News for 10 December 2020
All the news for Thursday 10 December 2020
Asian Games Gold -10th Anniversary
By Shahid Khan
Last weekend marked the 10th anniversary of Pakistan’s triumph at the Asian Games (2010) when they defeated Malaysia 2-0 in the final in Guangzhou, China
It was Greenshirts eighth Asiad hockey gold which ended a drought that had stretched back two decades to Beijing (1990), also handed them their first major title since winning the Sydney World Cup in 1994.
Pakistan had gone into the Asian Games on the back of an abysmal run in the earlier part of the year, having finished last at the 12 teams World Cup (New Delhi) in March and followed that with a disappointing 6th position at the Commonwealth Games three months later.
Appointment of foreign coach
After their worst-ever-finish in the World Cup - in a global event in which they still hold the record of four titles, Pakistan Hockey Federation despite the customary clamour from the local Olympians not to appoint a foreign coach, opted to appoint a Dutchman, Michel van den Heuvel in the hope that he would revive their glorious past just as his countryman Hans Jorritsma had coached the winning Pakistan team at the 1994 World Cup.
Former German coach Paul Lisseck and Australian Barry Dancer had also been considered but both were reluctant to stay in Pakistan due to security reasons at the time.
Michel recalling his appointment said, his target was to win the Asian Games which were to be held five months later, he soon discovered that the players understandably were at a very low ebb after their disastrous World Cup campaign.
He was successful in requesting senior players, Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmad to return to the national team after they had announced their retirements, together with rest of World Cup team from international hockey following the debacle at New Delhi, World Cup.
Michel also sought the availability of their number one goalkeeper, Salman Akbar who was contracted to play in the Dutch League during the Commonwealth Games. The newly appointed coach set about immediately preparing a detailed plan including a European tour with matches in Spain, Belgium and Holland.
Michel commenting on his first impression of his task ahead said, ‘he had to mould the players to his way of thinking including taking to his extremely demanding training sessions which included three training sessions a day, something he had never done before’.
Training camps were held in the extreme heat of Karachi, during August which was also the month of fasting for the players. Later the training camp was moved to Abbottabad in the north and final camp was held in Lahore.
Michel’s gruelling training sessions
When asked about the breaking of his rules set for the players, Michel said that ‘yes he had threatened to quit when he found out some players had ventured to the city in Spain as they had broken the 10pm curfew he had set’.
On the other hand citing the example of Mohammed Irfan, he said as he could monitor the physical fitness of all the players, he noticed he was ‘training twice as hard and his heart rate from some exercises read 200 and he even had to ask him to slow down’.
The squad together with the support staff, Michael said gradually accepted his methods and he was thankful to Waseem Ahmed for translations where necessary for some of the players.
Their goalkeeper Salman Akbar, still featuring in the Dutch League at present, reminiscing fondly the events of 10 years ago said, ‘Michel was successful in forming a great bond amongst the players especially on the European tour and even while he was away from the team he had been given him specific drills required to sharpen his goal keeping skills - a must if you are to succeed in the modern game’.
At the Commonwealth Games in October in a tournament unlike all other major tournaments they do not have a good track record, they finished 6th but the coach was not unduly perturbed as he said his goal was winning the Asian Games, as he maintained no team could achieve peak performance in both October and November – i.e. at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games respectively.
Asian Games formidable record
Pakistan had boasted an awesome record in the Asian Games. In its inaugural edition when hockey was introduced in Bangkok (1958) Greenshirts defeated India to grab the gold medal and retained it four years later. Barring 1966 Games they held the title up to 1982 during which they claimed four consecutive gold positions from 1970 - 1982.
The added incentive for winning the continental games was automatic qualification for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Michel remained confident that he not left any stone unturned in the preparations and team would return with gold medal position.
2010 Asian Games
In the opening game as expected Pakistan cruised past Hong Kong with 12-0 victory. The second match against Japan, an emerging hockey force at the time also coached by a shrewd Dutch coach Siegfried Aikman, was supposed to be an early stern test for the Greenshirts.
Japan shocked them by taking an early lead but Pakistan hit back immediately to equalise and then did not look back as they rattled 7 further goals and final score was 8-2.
However in the next pool match India got the better of them in a 5 goal thriller. Michel rallied his players telling that the extra rest days had favoured their opponents and they were still on course in their journey to the top position. Both teams qualified for the semi-finals with India topping the pool group.
Greenshirts semi-final against South Korea (highest world team in the tournament) ended 1-1 after extra time and penalty stroke phase ensued. The first set of strokes finished 3-3 and sudden death strokes were needed to decide the finalist. With the whole nation holding its breath, up stepped Sohail Abbas - the world’s most lethal drag flicker and for him to beat the goalkeeper from mere seven mitres was almost a certainty. Although the Korean custodian dived the wrong Abbas’s effort went wide of the post.
Salman Akbar the Pakistan goalkeeper – said ‘the only thought I had as I stood to face next penalty was to save it for the sake of averting an abiding memory of Sohail – one of the greatest ever player missing a penalty which meant denying us the chance of progressing to our quest for gold medal’. Salman pulled off two remarkable saves before Haseem Khan coolly slotted home to book their berth in the final.
In the other semi-final Malaysia had shocked India by a late equaliser before scoring a winner in extra time to win 4-3. Pakistan were in a confident mood and duly won the final with goals from Abbas and Rehan Butt and qualified for the 2012 Olympics (London).
The victorious team returned home to a tumultuous celebrations without their coach Michel who had returned to his home country having been away for 5 months. However this was to be his last assignment as the team coach, according to Michel ‘the selection of the team was to be being taken from me and no coach in the world hockey can accept that’.
Lamenting on his parting, Waseem Ahmad the present assistant coach remarked ‘if we had continued with Michel as coach, with the talent of players at his disposal we would probably have earned a podium finish at the London Olympics, whereas we finished 7th’.
Shahid Khan is a senior hockey journalist having covered all major hockey events since 1997 and has been regular contributor to BBC Radio Asia Network.
Fieldhockey.com Exclusive
Watch.Hockey fan vote: Retiring Rebecchi’s goal voted 3rd best of FIH Hockey Pro League 2020
Just days after announcing her international retirement at the age of 36, we can reveal that Argentina legend Carla Rebecchi’s strike against USA in February has been voted as the third best goal of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2020 by fans using the Watch.Hockey app.
We caught up with Carla to discuss not only her goal but also her decision to call time on a sensational international career in which she represented Argentina on 317 occasions and scored over 160 goals, two of which came in the 2010 Women’s FIH World Cup final against the Netherlands as Las Leonas stormed to glory on home soil in Rosario.
Carla Rebecchi, your goal against USA on 8 February has been voted the third best goal of the 2020 FIH Hockey Pro League, by fans using the Watch.Hockey app. You must be delighted!
Carla Rebecchi: “I want to thank all of the people that voted for my goal and finishing third in the best goals of the [FIH Hockey] Pro League.”
What can you remember about the goal? You certainly showed quick reactions, and it helped Las Leonas to a 6-1 victory over your Pan American rivals.
Carla Rebecchi: “What I remember from the goal is that I think it came from a long, aerial pass, and I received it near the 25 [metre] line. I remember that I drove past some defenders and the ball went a bit long, so I tried to reach it. I saw that the goalkeeper was coming out, so I tried to reach the ball to get one last touch to get it past the keeper.”
You could not have known it at the time, but following your recent announcement to retire, it has turned out to be your final international goal for Argentina. That must be a strange moment for you.
Carla Rebecchi: “It is weird to know now that it was the last goal I [scored for] the national team, but it is a nice memory to remember that that was the last goal.”
The whole hockey world is obviously very sad to see you step away from the game, especially after your wonderful return to the sport a couple of years ago. Can you tell us about your decision to retire?
Carla Rebecchi: “It was a really difficult decision, to not go back to the national team. But it is something I have been thinking about a lot since the [2020] Olympics [in Japan] were postponed. That was really tough for me, because I was planning to retire there. Having a child, it is also very difficult for me to leave her for so much time. I really miss her [when I am away], and I want to spend time with her, so it is something I feel inside me. It was a very difficult decision because I would really have liked to get to Tokyo, but my first priority is my daughter. I really miss her, and I want to be with her.”
You are currently playing in Belgium, playing for Royal Antwerp HC. Are you enjoying life over there?
Carla Rebecchi: “I am really enjoying my life in Belgium. I came will all my family, so we are sharing this together. It is good to be playing again and competing again, as this year in Argentina we were not able to play our leagues, so it is nice to be playing again.”
Finally, if you could choose three of the greatest moments from your incredible career, what would they be?
Carla Rebecchi: “If I had to choose three moments from my career, I would say first is the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Argentina. It was an amazing tournament, and we became world champions. We really enjoyed the tournament. Second, I would say the London 2012 Olympics, which was a really nice tournament. We got the silver medal, and it is a great memory. Third, I would choose the 2019 Pan American Games last year [in Lima, Peru, where Argentina won gold]. I came back to the team after becoming a mother and it was a really nice tournament. I really enjoyed it with the team, it was really nice.”
We will reveal who the fans have selected as the second best FIH Hockey Pro League goal of 2020 on Thursday 9December, with the winner being revealed on Friday 10th December. The outcome of the fan vote for the Best Matches of the 2020 FIH Hockey Pro League will be revealed between Wednesday 16 and Friday 18 December.
Don’t forget to download the Watch.Hockey app, where you can find the latest news and interviews as well as action replays and highlights. Simply search Watch.Hockey in the App Store or on Google Play. A desktop version of the app is available at www.watch.hockey.
On behalf of the entire global hockey family, the FIH would like to congratulate Carla Rebecchi on an outstanding career that has left an indelible mark on the sport. Thank you for the memories!
#WatchHockey
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FIH site
FIH cancels 2021 Hockey Stars Awards due to coronavirus pandemic
By Liam Morgan
The FIH has cancelled its Hockey Stars Awards ©Getty Images
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has cancelled its flagship annual awards for 2021 because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the sport's global calendar.
FIH chief executive Thierry Weil said the Hockey Stars Awards, which recognise the best players in the game, would not take place early next year as planned.
Weil said the FIH was hoping to continue to stage the awards from 2022.
"Due to the high number of international matches which could not be played this year because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no FIH Stars Awards this time," he said.
"But we of course intend to renew with these awards in the future, once the situation will enable international hockey to be played on a regular basis again."
Eva de Goede won the women's player of the year in 2018 ©Getty Images
The COVID-19 pandemic decimated international sport this year and numerous events were postponed or cancelled, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, pushed back to 2021.
The FIH Hockey Pro League was also halted for six months before it resumed in September with matches between Germany and Belgium.
Two matches were postponed last month owing to travel restrictions imposed due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 infections in Europe.
The FIH held its 2020 Hockey Stars Awards in February.
Inside the Games
Bidding process to host inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup launched
Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) today launched the bidding process for hosting the 2023 FIH Hockey5s World Cups (Men and Women). The Hockey5s’ flagship event is a brand-new FIH competition. 16 teams per gender will take part in this inaugural edition.
The FIH Executive Board last year decided to create an FIH Hockey5s World Cup, with a view to further boosting the development of hockey globally through the promotion of its 5-a-side format.
Continental Hockey5s tournaments will be organized and act as qualifiers for the World Cup.
FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “The FIH Hockey5s World Cup will enable a number of National Associations, smaller ones in particular, to participate in a World Cup - or the qualifiers of a World Cup - while they’re currently struggling to do so with the 11-a-side format. This is good for the overall growth of our sport. Furthermore, we strongly believe in the power of Hockey5s to welcome new players and fans in the hockey community.”
As most will remember, Hockey5s enjoyed a resounding success at the last Youth Olympic Games in 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Furthermore, FIH also opened today the bidding process to host the 2023 FIH Hockey Junior World Cups, which will involve 16 Men and 16 Women teams.
Both bidding processes are open to all National Associations, with 5 March 2021 as a deadline to submit their bidding documents for the 2023 FIH Hockey5s World Cups and 31 March 2021 for the 2023 FIH Junior World Cups.
FIH site
Lalremsiami: “Many positives despite a very challenging year”
Bengaluru: With their National Coaching Camp drawing to an end this Saturday, Hockey India striker Lalremsiami feels there are plenty of positives this year despite the pandemic stalling their plans of achieving success at major international events including the Olympic Games.
“This week, as we wrap up the National Camp, I think most of us are in a mood to reflect back on the year that was meant to take us to new heights. Though the pandemic posed several challenges for us, we are looking at the positives that has made us believe in ourselves more than ever. The pandemic has certainly made us stronger mentally and we have become stronger and tight-knit as a group,” stated the young striker from Mizoram.
Lalremsiami, who has climbed up the ranks in the senior team after strong performances in major international events including the Asian Games in 2018 and the FIH Olympic Qualifier in 2019, expressed that the team’s philanthropic efforts that helped feed over 1000 families during the lockdown will remain one of her favourite 2020 moments. “Only weeks into the lockdown when we realised the struggles of people across the country who were rendered jobless and struggled to feed themselves and their families, we decided to do something to help them. We had never taken up a cause like this before but the entire team was unanimous in our decision and the support we received from across the hockey fraternity was immense. Raising over 20 Lakhs through an online challenge and subsequently being able to feed more than 1000 families will remain a highlight for me this year,” she said.
She also highlighted her Captain Rani’s Khel Ratna Award which made her the first Indian women hockey player to receive this honour. “Like I said, 2020 did have many positives too and one among them was a woman’s hockey player winning the Khel Ratna Award. Rani winning this esteemed honour has made us youngsters believe there is always recognition for hardwork and we feel women’s hockey is getting its due recognition. It was a big moment for women’s hockey,” she said.
Lalremsiami too received accolades as she was declared the FIH Rising Star of the year 2019 and she was also feted by Hockey India earlier this year with the Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2019 (U-21) and she was awarded a total cash prize of Rs 15 Lakhs during the 3rd Hockey India Annual Awards.
Looking ahead at 2021, Lalremsiami said, “We have achieved desirable targets in these last four months of the National Coaching Camp. The training was high in intensity especially in the last six weeks
Stick2Hockey.com
Shello taking national squad omission in his stride
By T. AVINESHWARAN
Great Britain's Scott Duncan (white) try to fight the ball with Malaysia's Shello Silverius during the Sultan of Johor Cup 2018 at Taman Daya hockey stadium, Johor Baru. Pic by ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Shello Silverius does not feel that his stint with the Malaysian junior hockey team is a step backwards.The 21-year-old, who earlier this year was part of the national team training camp, failed to make it into A. Arulselvaraj’s squad.
For some the rejection will be a massive blow to their morale but the Keningau-born player sees his stint with the juniors as a platform to rectify his weaknesses so that he will be ready for future national call-ups.
“Coach Arul had a frank talk with me. He said there were some things I need work on like my skills. Basically, he said I was not ready, ” said Shello.
“I’m not disheartened, I took it in my stride. Anyway, junior coach Wallace (Tan) has been really helpful. He is vastly experienced and I’m always learning.”
When asked what his weaknesses are, Shello jokingly said: “I’m not going to tell you because my opponents would tap on it. I’m aware of them and it’s best to keep it between myself and the coaches.
“I’m still young and with their help, I will eventually make it to the senior squad. But first, let me continue making my mark with the juniors.
“I’ve no issues training with the juniors because I was with them before joining the national team. So, it’s familiar surroundings for me.”
Shello gained prominence when he led Malaysia to a third-placed finish in the six-nation Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup in October.
The midfielder has the distinction of becoming the first player from East Malaysia to captain the national junior team then.
He also helped Malaysia win gold in indoor hockey at the Philippines SEA Games last year.
The Star of Malaysia
Siobhán Madeley the November Volunteer of the Month
Siobhán Madeley has been named Leinster Hockey’s November Volunteer of the Month for her work introducing and promoting hockey for people with special needs in Ireland.
A member of Three Rock Rovers HC for many years, she started a ParaHockey programme in the club less than five years ago. The Rockets ParaHockey programme is now a growing and much loved section within Three Rock and Siobhán has assisted a number of other clubs in Leinster to start and grow their own ParaHockey Sections.
There are now ParaHockey sections in Monkstown, Railway Union, Loreto and Botanic Hockey Clubs.
TRR club secretary Luke McSharry said: “the introduction of ParaHockey to the club has undoubtedly had a positive impact on the players and coaches involved with the Rockets, but has also gone on to have such a positive effect on the wider club”.
In announcing the award, Development Director Fiona Walshe also thanked Siobhán “for her work introducing ParaHockey to the Leinster Hockey family and we look forward to seeing numbers grow” and she wished the Irish ParaHockey squad the best of luck in the Europeans in July 2021.
Leinster Hockey Chairman, Trevor Watkins congratulated Siobhán, saying: “it was well deserved recognition for her work and foresight to get ParaHockey started in Ireland” and he expressed his delight in seeing this format of the game grow in Leinster.
She is the third recipient of these new monthly awards and Leinster Hockey have been “overwhelmed by the nominations”.
“As a sport, we are blessed to have such amazing volunteers in all our clubs who give so freely of their time and energy and we’d like to thank all the volunteers in our clubs and on all our committee’s for their tireless work.
“The nominations received recognised volunteers in all areas of our sport – coaches, umpires, administrators, Children’s Officers, Covid Officers, committee members.”
The Hook
Hockeyroo Lily Brazel starts legal battle with Hockey Australia over contract termination
EXCLUSIVE By JULIAN LINDEN AND SIMON ORCHARD
Lily Brazel has lodged a discrimination claim against Hockey Australia after losing her contract.
One of Australia’s best female hockey players has begun legal action against the national federation, claiming she was kicked off the high-performance program because she asked for time off to deal with her mental health concerns and senior staff didn’t believe her cry for help was real.
Star midfielder Lily Brazel, 25, has lodged a discrimination claim with the Western Australian Equal Opportunity Commission discrimination board, alleging her contract was terminated by Hockey Australia when she requested a six-week break to deal with her mental health issues after the Tokyo Olympics were postponed because of the global pandemic.
Capped 52 times by the Hockeyroos, Brazel claims she was told by Hockey Australia staff that her request was rejected because she was mistaking legitimate mental health issues with unhappiness — even though she was never examined by a team psychologist while a national coach, who was granted leave on mental health grounds, allegedly told her the difference between their cases was: “I actually have a problem.”
Lily Brazel (left) requested a six-week break to deal with mental health issues. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright
Brazel said she received a letter from Hockey Australia three days later, saying: “Thank you for outlining your intention to leave the program”.
Brazel told The Daily Telegraph: “I was basically put in a position where I had to choose between looking after my mental health and my position in the team and consequently my Olympic dream and so I decided to prioritise my mental health.
“That meant that my contract wasn’t renewed and rolled over like the rest of the squad members for the end of 2020, it finished in August.
Hockey Australia told The Daily Telegraph it cannot and would not comment on Brazel’s case.
Brazel said she was told that part of the reason her contract was terminated was because she had breached the rules when she asked for a break from the elite program but wanted to play club hockey to keep in physical shape.
Lily Brazel wants Hockey Australia to be accountable for its actions. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
She claims she was told she had to prove she was worthy of reinclusion but was then left off a training camp in November.
“The main reason I’m speaking up and the reason I sought legal action is because I want Hockey Australia to be accountable for their actions because they’re failing and damaging our country’s best players,” she said.
“We’re continually getting pushed out the door and I want my teammates and future Hockeyroos to have an environment they deserve and the success they deserve and they’re just not getting that.”
Brazel’s claims come at the same time Hockey Australia has launched an investigation into complaints from past and present players about the “toxic culture” within the women’s high-performance set up.
Three Hockeyroos captains have recently stepped down. One of them, Georgina Morgan, was last week dropped from the national squad. She has appealed against her shock omission, along with Rachael Lynch, who was also left off despite being rated the best goalkeeper in the world.
Former captain Georgina Morgan has appealed against her shock omission from the Hockeyroos squad. Picture: AFP Photo/Daniel Leal-Olivas
The Daily Telegraph has been told players have been warned their contracts will be ripped up if they go public and lift the lid on the litany of problems — including complaints of alleged bullying within the organisation.
The Daily Telegraph has seen several letters of complaint that were sent to Hockey Australia in 2017 and 2018 as well as more recent grievances, including threats to stage a mass strike unless an fully independent and transparent investigation is carried out.
“Senior players who try and stand up for what’s best for the playing group are often not liked by the staff who just want athletes who comply and are silent so they chew us up and kick us out,” Brazel said.
“What I’m worried about is Hockey Australia is saying this is an isolated incident because it’s not at all. My experience mirrors so much of what other players have experienced.
“Yes, it’s toxic, yes there’s a cultural issue but Hockey Australia keeps defending all that by speaking to the program’s success but players don’t even enjoy being there and they’re too scared to speak out.”
The Australian
Hockey Australia in crisis: How broken promise exposed shocking failures
By Julian Linden And Simon Orchard
Respected assistant coach David Guest was sacked in 2018 after falling out with Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin. Picture: Mathew Farrell
Hockey Australia made a solemn pledge to its best female players when the previous national women’s coach was fired for misconduct at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Investigated for allegedly exposing himself and making lewd comments to female team members, Adam Commens was sacked by Hockey Australia right before his contract was about to expire.
The message from Hockey Australia’s top brass was clear: the administrators were finally cleaning up their act after years of sordid reports about the toxic culture that had infiltrated Australia’s beloved Hockeyroos, including body shaming that led to serious eating disorders and a player overlooked for the captaincy because she was openly gay.
But four years later, dozens of women involved in the national high-performance program have accused Hockey Australia of reneging on its promise, revealing explosive and shocking claims of an elite program in complete crisis.
Adam Commens was fired by Hockey Australia for misconduct at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Picture: AAP
Past and present players, as well as former administrators, coaches and medical staff, have all contacted News Corp to lift the lid on Australian hockey’s darkest secrets following the exclusive report that one of the country’s best female players was dumped just because she asked for time off to treat her mental health issues.
In a statement to News Corp, Hockey Australia said it would not respond or comment on any of the accusations.
Most of the complaints centre around the behaviour of the new women’s head coach Paul Gaudion and high-performance director Toni Cumpston, for different reasons.
News Corp has seen more than 20 letters objecting to their management style, including one that Nicole Arrold sent to Cumpston herself, expressing her alarm at the breakdown between coaches and players shortly after she had taken an assistant’s role. It didn’t go down well and Arrold resigned suddenly, to the dismay of players because she was well liked.
Another assistant who was also respected by the players, David Guest, was fired without any player consultation, while more and more staff began to fear for their job safety in the high-performance program.
High-performance director Toni Cumpston’s management style has been criticised. Picture: Supplied
Krystle Stylianou, who was a national program adviser from 2015-17, was among the many people who complained about Cumpston. She left soon after.
“I would drive to work crying, experiencing panic attacks almost daily while at work,” Stylianou wrote.
“After finishing with HA, I was headhunted for a number of jobs in HP sport and turned them down because I had no confidence, was trying to cope with a complete mental and physical breakdown and lost all confidence in the industry I loved.
“It has taken me three years of therapy, medical intervention, to finally realise the issue did not lie with me but with management and poor leadership.”
The team’s long-serving and popular doctor Carmel Goodman also departed, as did Simone Fountain, the operations manager, and Angele Gray, the manager of the Hockeyroos.
Trish Jayallen worked with Gray when she was hired as an administrative assistant. They became friends with many of the players, who she said often confided in how frightened they were to speak out.
Hockey Australia’s elite women’s program is in crisis. Picture: AAP
After Gray resigned, Jayallen decided to approach Cumpston on behalf of the players and was fired on the spot.
“It was outside the women’s toilet,” said Jayallen, who had to contact Fair Work to receive her full payout.
Most of the complaints about Gaudion relate to his apparent lack of organisation and poor communication skills.
Several complained that he would often arrive at training without a practice plan and was notorious for failing to show up to scheduled meetings or answer his phone or his emails or provide feedback to players left off the team.
In a recent interview with AAP, Gaudoin admitted to missing player meetings but denied more serious complaints.
“I missed some meetings, yeah, I’m happy to say that,” Gaudoin said. “There are various reasons for those and I don’t want to get caught up in that. But that can happen at times. I’m not perfect, but I followed up on many occasions with those players.”
Hockeyroos head coach Paul Gaudoin has come under fire for his poor communication skills and lack of organisation. Picture: AAP
One highly decorated international who wanted to know why she was unexpectedly left off the squad for the 2018 Commonwealth Games said she went eight months without being given any explanation.
Exasperated, players considered going on strike before a tournament in New Zealand in 2018 but were so fearful of the repercussions, they decided instead just to send a letter to the board of Hockey Australia.
The leadership group considered airing all the grievances after canvassing every player for their confidential opinions and being shocked by the replies.
In the letters seen by News Corp, and which were mostly written by current players, the writers complained of being “spoken to like children”, treated like “replaceable cogs in the machine” and having lost all faith and confidence in the programs, which are funded by Australian taxpayers.
One player described the culture as “worse than the previous program” that Hockey Australia vowed to clean up, writing: “This vicious cycle needs to stop.”
In the end, the players decided not to air all their gripes, so instead wrote a petition expressing their dismay at how badly the program was being run while pleading for help to fix it.
“We are reaching out to you directly as we feel that urgent action is required to prevent any further degradation in the team’s culture (particularly the relationship between players and coaches) and to also prevent any more players departing the program,” the players wrote.
Hockey Australia CEO Matt Favier.
“We have not taken the step of addressing the board lightly. We have met as a team and feel that continuing under the current structure is untenable and that the lack of trust and low morale have compromised the team’s chances of future and continued success.”
More than three months later, Hockey Australia president Mel Woosnam replied, saying that the board, led by CEO Matt Favier, had agreed to take steps to ensure the following areas were being addressed:
1. That player welfare and wellbeing remains a primary focus;
2. That international hockey success remains the central ambition;
3. That support services, coaching and program leadership continue to strive to be world class;
4. That a constructive and high-performing environment is re-established within the women’s program as a priority.
Or, as one current player told News Corp: “They didn’t do a bloody thing.”
The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 has only heightened the tensions. Emily Smith, Georgie Morgan and Jodie Kenny have all recently quit the captaincy. Kenny has left the sport altogether, joining a mass exodus of players turning their backs on the sport.
Morgan and Rachel Lynch, two of the best players in the world, were both left off the squad for Tokyo next year, triggering the latest revolt.
Hockey Australia has promised an investigation. Now, the players are waiting to see whether it will keep it this time.
Former Hockeyroos skipper Jodie Kenny. Picture: Patrick Woods
THE ACCUSATIONS
*Widespread complaints of bullying.
*Players body-shamed and told they were overweight.
*Players developed serious eating disorders.
*Players discriminated against for being openly gay.
*Surge in players requesting mental health support.
*The national team on the verge of taking strike action.
*A complete breakdown of trust between high performance and coaches.
*Elite players, including three national captains, have quit the team.
*Staff members resigning in protest.
*Staff members fired at short notice — one of them in front of a toilet.
*Players report being fearful of speaking out.
*Players claim they were encouraged by coaches to “snitch” on their teammates.
*Board members accused of not taking complaints seriously.
TIMELINE
2016
August — Hockeyroos finish 6th at Rio Olympics, team’s worst result since women’s hockey was introduced to the Olympics in 1980.
September — Women’s national head Adam Commens sacked for ‘misconduct’ after allegedly exposing himself to players while at the Olympics.
December — Paul Gaudion appointed women’s head coach and Toni Cumpston appointed director of women’s high performance after review into program.
Adam Commens (left) was sacked as women’s national head coach in 2016. Picture: AAP
2017
February — Nic Arrold appointed assistant coach.
October — Georgia Nanscawen, youngest player to make 100 appearances for the Hockeyroos, quits the sport and joins AFLW.
December — Arrold quits, citing concerns about the program.
2018
April — Forward Gabi Nance quits the team.
May — Assistant coach David Guest sacked after falling out with Gaudoin.
May — Squad considers going on strike before tournament in New Zealand before deciding instead to send the board a letter of complaint outlining their concerns.
August — Board replies to letter, promising some minor changes.
November — Defender Kathryn Slattery quits.
2019
October — On the eve of Olympic qualifiers, players told they are being split into two groups, one called ‘proper Hockeyroos’, the other ‘not good enough Hockeyroos’. Players told critique the commitment of teammate to the program.
2020
March — High performance closes down because of COVID-19.
April — Players told funding will be cut back.
September — Emily Smith, Georgie Morgan and Jodie Kenny all resign the captaincy.
October — Kenny announces retirement.
October — Morgan and star goalkeeper Rachel Lynch left out of 2021 Tokyo squad.
November — Hockey Australia announces independent review into program.
The Daily Telegraph
The Australian
Note: I have spoken to Adam Commens about the incident of "exposing himself" and he told me it happened when he relieved himself in some bushes while desperately needing a pee with no toilet facilities nearby. He also told me he is pretty certain nobody could have seen any exposed body parts.
Obituary: Maurice Kittrell
Maurice Kittrell. Photo courtesy of Tony Tucker.
England Hockey are saddened to hear of the passing of Maurice Kittrell last month at the age of 90.
A stalwart of Hounslow HC, he joined the club at the age of 16 in 1946 and featured in their 1st XI across the course of three decades. He was also club captain, honorary secretary and chairman at the club.
As well as this, Maurice also represented Middlesex and England as a player before also becoming chairman of the Middlesex Hockey Association. He was also a member of the Hockey Writers' Club and regularly attended many of their events.
England Hockey's thoughts are with Maurice's family and friends.
England Hockey Board Media release
Ex-umpire of hockey passes away
ABBOTTABAD: A former Pakistan international hockey umpire and senior official of Habib Bank Limited, Syed Siddique Shah Bukhari, died after prolonged illness here on Wednesday.
His well-attended namaz-e-janaza was offered in the morning and the body was shifted to his hometown Kohat for burial.
Late Bukhari had remained secretary of the alumni association of the Government College Abbottabad. He represented Pakistan all around the world in the field of hockey. He remained president of the Hazara Table Tennis Association for years and was also a basketball player.
The News International