News for 08 July 2019
All the news for Monday 8 July 2019
Katrina Powell To Take On Interim Assistant Coach Role For Hockeyroos
Mitch Wynd
Hockey Australia (HA) has welcomed former Hockeyroos player and current NSWIS Women’s Head Coach Katrina (Triny) Powell as Assistant Coach for the Hockeyroos for a six-week period.
Powell takes on the role while current Assistant Coach Steph Andrews is on maternity leave. Starting on August 1 and finishing on September 11, 2019 at the conclusion of the Olympic Qualifier to be played in Rockhampton, Powell will be part of the national coaching staff in Perth, responsible for delivering the Daily Training Environment (DTE) for the women’s national program.
“We’re thrilled to have Triny Powell join our team while Steph Andrews is on leave. Triny brings a lot of experience to the role and will be a really important part of our team. As an Assistant Coach she will be part of the leadership team taking the Hockeyroos to the Oceania Cup, an Olympic Qualification event in Rockhampton in early September,” said High Performance Director Toni Cumpston.
Triny Powell has represented Australia 252 times, scoring 141 goals and claiming gold with the Hockeyroos at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. She has been given the opportunity to work with the Hockeyroos during Andrews’ absence and will then return to her role with NSWIS and coach of the NSW Pride in the newly created Hockey One league.
“Hockey Australia is delighted to be able to support Andrews as she takes time from her coaching role to have her first child, and to have Powell step in to the role ensures we continue to have a quality environment for our athletes,” said Cumpston.
Steph Andrews joined the Hockeyroos as Assistant Coach in May 2018 after being the Women’s Assistant Coach for Field Hockey Canada.
HA wishes her and her family the very best during this exciting time.
Hockey Australia media release
Yahya challenges players to get spot at World Cup
By Aftar Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: Coach Yahya Atan threw down the gauntlet and told his players to qualify for their first women’s Indoor World Cup Hockey Tournament next year.
To make the cut, Malaysia must finish in the top two at the Indoor Asia Cup in Chonburi, Thailand from July 15-21.
The venue and dates of the World Cup have yet to be confirmed.
Yahya, who has been coaching the team since March this year, believes they have a fighting chance to qualify.
Nine teams will take part and Malaysia are drawn in Group B with Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan. Group A consists of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, the Philippines and Nepal.
Yahya added that only the hosts pose a strong challenge in their group.
“I’m optimistic my girls will enter the last four. We are likely to play either Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan for a place in the final,” said the former international.
“We have beaten Thailand and drawn with Kazakhstan before. I have 12 reliable players and I believe they will deliver.”
In preparation for the Asia Cup, they went to Perth to play four matches against the Western Australian team and lost them all.
Despite the defeats, Yahya said it was a good experience for his girls and he is confident they will put up a better show in Thailand.
“The opponents were too strong as they have been playing together for several years. Since returning, they have been progressing well.”
The team are also eyeing the gold medal at the Philippines SEA Games from Nov 30-Dec 11.
The squad Siti Zulaika Hussin, Nur Fatin Fatiah Azman, Ellya Syahirah Ellias, Nur Atira Mohd Ismail, Siti Arfah Mohd Nor, Siti Zalia Nasir, Siti Rozailah Syuhada Jilon, Iren Hussin, Qasidah Najwa Muhd Halimi, Nur Syuhada Suhaimi, Nur Afiqah Syahzani Azhar, Nor Asfarina Isahyifiqa Isahhidun.
The Star of Malaysia
Women’s EYHL set for November 9 start as Hockey Ireland lay out annual calendar
The Irish women face a series of Olympic qualifier preparation games between September and October. Pic: Adrian Boehm
The women’s EY Hockey League will get underway almost two months later than usual as Hockey Ireland hopes to maximise the chances of reaching the Olympic Games.
The competition is set for a November 9 start, one week after Ireland will – more than likely – host an Olympic qualifier series on November 2 and 3.
In an email explaining the situation to the clubs, Hockey Ireland’s competition committee said: “This change reflects the commitment and opportunity to get the women to their first ever Olympics and the plan to keep the team centralised through the period after the Euro Nations and before the FIH Olympic [qualifying] matches.
“While this means there will be a later start, there is full commitment to the EYHL as the premier domestic competition.
“All competition rounds have been scheduled and agreed with HP to ensure no clash with HP camps /competitions ensuring our clubs, players are playing the competition at the highest level and spectators and sponsor alike can support the highest level competition.
“This is taking a similar approach with the majority of the top hockey leagues in Europe who also ensure a degree of flexibility around high performance as well.”
For the Olympic qualifiers preparation, selected senior women’s team players will be “contracted/employed” by Hockey Ireland.
The national body will maintain a defined squad for the duration of the season and club coaches will be kept abreast of which of their players are included on the “contracted player” list.
When a player is released from the “contracted player” list, this will be communicated to the player and club coach/manager. Typically the “contracted” squad will be communicated once per year.
During the preparation period for the Olympic qualifiers, there will be international test matches for Ireland’s women in both September and October.
In October, the Irish Senior Cup will be played out up to the semi-final stage while there is a facility for clubs – where agreement is in place – to bring league games forward should they be out of the cup.
The Irish Senior Cup draw will be made in August while there will be an EYHL clubs meeting on September 8 where clubs can make arrangements for October.
Contracted players will not be available for the Irish Senior Cup though a caveat is added that “positional considerations (goalkeepers etc) will be made within this.
In the lead-up to August’s Europeans, Ireland will play Scotland on July 13, 14 (4pm) and 16 at Stormont. The first and last of these games will be “behind closed doors”. At the same venue, they will play Italy twice – July 28 (3pm) for the public, July 30 behind closed doors.
They will play warm-up games in Antwerp against Belgium on August 7 and 9 while they also have a practice work-out against the Netherlands booked in.
The Irish-based players have a more regular looking season planned. Pic: Adrian Boehm
On the men’s side, the season will follow a more regular format with September 21 the first day of the EYHL campaign. Five rounds will be played before the Olympic qualifiers in early November.
High Performance senior men’s players will be unavailable for the Irish Senior Cup round two on October 26.
“Senior men’s players are also contracted to Hockey Ireland, but their funding model and availability is different to the senior women, meaning the frequency of national training and fixtures is limited.
“With this in mind, the men’s national coach does reserve the right to remove players from club involvements but, like with the senior women, this will be commuinicated in adavnce. As fewer Senior Men’ s players actually play their hockey in Ireland, the disruption this will cause will hopefully be minimal.
“Securing international fixtures in the era of the FIH Hockey Pro League is difficult and Hockey Ireland High Performance aims to not rearrange domestic club hockey dates based upon these difficulties.”
For the men, they are booked in for two practice matches in Scotland in Glasgow on July 27 and 29 before taking in a four nations tournament in Valencia, starting on August 1. It will feature England, Spain and Malaysia.
In the additional notes surrounding the calendar, Hockey Ireland add: “The dates for the EYHL have been agreed with High Performance and, at this stage, no conflicting High Performance session (training or match) will be scheduled to clash with any of the 18 rounds of EYHL.
“If an High Performance competitive test match series opportunity arises during the season and requires a previously agreed EYHL weekend, a suitable date for the re-scheduled EYHL program will be agreed between HP and the Irish Hockey League Working Group.
“Hockey Ireland National Head Coaches and Performance Director may instruct a High Performance “contracted” player and their club coach that the player cannot play on an EYHL scheduled date, due to individual health, injury or load management concerns.”
Locations and dates for FIH Olympic Qualification two match series will become apparent in early September.
** To see the full EYHL calendar for 2019/20, click here: https://sportlomo-userupload.s3.amazonaws.com/uploaded/galleries/8089_uploaded/bb7e3aa4512419839e811bfd032d803e551bdfbf.pdf
The Hook
Sharks stifle Jaguars
By Elizabeth Mburugu
Jaguars lost Greensharks and Sailors in identical 3-2 margin. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]
Western Jaguars hopes of ascending to the top of the Kenya Hockey Union men’s premier league standings crash landed yesterday.
Jaguars lost Greensharks and Sailors in identical 3-2 margin. A win could have slid them to the top but the two losses saw them drop to third place tied on 13 points with Wazalendo, who moved one place up due to a superior goal difference.
Jaguars rallied from behind twice to level the score with Sailors before Douglas Nyerere dashed their hopes of picking a point as he netted the winning goal just few seconds to the final whistle.
Sailors looked determined from the start as they mounted a wave of attacks in Jaguars defence with Felix Opolla, Abraham Musee and Nyerere posing a threat up front. Jaguars defence and goalkeeper Paul Navangi remained steadfast.
Jaguars frustrated efforts by captain Willis Malesi, Robinson Omutekete, Collins Omachi and Kelvin Machinji for the first quarter to end in a goalless draw.
Sailors were eager to chalk up their second win of the season and it paid dividends when Opolla broke the deadlock in the 24th minute for a 1-0 lead at the breather. Jaguars resumed with renewed determination as Omutekete equalised seconds into the second half.
Musee converted a penalty three minutes later to restore Sailors lead forcing Jaguars to play a catch up again. Sailors defended well to maintain a narrow 2-1 lead advantage going into the final quarter.
Machinji leveled the score in the 50th minute reviving their chances of securing a point. The match seemed to head to a 2-2 draw but Nyerere blasted the winning goal few seconds to the final whistle.
In women’s premier league battle, debutants Lakers maintained their unbeaten run.
The Standard Digital
Junior USMNT Heats Up Training Camp with Friendly Win
Image Taken by Katherine Hennessy
LOOSDRECHT, The Netherlands - The Junior U.S. Men's National Team has been hard at work in their scheduled training camp in The Netherlands. In between practice sessions this week, the team will also play in three friendly matches against local clubs. Their first one was on Saturday where USA used a solid opening quarter to gain an early lead before going on to win 4-1 against the Hilversum A1 squad at the Hilversumsche Mixed Hockey Club in Loosdrecht, The Netherlands.
"I am happy with the way the team played today," said Shannon Taylor, Junior USMNT Coach. "We’re continuing to progress in all areas from the last time we worked together. We’re looking to focus on some key areas in our next match."
Both teams shared possession and traded scoring chances in the opening minutes with back and forth action. Hilversum pressed and earned the first penalty corner of the game in the 6th minute but USA goalkeeper David Kristof (Darien, Conn.) made a well-anticipated clear on the shot. In turn, USA earned a corner in the 10th minute where Alex Curtis (London, United Kingdom) executed a textbook drag-flick for the 1-0 lead. In the last moments of the quarter, Wander Hommes (Westlake Village, Calif.) sent a clean shot from the top of the circle to add another goal for USA and close the first quarter 2-0.
Hilversum pushed back in the second quarter but USA countered with more pressure. Unable to convert on two successive penalty corners in the 7th minute, USA was able to extend their lead when Liam Hawley (Ventura, Calif.) flicked the ball over the feet of the goalkeeper directly in front of the goal. Hilversum regrouped and earned their lone goal of the match on a penalty corner conversion in the 11th minute to make it 3-1. Curtis made one final attempt on goal before the half by taking the ball on the reverse at the left baseline and quickly put it up and over the Hilversum goalkeeper into the far side net, but the goal was not awarded due to an earlier foot infraction.
The third quarter remained scoreless with both teams attacking with equal intensity. Both teams earned penalty corners but neither could convert as USA withstood the pressure and retained the lead moving into the fourth quarter.
Hilversum earned a penalty corner in the first minute of the final frame of play but goalkeeper Amar Singh (San Jose, Calif.) stood tall and cleared the attempt. USA played the rebound quickly and earned a penalty corner 40 seconds later but were unable to convert. Possession remained in USA’s favor after the corner attempt and within the next minute, Hawley scored from the left baseline to make it 4-1. Hilversum continued to look for opportunities, earning a final corner with no result.
The Junior U.S. Men's National Team will continue their training tour with their next friendly match coming Monday, July 8.
USFHA media release
Australia’s Best U21 Hockey Players Descend On Lismore For National Hockey Championships
Mitch Wynd
The best Under 21 hockey players in Australia are descending on Lismore in their campaign to claim the national championship trophy. The championships, which include both a men’s and a women’s championship, start on July 10 at the Goonellabah Hockey Complex.
Last year’s champions, the Tasmanian men’s team and the New South Wales’ women’s team, will face strong competition from teams representing all States and Territories in the week-long tournament, said Hockey Australia (HA) CEO, Matt Favier.
“Australia is one of the best hockey nations in the world with our men ranked first and women second. The championships give players and officials the chance to develop their skills in a highly competitive environment and I have no doubt that the Championship will feature players destined to become a Hockeyroos and Kookaburras player.
“The championships are therefore also a wonderful opportunity for spectators and the local community around Lismore to watch incredible hockey,” said Favier.
The Championships are supported by Destination NSW, with the Hon. Stuart Ayres MP Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney saying the event is an important inclusion in the State’s calendar.
“Not only does it demonstrate our Government’s commitment to supporting excellence, but it’s also part of our broader strategy in driving tourism to NSW’s spectacular regional areas.
“Tourism is vital to rural and regional communities, contributing $19.5 billion to the NSW economy and directly employing 90,400,” said Minister Ayres, wishing players, spectators and volunteers a wonderful week in what he describes as “a magnificent” part of NSW.
Location:
Goonellabah Hockey Complex, Goonellabah NSW 2480
Game days:
Wednesday July 10 from 10am (women) and 11am (men)
Thursday July 11 from 10am (men) and 11am (women)
Saturday July 13 from 8.30am (women) and 9.30am (men)
Sunday July 14 from 10.30am (women semi-finals) and 11.30am (men semi-finals)
Tuesday July 16 from 9am (women’s preliminary finals) and 9.30am (men’s preliminary finals)
Wednesday July 17 (men’s bronze medal match 11.10am, gold medal match 3.30pm. Women’s bronze medal match 9am, gold medal match 1.20pm)
For full event details including team overviews, please click here.
Hockey Australia media release