A match against Indian Railways in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup 92nd all-India hockey tournament here on Monday, the 23-year-old showed that he is on the right track, scoring a hat-trick (the tournament’s first) as ONGC posted an impressive 4-3 win.
With two victories and a draw, ONGC will meet Indian Army on September 12, and a win will ensure it tops the pool.
Earlier, in another Pool A contest, Indian Army put it across Central Secretariat 3-2.
The Railways-ONGC was the match of the tournament so far. As far as tactics and strategy were concerned, there was little to choose between the two. Both attacked with vigour and intensity and defended well.
Going into the break with each team scoring a goal through Rajin Kandulna (Railways) and Gurjant (ONGC), one expected a cracker of a contest in the second. And it turned out to be one.
Sayyad Niyaz Rahim and Harsahib Khan scored two stunning goals for Railways in two minutes — one a forehander from the left and the other a backhander from the right — and it looked like it could well be difficult for the defending champion to make a comeback.
Gurjant reduced the margin with a fine hit from the centre of the circle that touched the roof. Mandeep Antil deflected a low ball from the right to equalise.
With the clock ticking away, and only few seconds remaining for the hooter, Gurjant completed the hat-trick by placing the ball neatly into the net off a cross from the right by Mandeep.
Indian Army is here with an experimental team comprising six newcomers. The triumph was definitely a good effort.
Army had more circle penetrations and dominated most of the match. With two losses and a victory, Army has an uphill task to qualify.
The results:
Pool A: ONGC 4 (Gurjant Singh 9, 45 & 70, Mandeep Antil 67) bt Indian Railways 3 (Rajin Kandulna 2, Sayyad Niyaz Rahim 41, Harsahib Singh 43).
Pool B: Indian Army 3 (Sukhdeep Singh 28, Sanjay Toppo 41, Rajnath 66) bt Central Secretariat 2 (Pawan Kumar 52 & 68).
The Hindu
Genestet’s super six on opening day for Saint Germain
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Martin Genestet scored a sensational six times as Saint Germain started the new French season with an 8-2 win for the French champions over Amiens.
It came in addition to goals from Guillaume Deront and Kevin Mercurio as they got their campaign rolling in some style against the newly promoted opponent.
Saint Ger have seen key man Hugo Genestet move to Daring in Belgium this season but showed up well in their opening salvo for the season.
Their big rivals Racing Club de France also scored a big win on the opening day with Christophe Peters-Deutz scoring a hat trick against Wattignies.
17-year-old Hugo Galipo has stepped up, scoring another as did Amaury Bellenger. Theirs is a much-changed squad from last season with Francois Scheefer returning to his old club, Bordeaux.
They will play in EHL ROUND1 in October where they are in a group with both Three Rock Rovers and Spanish side Junior FC.
CA Montrouge were the other winners on the day, winning 3-1 at Stade Francais. The other games were 1-1 draws as Lille and Polo HCM tied as did Valenciennes and last year’s finalists FC Lyon.
Euro Hockey League media release
Junior stick five past Jolaseta to start EHL build-up in top form
Junior FC started their new Spanish league season with an excellent 5-0 win over RC Jolaseta with Alex Gil scoring twice at Sant Cugat.
Early on, a pair of chances from Nil Marí and Marc Serrahima were kept out by the visitors with Rafa Álvarez in goal impressing. Jolaseta did have their chances via Kurt Leopold and Cesc Mata.
Gil broke the deadlock in the 18th minute for the only goal of the first half and he was on the mark once again just before the end of the third quarter.
Mauro Coria put the game out of sight with a lovely near post touch from a cross in from the left and Gaby Dabanch and Lukas Plochy added further gloss to the scoreline in the closing minutes.
Junior are currently looking forward to their first EHL appearance in October where they have been placed in a group with Irish champions Three Rock Rovers and French side Racing Club de France.
Elsewhere, Club Egara won an historic derby match against Linia 22 who are in the top tier for the first time, making it four teams from Terrassa in the Honor Division.
Ton Torrente gave Linia 22 the lead in the 17th minute but goals from Pol Gispert and Gerard Clapes turned things around at half-time at 2-1. Marc de la Maza made it level once again but David Aura and Josep Romeu’s corner in the final quarter saw Egara prevail 4-2.
Real Club de Polo also started with a win with young Tomás Terradas netting both of their goals in a 2-1 win away at CD Terrassa at Les Pedritxes. Atletic Terrassa beat RS Tenis 5-0 while Club de Campo were too strong for FC Barcelona 4-1.
Euro Hockey League media release
Butali humiliate Western Jaguars to go 12 points clear
By AYUMBA AYODI
Butali Sugar players celebrates there first goal against Park Road during Kenya Hockey Union premier league match on June 3, 2017 at City Park Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The 2016 champions Butali Sugar Warriors established a 12 points cushion at the summit of the men’s hockey Premier League with a 6-0 hiding of Western Jaguars in Kakamega last weekend.
The victory by Butali Sugar now puts defending champions Kenya Police, who have not been in action for three weeks now, under pressure to catch up.
Butali Sugar, who have 14 wins and one loss, top the 12-team league with 42 points while Police are second with 30 points from 10 wins and a loss.
Greensharks are third with 24 points followed by Wazalendo on 22 while Strathmore and Nairobi Simba are level on 19 points each but the Simba has a superior goal difference.
Police, who had written to Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) to be exempted from initial stage of the second leg owing to financial constraints, resume action next weekend with a show down against Western Jaguars and United States International University (USIU).
The free-scoring George Mutira, who is the leading scorer in the league, notched a hat- trick of goals as Butali Sugar led 2-0 at the break.
It’s Frank Wanangwe who put Butali ahead when he converted from the spot in the 24th minute before Mutira’s field goal five minutes later. The third quarter proved water-tight for both teams with no scores forthcoming.
HAT TRICK
Mutira would then go for his second goal in the 49th minute before Barnabas Odhiambo’s sizzling field goal a minute later made it four. Sensational Zack Aura made it five from field goal in the 56th minute before Mutira sealed his hat trick two minutes to full time.
Mutira now leads the scoring chats with 22 goals while Strathmore University Gladiators’ skipper Festus Onyango is second with 13 goals followed by Amos Barkibir of Police with 10.
“I just thank God for the good health and wonderful teammates, who have been supportive since I joined them this season,” said Mutira, who was signed from Chase Sailors for the season. “Everything is working out for me and it feels good.”
The 29-year-old Mutira said he is determined to help Butali recapture the Premier League title this season. “The league title will just be a bonus…we want that Africa crown,” affirmed Mutira.
Strathmore University Gladiators recovered from a previous 3-1 defeat by Greensharks to hand Kenya College of Accountancy-University (KCA-U) a 3-0 defeat in the only other men’s Premier League duel last weekend.
Alpha Mwambutsi’s brace in the last quarter sealed the convincing victory for Meshak Senge’s charges.
The two sides failed to score in the first two quarters only for the Gladiators to break the deadlock just after half time from Edgar Makete’s field goal in the 34th minute.
Then Mwambutsi stepped up in the 48th minute and on the stroke of full time to put Strathmore's win beyond doubt
Meanwhile, Chase Sailors look destined to the Premier League next season despite squaring it out to a 2-2 draw with Technical University of Kenya (TUK) in a top of the table men’s Super League clash last weekend. Sailors lead with 31 points while TUK are second on 24 points.
Daily Nation
Scorpions sting Spartans to consolidate second spot
Chase Sailors cruise towards Kenyan Premier League promotion
By Elizabeth Mburugu
Chase Sailors Kelvin Barasa(l)challenges Kenyatta University Griffins Okombe when they played Premier Men at City Park, Nairobi. ON 29/07/2017(Jenipher Wachie, Standard)
Gritty bankers eager to secure return to top flight hockey after being relegated to the newly formed men’s Super League this season.
Keen on not spending another season in men’s second Division, Chase Sailors have been gradually working on their return to the Kenya Hockey Union Premier League.
The bankers were casualties after the national body split the top tier and the National League to form the Super League.
Sailors, Kenyatta University (KU) Vultures, Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and the top nine teams from last season’s National League, formed the Super League.
The other nine teams, together with newcomers Bungoma Farmers and University of Eldoret, are currently battling for an elevation to the Super League next year.
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They top men’s Super League standings with 31 points from 12 rounds of matches.
Sailors have won 10 matches, drawn once and lost once. They have also scored an impressive 34 goals and conceded 11 from their outings.
TUK are second with 24 from points from 14 matches; having won seven, drawn four and lost three.
Mvita XI , who are also seeking a return to the Premier League, are third with 18 points from eight outings, while Impala and Multimedia University (MMU) are fourth and fifth with 17 and 14 points respectively.
At the weekend, Sailors played to a 2-2 draw against MMU at City Park. Douglas Nyerere bagged a brace for Sailors, while Gideon Kimuge and Ivan Odhiambo scored one goal each for MMU.
Sailors’ goalkeeper and founder member Collins Asimba said their main objective is to return to the Premier League.
“We escaped relegation last season but are only playing in the lower league because it is newly formed and we fell victims after the number of clubs in the Premier League were reduced," said Asimba.
"When we were demoted at the beginning of the season, we set out on a promotion hunting mission and I’m glad we are on course to achieving our objectives."
In men’s Premier League title chase, former champions Butali Sugar Warriors had another successful weekend outing as they thrashed their hosts Western Jaguars 6-0 in Kakamega.
International George Mutira continued with his impressive form netting a hat-trick while Frank Wanangwe, Barnabas Odhiambo and Zack Aura scored one goal each for Butali.
The victory saw Butali move to 42 points, creating a 12-point difference between them and defending champions Kenya Police, who are second with 30 points.
Police have been missing in action and have four matches at hand. Victories in these encounters will see them restore parity between them and the 2015 winners.
Greensharks with 30 points are third, Wazalendo fourth with 24, while Nairobi Sikh Union are fifth with 22 points.
Women’s Premier League top contenders Strathmore University Scorpions edged United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Spartans 1-0 to register their sixth win of the season.
They are currently second on the log with 18 points, six less than leaders Telkom while USIU-A are third with 10 from eight rounds of matches.
The Standard Online
Asiad: Siegfried had the last laugh at Jakarta
Errol D’Cruz
Siegfried Aikman, Japan's Dutch coach of Surinamese origin, gazed at the blue artificial surface. His visage was grim but his eyes beamed with expectancy. He knew his team was right in it despite the odds in the 2018 Asian Games gold medal match against Malaysia at the GBK Hockey Field in Jakarta.
The Dutchman was dead right. Japan carved out an unbelievable victory via the shootout after trailing 2-5 deep into the fourth quarter to tie the match 6-6 with just seconds to go. A 3-1 verdict in the tie-breaker completed one of sports' greatest comebacks. Down 2-4 during the third quarter, Japan braved injury as Shota Yamada took a full-blooded smack by the ball on the back of the head. Then, first-man-out at a penalty corner Suguru Hoshi hobbled off with a knee injury. To make matters worse, Japan were reduced to 10 men three minutes into the fourth quarter when Manabu Yamashita collected a yellow card.
Aikman, however, kept the faith. His tutelage had produced many bright spots for Japan. A 3-2 win over World Cup champions Australia at the 2017 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia. And four victories over Pakistan including a 1-0 win in the Jakarta campaign which brought his team into the final.
Before that, Japan showed nerves of steel in a must-win game against South Korea to make the semifinals behind India.
They won 3-2 thereby showing resilience in recovering from a devastating 0-8 defeat to India in just the previous match.
So, during the short break before the fourth and final quarter, he spoke in a characteristic soft tone but loud enough for TV microphones to pick up: "In the next 15 minutes, you have to give everything," he said. "Make easy passes. If they (Malaysia) have the ball, you must put them under continuous pressure."
Aikman called for simplicity and his team responded in style. They already had conquered the midfield, helped to a large extent by the opponents sitting back. But on a counter-attack, Malaysia made it 5-2 with 10 minutes to go. Aikman, though, continued to look hopeful in the dugout. The Dutchman knew he had the right cog in the wheel. A forward called Kenta Tanaka. A man who could do no wrong on the day.
And he perhaps had faith in his team's enterprise. Especially at penalty corners. Japan scored two goals in the fourth quarter through the set-piece. Both delightful variations. The resurgence began with a fine field goal by Keito Tanaka in the 52nd minute to make it 3-5. The effervescent Kenta Tanaka scored his second by blasting the ball home after a fine penalty corner variation to make it 'game on' in the 53rd minute. Koji Yamasaki then equalized in the 58th minute with a stupendous deflection from a free-hit. The epic comeback seemed to go in vain. Malaysia regained the lead with less than two minutes to go with Tengku Tajuddin flicking home a penalty corner for his third goal.
But Japan, speed, verve and spirit to match, probably had Aikman's words ringing in their ears -- albeit via the interpreter's voice.
The equalizer 13 seconds from the end took the opposition completely by surprise. At a penalty corner, Japan played the drag flick deliberately wide and had the Malaysia first-man-out stranded in no-man's-land. The element of surprise vanquished Malaysia's 38-year-old stalwart in goal Kumar Subramaniam who blocked well but in vain. Ochiai gleefully slotted home to take the contest into the shootout.
The rest is a piece of history which Aikman expects his players to remember for the rest of their lives. As much as technical expertise inspired by a coach of lofty credentials in the Netherlands and with the FIH, it was spirit and belief instilled in his team by Aikman that made for an astonishing comeback. And it landed the Japanese men their first ever Asian Games gold medal to emulate their women's team who beat India 1-0 a day before.
Aikman whose lineage goes back to Lucknow and Bihar also reportedly reveres Japanese culture and the spirit of the Samurai.
His first stint with Japan ended when the campaign fell short of 2012 London Olympic qualification. Jakarta 2018 was a personal comeback as much as a fairy tale triumph by Aikman and team.
Stick2Hockey.com