News for 18 April 2020
All the news for Saturday 18 April 2020
Medals at the heart of Xavi’s competitive drive
Spanish striker Xavier Lleonart made his senior international debut for the Red Sticks back in 2009 at the Champions Trophy in Melbourne, Australia. Perhaps fittingly for a big occasion player, Lleonart scored in the final – a match that Spain lost by the narrowest 5-6 scoreline.
Since then Lleonart says he has been chasing medals with the international side. This has been a quest that has taken in three World Cups, two Olympic Games and four EuroHockey Championships. That drive and desire for a medal was finally satiated at the Belfius EuroHockey Championship in 2019 when Spain finished in the silver medal position, losing in the final to Belgium.
Lleonart has also enjoyed success at club level, winning the coveted EuroHockey League title with Dutch team HC Bloemndaal in 2018, before returning to Spain to compete with Real Club de Polo.
In a continuation of our series of profile interviews featuring some of the world’s finest players, Xai Lleonart speaks to FIH about his career to date, his personal highlights and emphasises just how much he is craving a return to competitive hockey when the current Covid-19 situation is finally over.
Who or what first influenced you to pick up a stick and play hockey?
I started playing hockey at the age of three or four because my parents were members of a hockey club in Terrassa, so honestly, I have played hockey since I can remember.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
Well there have been some coaches and players who have created a big impact on the way I understand hockey. When I was younger I watched games and admired players like Juan Escarre, Pol Amat, Ronald Brouwer and Christopher Zeller. They were top class players and I always wanted to be like them. On the other hand Carlos Cuenca and Dani Martin as coaches, they have had a big influence on my career, each of them in different ways. Carlos is a winner and his management of the team is amazing. And Dani Martin, he picked me when I was only 19 years old and he gave me the opportunity to play for the Spanish national team.
If there was one sentence to sum up your playing style or attitude on the pitch, what would it be?
Well, that’s a good question. I think the sentence would be: “make it happen”.
What moment on the pitch are you most proud of and why?
It is impossible to decide only one moment. The first important achievement was my first Spanish league title with Real Club de Polo. That was special because it was something I had been looking to achieve for years. Also the EHL title with HC Bloemendaal in 2018. I knew it would be one of the few chances [I would] get in this competition and I was really happy to perform well and help the team win the cup.
Another important moment was during the Olympics in Rio in 2016 during the pool game against New Zealand. I scored a last minute goal and it was a special moment for me because it secured a place in the Olympic quarter-final. It meant we had achieved three wins in a row and I remember the happy faces of my team mates and it was a great memory. The last one [took place] last summer in the European Cup semi-final against the Netherlands. Beating them and reaching the final was something special for me because I have been looking for a medal with the Spanish national team for the past 11 years.
It has been four years since Rio 2016, how have you changed as a player in that time?
I am much more mature than then, I am much more confident in myself. I know me better - both my body and my capabilities.
The Covid-19 situation has obviously impinged on everyone's preparations but what are some examples of activities that you and the squad have used to keep a sense of 'team' throughout the lock-down period?
With Real Club de Polo we have fitness sessions online twice a week. It is funny because we see each other exercising at home and we start joking and kidding (teasing) each other. With the Spanish national team we have a daily routine but also a competition about who eats the healthiest. This is led by our nutritionist.
What part of returning to playing after this enforced break are you most looking forward to?
What I miss the most is to compete. After training at home is awful and after three weeks I am sick of it. I have the need to go back to the field and experience the winning feeling again. I wish my home had a big back yard so I could run free. It would help make the quarantine easier.
Profile*:Xavier Lleonart - Spain
Nickname: Xavi
Position: Striker
Shirt number: 17
Age: 29
International appearances: 199
Place of birth: Terrassa, Spain
Current National Hockey League team: Real Club de Polo
*Information correct as of 14 April 2020
FIH site
Belgium hockey player Stockbroekx on Red Lions' success story
Emmanuel Stockbroekx talks about his days dealing with COVID-19, the postponed Tokyo Olympics and Belgium’s journey through multiple heartbreaks to become a hockey powerhouse.
Samarnath Soory
Belgium's Emmanuel Stockbroekx (red) runs with the ball to strike against Argentina during the Hockey World League Finals at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on December 02, 2017. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
For Belgium’s Emmanuel Stockbroekx, playing hockey means living. He is less interested in other sports and most of his friends are from the field of hockey. The defender belongs to the country’s golden generation that clinched silverware at under-18 and -21 levels, and was part of the Belgian team that reached its first ever Olympic final at Rio 2016.
But there came a moment when Stockbroekx had decided to quit the sport he had loved all his life. Even the sight of the hockey stick made him sick. He took a break, and with the help of friends and the national team, which he calls his family, Stockbroekx returned to the turf. He took solace in writing, and transferring his field experiences to ink and paper later led to his writing an autobiography.
There were still good days and bad as Stockbroekx rediscovered his hunger for a crunching tackle. He was nursing an injury when Belgium lifted the World Cup in 2018 in Bhubaneswar, but he scored in the final when the Red Lions won their first European crown a year later.
Currently at his home in Antwerp due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Belgian ace talks to Sportstar about his days dealing with the pandemic, the postponed Tokyo Olympics and Belgium’s journey through multiple heartbreaks to become a hockey powerhouse.
How is the COVID-19 situation in Belgium?
We are in a lockdown, but here in Antwerp you are allowed to go for a run. We can go biking, running or exercise outside. The police is driving around and making sure that we go back home. You can’t stay out for too long. It’s not a problem as long as you keep moving. But it is very strict.
How are you keeping yourself occupied during the lockdown?
I’m learning Armenian through an online course for my girlfriend. I have been doing online challenges; I have done one for (Belgium teammate) Felix Denayer. I have built a home gym in my apartment, but my downstairs neighbour came knocking on my door the other day saying that their home was shaking because of my workout, so then I had to relocate the entire equipment to another area.
I have been doing my workout programme designed by the national team, but I was not really feeling motivated. To keep my discipline, I have started a program called the 5am club (designed by motivational author Robin Sharma) after being told about it by a friend. I wake up at 4.45am, get on my bike and cycle for 20 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of meditation and writing down my thoughts in a journal. Then it’s 20 minutes of reading. I am five days into this. Funnily, I am looking forward to it every day.
Are you in contact with your teammates and coach?
We keep in contact through Zoom calls. Recently, we spoke to the national team’s coaching staff, who announced that they will be staying until Tokyo Olympics. We keep in touch through WhatsApp and ask how everybody is doing. We have also joined a ‘COVID-solidarity’ programme where we are all available on call for people who need help. We fill in a shopping list and send it through. There we are in contact as well and we want to give something back to society.
The sudden change of not training and not competing might have an effect on athletes. How is this is going to affect you and your team in the long run?
Technically, I don’t know how it will be to get our level back. But it is also true that lot of guys are enjoying the time as they are getting to be with their families, so there are a lot of positives. Of course, it’s a great inconvenience to not touch your stick. Here in Belgium, the competitions have ended, the whole summer is gone, especially the international games (which) are the ones we miss the hardest. But it is something which we have to work through and make the best out of.
You recently released your autobiography, The Winning Mindset. How did the idea of writing a book come to you?
I had hockey burnout after the 2017 World League Finals quarterfinals in Bhubaneswar where we lost to India. I have been playing hockey all my life, but at that moment I couldn’t even look at my stick. Even thinking about it made me sick. Shane (Belgium national coach Shane McLeod) gave me the space to take a break from the national team. I went to see a psychologist. I felt that I cannot continue any more. During that time, I went to see my brother in London where I attended an event with motivational speakers Les Brown and Raymond Aaron. It was highly motivational and there I made the decision to write a book and also continue playing hockey. When I started to write, I also started winning. I won the European League and the Dutch championship with Bloemendaal, the Red Lions became world champions and then European champions. So, writing the book was like looking at myself in the mirror and it motivated me to keep on playing.
The Belgium national team won the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar. - GETTY IMAGES
Belgium has changed international hockey with the successful execution of a zonal marking system. Do you think postponement of the Olympics will give the other teams time to figure you out?
We have been playing with the system for a long time now, but we didn’t invent hockey. We don’t think that we have a winning formula or we are demigods. It’s all about the hunger to win each moment in big tournaments. The postponement might give teams to prepare well and be at a higher level at Tokyo, but we are a team which adapts well to different situations.
There is an argument that Belgium has the added advantage of having a dedicated programme for its national teams unlike Spain and the Netherlands, where they have to make time for club competitions...
Definitely. Belgium is a small country where getting to training is easier as every place is a one- or two-hour drive away. It helps us train every week and be together a lot. And clubs here are very cooperative as they let players go and train with the national team instead of the clubs.
There was a time when the team was reaching the finals of tournaments but settling for the runners-up medal. What changes did you make to overcome that final hurdle and win titles?
I think it was a mental change. First, it was winning the quarterfinals, like the one at the 2014 World Cup in the Hague. Then, it was over being overwhelmed by winning them. It was similar to what happened to our soccer team (at the 2018 FIFA World Cup). They beat a big team like Brazil and were overwhelmed by reaching the semis, which they lost. So, we decided to consider every quarterfinal, semifinal and final as just another match and now you can see that maturity reflecting in the team.
About the 2018 World Cup: You were not physically present at the final, but your teammates mentioned that your inspirational video had fired them up before the clash? How did that happen?
I was injured in the second group game against India. I knew it was over for me and I was crying a lot. I didn’t want my teammates looking at me injured and focusing on me rather than on the World Cup. I came back to Belgium and remembered about the video I wanted to make by compiling all the wishes of the family members. So I called the families multiple times to convince them to record their messages and send it to me. Shane and I decided to show it to the team before a big match and he kept me waiting until the evening before the final. Even though I was not on the pitch, I wanted to show that I was still with the team.
Did you have doubts about Belgium winning the final after regular time ended 0-0 and then the penalty shootout went into sudden death?
It was tactically a very good game. Both Belgium and the Netherlands have played many times and know each other very well. But the shootout was an anticlimax (Belgium thought it had won, but Arthur De Sloover’s final attempt was cancelled). I was watching the match in a studio with all the players’ families and everyone was holding their breath. But I was very convinced that this would be our time and there is no way we would lose this game.
How important is the role of head coach Shane McLeod in this journey?
There is a saying that “angels come into your life at the right moment.” Shane was exactly the kind of person we needed in our team. He is a very warm person and that’s what you can see in our team; we are a family. I don’t think there is one player who is not happy with Shane. Also a big shoutout to (assistant coach) Michel van den Heuvel, who was a very tough trainer and would smack us in the face if we committed mistakes (laughs) after which we would go running to Shane.
McLeod will be leaving the team after the Olympics. What is the best thing you are going to miss about him?
For me, it is his speeches before games. He is someone who could really tap into the hearts of the players. He has the courage to speak from his heart and does it with integrity. I remember on the eve of the 2019 European Championship final, we had a team meeting where he mentioned about his son Koda, and (Stockbroekx’s Belgium teammate) Victor Wegnez had bought him a puzzle. Shane told us how grateful he was to coach the team and how it made his family proud. A lot of players became really emotional. As we walked out of the room, we were all fired up, desperate to go on the pitch, like charging into a battle.
Sportstar
Sardar Singh returns to roots to seek comfort
Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh is back to his ancestral village in Sant Nagar, near Sirsa; he is training and spending time with family.
Uthra Ganesan
Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh at his ancestral village in Sant Nagar with family. - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
During his years with the national team, Sardar Singh was considered one of the most stylish hockey players. The ongoing lockdown has seen the Namdhari sikh return to his roots in search of the spiritual anchor he admits he had been missing for some time.
“What I have learnt in the last 10-15 days is what our Guruji (the spiritual head of Namdhari sect) has always said – only the man who remembers God regularly and prays to him – not to ask for something but simply to be thankful and seek blessings – will be able to stay strong and survive any crisis. The last few years I had lost touch with my roots. Now I am slowly trying to get back to our spiritual base, starting and ending the day with a prayer,” Sardar told Sportstar from his ancestral village in Sant Nagar, near Sirsa.
The former India captain has never been a great talker but has never shied away from enjoying the good things in life either. At his peak, he had the biggest car and the best brands but even back then, he put relationships above everything. “Sath kya jayega” was his usual refrain. Now, the 33-year old has come a full circle – back to where he started, loaded with the experience of 15-odd years.
“It feels great to be back here. This is the first time I am spending so much time with my parents and the entire family since I first picked up the hockey stick 20 years ago. The narrow lanes where we used to run and play, every memory is back. This exact place where I am standing, in our home now, we had a small, half-built one-room house which accommodated us all.
“I remember we used to grow vegetables in a small patch and sell it, milk cows for the dairies, prepare their feed and then go for training and school everyday. That attachment will always be there and all those memories are rushing back now. You see old photographs and medals and they didn’t register back then but now you have time to think, you realise how lucky you have been over the years to go from there to here as the crow flies,” Sardar reminiscences.
He feels safe as there have only been four to five cases so far, he said, and those in the city 30km away. The presence of approximately 8,000 Namdharis in the village and the gurdwara nearby is comforting.
“The Namdhari Hockey Academy started in 1997-98, I made the national team in 2005 and since then, I have not been with my family for more than a week at any given time. Those were days of struggle – break in national camp meant training in Chandigarh. The village is around five hours away, more if you take public buses, after changing several along with your kit. There is time to think – it all started from here only and then I saw the entire world only because of hockey, it has given me everything – and I feel hard work is most important for success,” he says.
The sudden jump from one topic to another is something one gets used to while talking to Sardar.
“Even reaching the top is sometimes easy but staying there is not possible without hard work. Then again, the blessings of your parents and, most importantly, those of our Guruji, are equally important. The 15-odd years that I played at the highest level, all the awards I have received, the injuries I have avoided – all credit goes to him, I would even say that I was able to put in all the hard work because of his blessings,” he continues.
Sardar Singh trains with his kids at his ancestral home. - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
And then, just as suddenly, he is back to God. “There have been many challenges, pressures, expectations – many people, circumstances try to pull you down but if your focus is right and you have faith in that Supreme Being, you manage to find a way out of everything,” he says.
Sardar has lately been quite active on social media with videos of his training sessions and said that it was mainly to encourage people for fitness. “That’s what I used to do on field also but not on social media. Here, when a player puts up something, he keeps thinking of that only all day and focus goes for a toss. That’s why I kept off it earlier. But now I have time.
"Once this is over, I plan to complete my police training (with Haryana Police) and may think of getting into coaching also (he is already a selector with Hockey India). Let’s see,” he says.
There is silence for a few seconds.
“Do you know, this is where the Namdharis from across the border first settled when they came during partition. This is home,” he says, and there is stillness in his voice.
Sportstar
Nuramirah aims to be top striker for Malaysia and her German club
KUALA LUMPUR: Scoring goals is hockey striker Nuramirah Syakirah Zulkifli’s passion.
Earning the accolade as Malaysia’s top goal-getter in international women hockey tournaments is her dream.
And Nuramirah is already on track to fulfil that hope when she emerged as top scorer for Division One club Bremer in the German Hockey League last year. The 20-year-old Kedahan netted 15 goals – 11 field, three penalty and one penalty stroke – in nine matches.
And in February, she scored 11 goals (10 field and one penalty corner) in the National Women’s League to steer debutants Hockey Academy (Hockademy) of Kuala Lumpur to the league title.
She was supposed to return to play for Bremer in the German League this week but the Covid-19 pandemic has forced a postponement.
Nuramirah, who took up hockey at the age of 11, said that she is quite satisfied with her scoring ability in local and foreign leagues.
But her aim is to become a top striker for Malaysia in international tournaments.
“Malaysia have a good women’s hockey team but they need calibre forwards to deliver goals to finish in a good position in tournaments.
“I believe that I have the capability to be a good striker but I need to be more consistent in my displays for the nation in tournaments, ” said Nuramirah, who has represented Malaysia 30 times.
She played in the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018 and scored five goals to help Malaysia finish fifth among eight teams.
“I am happy with my efforts especially in the German League as I made a memorable debut for them by being the top scorer.“It was the most number of goals I ever scored in a league and I wanted to continue my scoring act to help Bremer club win the league title this season.
“It is unfortunate that I cannot return to Germany as the league is postponed, ” said Nuramirah, who scored a whopping 33 goals to help Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Black Widow win the girls’ Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) last year.
Nuramirah, who is the youngest among five siblings, was called up for national junior team’s training last month in preparation for the Junior Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan which was scheduled last week, but that too has been postponed.
Nuramirah said she is doubtful of playing in Germany this year due to national duty.
“We will compete in the Junior Asia Cup later this year in a bid to qualify for the Junior World Cup (in Potchefstroom, South Africa in 2021).”
The Star of Malaysia
Hairi turns painter as he keeps himself occupied during MCO
Huge task: Mohd Hairi (right) hopes to live up to his role as the No. 1 goalkeeper when the hockey tournaments resume.
KUALA LUMPUR: Taking over as the first choice keeper is already a big responsibility for hockey player Mohd Hairi Abdul Rahman.
And then, there is this huge expectation on him as the replacement to former No. 1 keeper S. Kumar, who retired in February.
It all creates high anxiety but the 30-year-old Hairi has decided to paint his house during the movement control order (MCO) to keep his mind off from national duty temporarily.
“I took the initiative to paint my two-storey terrace house on my own, I started two weeks ago, ” said Hairi.
“The house will be ready as we celebrate Hari Raya next month and as we wait for the arrival of our second baby, ” said Hairi, who is married to former national shooter Wahidah Ismail.
Hairi last featured for Malaysia at the FIH World Series in Bukit Jalil last May as he was out of action for five months due to a knee surgery last June.
In January, Hairi played for Tenaga Nasional in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) and led the team to finish as the league runners-up.
Hairi, who made his international debut in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in 2016, hoped to live up to his role as the No. 1 keeper when the tournaments resume.
“I’ve not played for the country for almost a year now and it will be good to get some warm-up first. I’m looking forward to playing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh (from Sept 27 to Oct 3), ” said Hairi.
The Star of Malaysia
Kookaburras captain Aran Zalewski happy to shake off Nat Fyfe spotlight
By Bridget Lacy
Photo: Aran Zalewski was with Nat Fyfe when they were spotted surfing at Gas Bay, near Margaret River. (Supplied)
He is co-captain of Australia's men's hockey team, an Olympian and one of Australia's biggest hockey stars — but he is largely unrecognised.
And after being caught in a media storm involving friend and Fremantle Dockers captain Nat Fyfe last week, Aran Zalewski has never been more grateful for his anonymity.
The Kookaburras champion was surfing with dual Brownlow medallist Fyfe in Margaret River when they were spotted walking back from the beach, sparking concerns the Fremantle skipper was flouting regional travel bans.
Fyfe was cleared of any wrongdoing, but not before plenty of people around the state had their say.
Far fewer people asked about the bloke walking beside him — a point that was not lost on Zalewski, who could only feel for his former Aquinas College classmate.
So, what was Zalewski doing in the famous South West town?
The 29-year-old is back living in his home town of Margaret River with his parents, Cathy and Wally, for the first time since he left to go to boarding school at Aquinas.
Zalewski and his fiance Teagan decided to head south as soon as the national hockey training programs were shut down due to coronavirus.
Photo: Kookaburras co-captain Aran Zalewski has been enjoying spending time with his parents Cathy and Wally at their Margaret River home. (Supplied: Aran Zalewski)
Helping Mum and Dad around the house
The midfielder has found plenty of positives after more than a month back home.
"It's nice," Zalewski said.
"I've been away from home since I was about 13, so to spend some really good quality time with Mum and Dad is great.
"Getting into the kitchen with Mum, it's pretty much been helping them with the gardening every day and they need a bit of muscle around the house, so it's been good to give them a hand and help them out."
There is plenty of space at the family home for Zalewski to keep fit, including a makeshift gym in the garage.
And he and his father have started a new morning routine at Gnarabup Beach, taking their daily workout to another level.
Photo: Aran Zalewski and his father Wally train every morning at a beach near their Margaret River home. (Supplied: Aran Zalewski)
"I've just basically been heading down in the morning and swimming about a kilometre with the old man, just so we can spend a bit of time together, do a little bit of fitness together and it's a pretty good way to start the day," Zalewski said.
"I enjoy pushing and testing myself and I do enjoy the water, growing up in Margaret River, so we swim down, grab a rock and see kind of how far we can run under water with it.
"I couldn't believe how heavy it was. If you pick up something underwater it's obviously much lighter than it is out of the water.
"Every day it's pushing the limits of how far you can go."
Future hockey plans on ice
While athletes across the globe have been thrown by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021, Zalewski believes the mental and physical break could be an advantage for athletes like him as he searches for that elusive Olympic gold medal.
He is unsure whether there will be any more international games for the Kookaburras in 2020 and his plans to head to Amsterdam for an extended period later in the year to play there could well be on ice too.
Photo: Aran Zalewski is an Olympic champion and Kookaburras co-captain, but is rarely recognised on the street. (Reuters: Vasily Fedosenko)
But for now, he is enjoying his unexpected return home.
And he is hoping that one day, once travel restrictions are lifted, he'll have an October free so he can go on one of those epic surfing trips his friend Fyfe usually takes in his off-season.
ABC News
High Performance Centers and Young Women’s National Championship Postponed
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - After much consideration, USA Field Hockey and the women’s High Performance Coaching Staff have decided to postpone the scheduled High Performance Centers and Young Women’s National Championship as uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue.
Originally scheduled to run from April through May, the eight regional women’s High Performance Centers will be put on hold. At this point the goal is for the Centers to resume activity at the end of July or beginning of August, prior to the start of the NCAA season.
Set to have taken place June 19 to 23 at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., the Young Women’s National Championship will be postponed until January 2021 at the earliest.
With the uncertainty of when facilities and universities will reopen and the restrictions and challenges outside organizations face when trying to book venues, as well as to allow ample time to prepare, USA Field Hockey and the women’s High Performance Coaching Staff will continue to monitor and follow the mandates and protocols set in place by the he United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and local and state health authorities. More details will be shared once solidified.
USFHA media release
Reprieve for Blazers as AfHF extends fine deadline
By AGNES MAKHANDIA
Kenyatta University's Gloria Juma (left) vies for the ball with Blazers' Rachel Ousa during their Kenya Hockey Union Women Premier League match at City Park Stadium on November 17, 2019 Blazers won 2-1. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
It's a sigh of relief to Blazers women’s hockey club (formerly Telkom) after African Hockey Federation (AfHF) extended the deadline to pay their Sh115,366 (1,000 Euros) fine for late withdrawal from last year’s Africa Cup of Clubs Championships held in Ismailia, Egypt.
Blazers pulled out of the annual tourney days to the event due to financial challenges.
Blazers would have Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) to thank for after the national body intervened.
Blazers coach Jos Openda revealed they were not able to raise the money by end of February and were set to face further sanctions from the continental body.
“I’m happy KHU managed to come through for us and what we need to do is to ensure we pay the fine before the next club championship that is scheduled for November 31 to December 5 in Malawi. We are therefore reaching out to companies, organisations and people of goodwill to come on board and help us not only pay the fine but honour league and future international matches,” said Openda .
The 10-time African champions, who lost sponsorship from telecommunication firm Telkom last June, have endured a financial crunch since then and failed to defend their continental crown. However they continued their dominance locally winning a record-extending 22nd league title last season.
“We have a good side and what we need is financial help. We have a different name now and we want to start everything afresh, win the league and clubs championships this year.
KHU Secretary General Wycliffe Ongori confirmed the development saying: "KHU has a cordial relationship with AHF and therefore we were able to reach an agreement that suits both parties. Blazers will have to pay the fine atleast before the next event.”
Men's champions Butali Sugar Warriors, who failed to honour last year’s event also due to financial constraints, and much-improved Wazalendo have qualified for this year’s event while Blazers and United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) Spartans will fly the country's flag in the women’s category.
The top two teams at the completion of the men and women's Premier League earn automatic tickets to the continental showpiece.
Daily Nation
OCM set up Covid Fund to help
By Jugjet Singh
MHC vice-president and OCM vice-president Datuk S. Shamala.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have set aside RM300,000 as “’insurance” to protect their stakeholders during the Covid-19 crisis.
Yesterday, the OCM announced that they have set up a Covid Fund to assist National Sports Associations (NSAs), whose daily running has been affected by the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“In this regard, the OCM have set aside RM300,000 from their Trust Fund to aid NSAs who are impacted by the Covid-19.
“The fund is aimed at assisting NSAs with their administrative expenses at a time when the cancellation of and the inability to organise events have affected revenue streams whilst monthly expenditure remains.
“NSAs shall be notified as soon as possible on the application process and procedures.
“Additionally, the OCM executive board have agreed to waive 50 per cent of monthly rental of tenants housed at Wisma OCM in Kuala Lumpur for the month of April and May,” read an OCM statement yesterday.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation welcomed the move by OCM.
“This is a timely cushion for their affiliates.
“The MCO and the Covid-19 are not only hampering plans to hold any tournaments but also keeping sponsors at bay.
“Normally, sponsorship deals are renewed or signed at the beginning of the year but since many corporations are also facing setbacks, it is truly a difficult period to make ends meet.
“So, with this help from the OCM, at least some administration as well as rental issues can be overcome for the time being,” said MHC vice-president Datuk S. Shamala, also the vice-president of OCM.
While the MHC rent space at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, many NSAs share the same roof at Wisma OCM.
“There are many NSAs who have offices at the OCM building. The 50 per cent waiver on rentals will really help,” Shamala added.
The OCM will continue to monitor the dire situation and engage with the stakeholders.
New Straits Times
Big relief for sports officials
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) can now have a bigger window to plan Junior Hockey League (JHL).
By Jugjet Singh
THE deferment of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination to early next year may not be welcomed by students but this has opened a window of opportunity for age-group sporting events nationwide.
Events for the first six months of the year, which couldn’t be held because of the Covid-19 pandemic, can now be slotted by sports authorities in the remaining six months of the year.
The fear of sports events encroaching the crucial study period for a major exam has disappeared.
And parents would now be more accommodating in letting their children use more of their brawn instead of brains.
Under-21 age-group events like the Malaysia Games (earlier scheduled for July 11-19) and the national Junior Hockey League will no longer clash with the major Form Five examination which charts the future of at least 400,000 SPM students annually. The initial plan was to either hold Malaysia Games next year, or scrap it altogether.
But that should not be the scenario now with the SPM, originally slated for Oct 5-14 (first phase) and Nov 2-19 (second phase), now moved to the early months of next year.
“Even though this news is not welcome because it will disrupt the plans of many students who have been studying hard for major examinations with an eye to proceed into the next phase of their lives, nevertheless it is a relief for the sporting world in Malaysia.
“The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) for one, can now have a bigger window to plan our Junior Hockey League (JHL) and other age-group events which were in danger of not being held earlier," said MHC vice-president and competitions committee chairman Datuk Seri Anil Jeet Singh.
Even the Form Three assessment (PT3) and UPSR 2020 (Standard Six) examinations have been cancelled due to the pandemic.
For the MHC, who also have their national under-14 and under-16 to plan for this year, their work is much easier now.
“Even though the MCO is still in force, flights from Sabah to KL have resumed and I will come down to Kuala Lumpur for some business matters soon, and will use this opportunity to have a discussion with members of the competitions committee as well as the president (Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal) on the best dates to hold our age-group events," said Anil, who is also the Sabah HA president.
The Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examinations have also been postponed to the first quarter of 2021.
The MHC have also postponed the national Junior Hockey League (boys), which was initially scheduled for March 25-April 19, following the MCO. The girls’ event was moved to June.
Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School are the JHL double champions. Some of the school sides in the 24-team tournament this year are Bukit Jalil Sports School, Anderson School of Ipoh, Pahang Sports School, SMK Za'aba, SMK Datuk Bentara Batu Pahat and Tunku Besar Secondary School Tampin.
And these schools will rely on their Form Five and pre-university boys for good results.
New Straits Times
Salary crisis of hockey federation employees deepens: Mujahid asks govt to release pending PHF grant
Abdul Mohi Shah
ISLAMABAD: As the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) employees’ monthly salary crises deepens, former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary and 1994 World Cup winning team full back Rana Mujahid called on the government to release the pending more than two-year annual grant, helping the low paid employees come out of financial crises amid the lock down.
Talking to The News, Rana Mujahid revealed that the PHF officials including low paid one are without salary for the last two months.
“Amid the fears of COVID-19 and government decision to keep offices and sports activities close, the PHF has been unable to arrange for the monthly salary of its employees. All the employees from top to bottom are without salary and desperately need financial support to make both ends meet. All federations’ sources to generate funds have come to standstill. Some shops that were on lease have stopped paying rent and sponsors are no more interested to support any federation at the time when there is no activity. In this unprecedented situation of total uncertainty, the federal government must come forward and not only release the much delayed amount, it should also announce special support package for hockey.”
Mujahid said it had been the game of hockey that had brought so many laurels for the country. “We have won Olympic gold medals for Pakistan. Hockey alone has won three gold medals besides many other medals in the Olympics. No other sport in Pakistan has even won even a silver in the Games. Besides that Pakistan had won four World Cups and many, many other international titles. So hockey deserves more. In this hour of need when sponsorship and even shops rent is not coming, the government must come forward to the rescue the game and its very base.”
When The News approached one of the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) official, he confirmed that for the last more than two years, the Ministry did not release any special or even normal grant to the PHF. “We did not release normal grant to any federation during the last two years. However, we do have doled out special grant to around 15 federations that did not include hockey,” the official said. Mujahid said, the Ministry should release the pending amount to the PHF so that it could extend help to low-paid employees during this lockdown period. “Look these are unusual crises. Even though the federation never demanded the normal grant in recent times, it definitely requires this to help the needy employees. The Ministry should clear the two and half year backlog so that till the time things get back to normal, PHF should take care of their employees.”
The former World Cup winning team full back praised Federal Minister Dr Fehmida Mirza for clearing the backlog of 57 former players (or their widows) whose monthly stipend was stopped almost eighteen months back.
The News International
England Hockey: We must hit the ground running for new season
By Rod Gilmour
England Hockey’s chief executive has expressed a collective desire to be ready for the new season “in a way we have never been ready before” – if and when the coronavirus crisis finally abates in time and hundreds of hockey-starved players can finally return to pitches across the country.
From grass roots up to the national league elite tier, Nick Pink says there is a “tremendous opportunity” to be more connected as a sport from the top down.
He told The Hockey Paper: “The context for me is how can we make sure we push and punch above our weight and make sure as many people know as much what is happening at weekends at all national levels. We have a role to play as England Hockey and we need to gauge and understand where are role starts and stops.”
It will be a tall order if one looks at the focus given towards domestic hockey in recent years. This was certainly evident in some of the late season coverage (or lack thereof) which came in for criticism. Yet Pink is adamant that a corner can be turned and the domestic game given due prominence.
“We have more to play in the promotion and PR of our sport and there is no better place to start than next season,” said Pink. “I hope we have an opportunity to do that.
“There will of course be uncertainty for people in jobs and careers. But if we can position the sport well, we can bring it back as a celebratory part of getting back into physical activity and into a sport that means so much to the 140,000 who play weekly and the million who play at some point in the year.
“We need to make sure we are collectively ready for that moment, so that we don’t see a dip or lose too many people.”
With the postponed Olympics offering more uncertainty as to how much contact time there will be for international players with clubs next season, Pink did hint that plans are also in place to change the centralised programme structure in some form for the Paris 2024 cycle.
This hinges on a submission process to UK Sport and Sport England but Pink said: “We want to connect the centralised programme better into the game.”
The Hockey Paper will also be launching its #watchyour1s initiative for a second season following a highly successful campaign last year where clubs across the UK used the hashtag to drive support and raise awareness on the club game.
The Hockey Paper
England U16 Girls running to raise money for NHS
England U16 Girls 2019
Having had their season ended early by coronavirus, the England U16 Girls' team will now be putting their time to the best possible use by raising money for the NHS to help them continue the great work they're doing at this difficult time.
Organised by Saskia Lawrence, members of the team will instead by running 2,070 miles between them, the combined distances of the journeys they would have taken to play games against Belgium, Scotland and Germany this summer.
They will be raising money for NHS Charities Together along the way, with the money going towards helping the NHS provide the best possible patient care, keep their staff members as safe as possible and to fund research to find ways of beating the virus.
Fantastic work girls - we're with you all the way!
You can donate by clicking here.
England Hockey Board Media release