News for 06 January 2021
All the news for Wednesday 6 January 2021
South Africa event cancelled as teams start Olympic prep
MARLOW - 2019 Test Matches: India Great Britain v India (W) Photo: WORLDSPORTPICS COPYRIGHT WILL PALMER
A planned Summer Series tournament in South Africa this month, featuring Great Britain men, has been cancelled due to the new coronavirus variant, it has been reported.
The event was set to be held in Cape Town from Jan 10-27, with Belgium, Great Britain, India, France and hosts South Africa some of the men’s teams due to play.
“The decision to do so was taken after a risk assessment was done regarding the rising Covid-19 infection numbers in the Western Cape area,” Marissa Langeni, South African Hockey’s chief executive, told The Times of India.
The cancellation is a blow to those non-European teams who didn’t play any autumn Pro League matches.
It means that India have yet to play a fixture since last February. Their next slated tournament is the Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka, due to be played in March.
Meanwhile, India women have travelled to Argentina for their first matches on foreign soil since a trip to New Zealand last January – a welcome boost in their first preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
Led by Rani Rampal, India are due to play four matches against world No. 2 Argentina and several warm-up games this month.
“It feels amazing to be touring again,” Rani told reporters prior to departure.
Ireland women are also set to play five unofficial friendly games in Murcia against Spain from January 10-17.
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Max Caldas on winter internship in the Netherlands:'We are flexible’
In recent years, national coach Max Caldas has often stood by the side of the field in South Africa, Australia or Malaysia during the traditional winter training period of the Orange Men in shorts and a t-shirt. How different is that next week, when the temperature is expected to be a maximum of two degrees and the thermal clothing, hat and gloves are needed to get a little warm in the windy Wagener Stadium.'We are flexible and adapt to it,’ says Caldas.
That flexibility is part of performing at the highest level, the national coach teaches. Due to the roaming coronavirus, that flexibility is required more than ever. Time and again he had to adjust his training programs in recent months.'That applies not only to us, but to all countries. I have a lot of contact with other coaches. They all have their own problems. I will see how they deal with that, but will not compare. I rely on our own strength and try to ensure that our preparation is as optimal as possible.'
No risks
In that preparation, Caldas had long harbored the hope that he could travel abroad with his team. Various scenarios and destinations have been reviewed recently: South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Canary Islands and Germany. Piece by piece they fell off. The option for the covered field in Mannheim was only crossed out two weeks ago.
Caldas:'We have looked for opportunities, with respect for the applicable rules. Germany was an option until recently. Interesting, because we could also practice against Germany twice. But that option was eventually dropped because we don’t want to run any risks.'
Max Caldas: “I look forward to working with those guys from January 2 and taking steps towards our goal: a gold medal in Tokyo.”
So Caldas and his staff eventually chose to pitch their tents in the Netherlands. Papendal is the base for the first days, after which the training and other activities take place in Amsterdam.'Playing matches during the winter training camp has been important moments in recent years. That is not possible now. It means that we shift the emphasis, focus on hockey-related discussions and hold intensive group sessions about, for example, performance behaviour. Things that we may have less time for in the coming months. I look forward to working with those guests from 2 January and taking steps towards our goal: a gold medal in Tokyo.'
‘Bovendeert has taken steps’
Caldas has a group of 25 players at its disposal for the next week. Jelle Galema, attacker from Den Bosch, is no longer part of that training group. He was told last week that his chances in Tokyo are so small that it makes no sense to continue training with the Olympic training group.
His place is taken by Roel Bovendeert. The Bloemendaal attacker last played for the Orange squad in April 2019, but now still has a chance to make it to Tokyo. Bovendeert owes this choice to, among other things, his performance as a potential at Orange in recent months. Caldas:'Roel showed that he has made progress in his hockey. He is not only good in the circle, but is also more connected with the rest of the team around it and has his value there.'
Roel Bovendeert during a typical action: diving for a ball. Photo: Willem Vernes
Caldas has also taken steps, the coach acknowledges.'I told Roel that in recent years I may have looked too much at things that he cannot do well, that I was too focused on his points for improvement instead of looking at his qualities. In addition, there is a lot of competition at the Orange front, which means we made different choices in the past.'
I told Roel that in recent years I may have looked too much at things that he cannot do well.Max Caldas about his conversation with Roel Bovendeert
Caldas recently spoke extensively with Bovendeert, before deciding to bring the striker back to the Orange squad.'Roel and I always had a good click on a personal level, but professionally that between me as a coach and him as a player was not always there, so he often dropped out in recent years. I told him that, like the other players in the group, he has a real shot at Tokyo. But those words don’t have much value if he doesn’t feel that way. Then it wouldn’t make sense to bring him in. Roel indicated that he does have that feeling, but he also realizes that he can still lose weight for Tokyo. I’m happy about that, because I like to have him there.'
Potentials
From the 25 players in the current training group, Caldas 'normally’ compiles his selection of 16 players who will play in Tokyo. That does not alter the fact that other players can join the Orange in the coming months, says the national coach. 'We have a very busy schedule, especially in May. With two days after the play-offs all the Pro League games against New Zealand, then a double encounter with Australia and a game against Belgium. Shortly afterwards, the European Championship will start in early June.
During the busy period I may also need to call on other players than the 25 who are now in the group.
‘As a staff, we have to monitor the players very closely during that period. That means not only following the hard data, but also the soft data by having conversations with players about how they feel and how they are doing. Ultimately, we have to make sure that we show up in Tokyo with a fit and sharp selection. In order to achieve that, it may therefore be necessary to call on other players than the 25 who are now in the group during that busy period.'
The players of Oranje supplemented with potentials. Photo: Koen Suyk
The national coach can draw on the potentials, a group consisting of players from the Dutch Juniors and better players from the Dutch big league who are no longer allowed to participate in the Dutch Juniors due to their age. These potentials have frequently trained with the Orange training group in recent months. They will now return to their clubs to prepare for the restart of the Tulp Dutch Major League on January 31.
Caldas: 'We will continue to follow them and keep them engaged. With the club coaches in the lead, we give them a program to do extra physical work. At certain times, 'hockey incentives’ are added. In this way we try to further narrow the gap with the Orange to ensure that they can connect again and can be used in Pro League duels.'
Hockey World News
Need to be prepared for unforeseen challenges, says Indian hockey captain Manpreet Singh
Indian captain Manpreet Singh had said that his side should be focused on things that can be in their control
By Samrat Chakraborty
Even as the Indian women’s hockey team is visiting Argentina for their first international tour in almost a year, the men’s hockey team is still dealing with the uncertainties the pandemic is throwing their way.
Their scheduled tour of South Africa has been cancelled due to the new strain of Coronavirus and another surge in number of cases.
The ‘Summer Series’ in South Africa would have marked the men’s hockey team’s return to international competition in almost a year. Scheduled to take place in Cape Town from January 10-27, the tournament was set to feature Belgium, France, Great Britain and India apart from hosts South Africa.
It is another roadblock in their preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed to the summer of 2021 due to the pandemic.
Only a day before the news of the tour cancellation trickled in, Indian captain Manpreet Singh had said that his side should be focused on things that can be in their control.
Manpreet Singh
The biggest learning from last year was to not let external factors affect our goal,” said Manpreet Singh.
“There could be many uncertainties but we need to only worry about what's within our control and that is to work towards being our best. There could be several challenges leading up to the Olympic Games this year and we need to be mentally prepared for it.”
Team India's last competitive outing was the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneshwar in February 2020.
The Indian men will be striving to regain lost glory and aim for a podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics. The national team has failed to secure a medal since the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow where they won a gold medal.
In recent years - India finished sixth at the World Cup (2018), second in Champions Trophy (2018), bagged a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and finished fourth at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
Team India, however, remains the most successful team at the Olympics despite their medal drought. The national team have clinched eight gold medals as they emerged as champions at the games in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980.
Olympic Channel
Roadmap launched towards first Hockey 5s World Cups
Poland v Turkey at the 2019 under-16 EuroHockey5s PIC: Mariusz Orzeł
The road to the first Hockey 5s World Cup begins its journey this year, Covid permitting, with the first European events planned in July.
The European Hockey Federation has launched three elite Hockey 5s tournaments to its calendar, set for this summer after each continent was asked by the FIH to organise events to determine the first senior rankings.
In a release, the EHF stated that nations could use the 2021 events “as a test to see if they would like it.” The shortened outdoor format has previously been focused on the junior game.
The number of teams and qualification system for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup has not yet been determined by FIH.
It is anticipated that the summer of 2022 will see the first EuroHockey5s Championships where countries can qualify for the 2023 World Cups.
2021 EuroHockey5s Tournaments
EuroHockey5s Men’s Tournament A, Ukraine, 8-10 July 2021
Teams: BLR, BUL, ESP, NED, POL, SUI, TUR, UKR
EuroHockey5s Men’s Tournament B, Slovenia, 8-10 July 2021
Teams: AUT, BEL, CRO, CYP, ENG, RUS, SCO, SLO
EuroHockey5s Women’s Tournament, Poland, 7-10 July 2021
Teams: AUT, BEL, BLR, CRO, ENG, ESP, NED, POL, POR, RUS, SCO, SUI, TUR, UKR, WAL
The FIH will be promoting Hockey5s as a complementary version of the sport to 11-a-side hockey
Hockey 5s: 3 to know
Hockey5s is designed to be adaptable to the available facilities and for players of all ages and abilities.
If the playing area is less than specified in the FIH Hockey 5 rules, it might be appropriate to play with only four players of each team on the court and no boundary boards.
A goalkeeper is required in the rules but, if necessary and appropriate, the game could be played only with field players.
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Rabiatul to make Young Tigress fiercer
Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohamed (on the ground) in action.
Young Tigress coach A. Kannagi hopes the presence of former national player, Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohamed, can help guide the young players in her team in the National Women's Hockey League on Jan 14-Feb 20.
The former national defender believes that Rabiatul Adawiyah's vast experience is important in guiding the team's young players, aged between 18 and 22.
"We have five players from Project 2026 squad, so we are trying to use the services of those who are the main players to help this team challenge their opponents in the league this season."
"Of these five players, two will play the position of goalkeeper while the rest will fill the defender, midfielder and striker roles.
"So, it is a solid combination for this team," said Kannagi who was KL Wiper coach in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Kannagi said her focus is to improve the skill as well as teamwork of the young players who are mostly students of several schools or public universities.
Working with Kannagi are assistant coaches, Roshin Nordin and Mohamad Sabri Mohamad and team manager Mohammad Nazrin Yahya.
Apart from the Young Tigress, the other five teams competing this season are defending champions, SME Uniten-KPT, PDRM Blue Warriors, Sabah, Mutiara Impian-MSSPP-PSHA and UniKL Ladies.
New Straits Times
Grassroots hockey impacted by third lockdown
Grassroots hockey in England has once again taken a hit following the government’s announcement of a new national lockdown.
England Hockey confirmed that grassroots and club hockey “must be suspended for the foreseeable future” due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, cabinet minister Michael Gove hinted that the third lockdown might not be eased until March, meaning that the domestic leagues will be under pressure to conclude its seasons.
While elite sports can continue and train grassroots sports for adults and children will not be allowed for the coming weeks.
This means that lockdown 3.0 is more severe than the November lockdown when league matches and school sport were allowed to continue.
England Hockey said that the only exception it was aware of was Flyerz hockey being able to continue due to organised outdoor sport for disabled people given the green light.
The latest government advice states: “Outdoor sports venues, including tennis courts, golf courses and swimming pools, must close. You can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble … once per day.”
England Hockey added that it was expecting “more nuances; we’re reviewing guidance.”