News for 21 May 2021
All the news for Friday 21 May 2021
Creed ends five year goal drought and now sets sights on Spain
Brendan Creed is not used to scoring goals. So when the 27-year-old defender popped up to score the second of five goals that Great Britain scored against Germany in their first match of two, he was understandably delighted.
“I haven’t scored a goal in five years so euphoria was probably the best word to describe it. When it’s been five years you aren’t really prepared for the emotion you feel and it just came out in my celebrations.”
Great Britain hit the turf at Lee Valley in some style as they beat Germany 5-3 and 3-1. ForCreed, the two matches were a culmination of months of preparation.
“It was really nice to be back at Lee Valley, it had been a long time since we played there. The hot weather trip we had to Malaysia [in April] had been good for the team and we took a lot of learnings from that trip.
“All the training that we have done all just came together. People had got used to each other in game time and that showed. The beauty of the group that we have is that we don’t rely on one person.”
The next two matches are FIH Hockey Pro League games against Spain. Currently, the Spanish side are ninth in the league with two wins to their name. They will be wanting to finish the league in winning fashion but Creed believes Great Britain – who are currently in sixth position in the league – are gathering momentum ahead of a few months that will see both sides competing at the EuroHockey Championships and the Olympic Games [as England for the EuroHockey Championships and Great Britain in Tokyo].
“The Spanish team will have great 1v1 skills and they are very good at counter attacking and corners. We will need to make sure we are prepared to deal with players who attack with no fear and are happy to take people on,” saysCreed.
“For our part, we are building on what we have been doing. We are now stamping our game style on people.”
At the Lee Valley Hockey Stadium, the national governing body England Hockey have relaxed spectator restrictions to allow 200 family and friends into the stadium to watch the matches. This will be the last time families will be able to see the Great Britain athletes in action before the squad leaves for Tokyo. Creed explained that he hadn’t seen his parents for a long time and many other athletes were in the same position. “Emotions may be a little higher but it won’t impact our performance,” he says. “But it will be great to see them after the game and relax with them.”
“There is just so much excitement about getting out there and playing hockey again. That is what it is all about for us.”
Great Britain will face Spain on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 May at 13:00 and 12:00 (BST) respectively, at the Lee Valley Hockey Stadium in London.
#FIHProLeague
Official FIH Pro League Site
Irish Women’s European Squad Announcement.
Chloe Watkins, Anna O’Flanagan, Michelle Carey, Katie Mullan and Nikki Evans, Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
After over 20 months preparing in the background, the Irish women’s hockey team is looking to hit the ground running at June’s European Championships in the Netherlands.
It is the first phase of a huge summer that culminates in the Tokyo Olympic Games with the Euros doubling up as a key preparation tournament for the Games while also providing three potential 2022 World Cup tickets.
It means head coach Sean Dancer has selected his strongest available squad for the eight-team competition at Amstelveen’s Wagener Stadium, bidding for a first-ever semi-final spot.
There, they will take on world number one side the Netherlands on June 5th in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup final; on June 7th, Ireland face Scotland before closing out the group stages on June 9th against Spain.
Dancer’s 18-player panel features 12 of the 2018 World Cup silver medal-winning side and 13 of the team that won qualification to the Olympic Games in November 2019 in a dramatic shoot-out in front of a packed-out Donnybrook Stadium.
Heroes like Ayeisha McFerran, Lizzie Colvin, Nicci Daly, Nikki Evans, Megan Frazer Hannah Matthews, Shirley McCay, Katie Mullan, Anna O’Flanagan, Lena Tice, Roisin Upton, Sarah Hawkshaw and Chloe Watkins bring a wealth of talent to the table.
There have been injury issues, though, which have seen Zoe Wilson and Barr twins Serena and Bethany have to sit out the summer action.
And so, over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dancer’s panel has evolved with several new faces emerging.
Rising UCD star Michelle Carey is set to make her formal capped international debut when the Green Army take the field against the Dutch.
A product of the Railway Union youth system, she has been an ever-present at training camps in Spain, Belfast and England since the turn of the year, scoring a number of goals from midfield in international challenge matches to date.
She is one of three players making their first appearance in a world ranking event. Loreto speedster Sarah Torrans gets her chance having been on the list of reserves for the World Cup while UCD’s Hannah McLoughlin has impressed in defence in recent series against Great Britain and Scotland.
Cratloe native Naomi Carroll will play her first capped match since the summer of 2018, having taken the long road back from an ACL injury sustained while in ladies football action for Clare. Since then, she was part of the rejuvenated Irish indoor hockey side in 2020 before earning her recall to the senior outdoor setup.
All going well, a number of established faces will hit major milestones during the tournament. Evans is two caps shy of her 200th international outing; Colvin will hit that same mark if she plays four matches in the competition; Matthews, meanwhile, is three caps away from 150 appearances in green.
Due to Covid-19 concerns, the European Hockey Federation has allowed a further two players to join the panel as “travelling reserves” in addition to the initial panel of 18.
Deirdre Duke will offer cover for midfield and forward lines while uncapped Muckross player Sarah McAuley waits in the wings defensively.
For World Cup qualification, Ireland will only be absolutely assured of a ticket if they finish in the top three positions. Currently, Spain and the Netherlands are already pre-qualified as hosts; should either or both finish in the medal positions in Amstelveen, fourth or fifth place could provide the golden ticket.
Speaking at the announcement about the selection, coach Dancer said: “It has been a long, tough 12 months, preparing in a Covid world. It is a credit to the group’s strength to arrive at this year’s Euros with a very balanced team.
“I will enjoy watching the experienced players controlling our play in combination with the excitement of our young players such as Michelle Carey and Hannah McLoughlin.
“The European Championships is a major tournament with ramifications for next year’s World Cup. We have made our objectives very clear and will push hard as a group towards them.”
The squad was announced this morning in Skerries at a joint event run by primary sponsors SoftCo and Park Developments, supporting their rise to the sport’s elite levels.
“Congratulations to the players that have been selected for the Irish women’s hockey squad for the European Championship today,” SoftCo co-founder Susan Spence said.
“Since achieving a World Cup silver medal, this group have continued to drive forward with Olympic qualification and the recent historic victory over Great Britain. We are extremely proud to be their main sponsor as they go in search of European and Olympic glory this summer and wish them every success.”
Park Developments’ managing director Sean O’Neill added: “From a Park Developments perspective, we wish Sean, Katie and all the squad all the very best for the 2021 European Championships.
“Our journey with this team is built on support, and we are so proud of this group’s unique ability to inspire so many young sports people and fans alike.”
Ireland women’s squad for EuroHockey Championships – June 5-13, 2021, Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands (club/caps):
Ayeisha McFerran (SV Kampong, 100) – goalkeeper
Lizzie Murphy (Loreto, 13) – goalkeeper
Michelle Carey (UCD, 0)
Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute, 111)
Lizzie Colvin (Belfast Harlequins, 196)
Nicci Daly (Loreto, 189)
Nikki Evans (Old Alex, 198)
Megan Frazer (Belfast Harlequins, 136)
Sarah Hawkshaw (Railway Union, 33)
Hannah Matthews (Loreto, 147)
Shirley McCay (Pegasus, 306)
Hannah McLoughlin (UCD, 14)
Katie Mullan (Ballymoney, 193) – captain
Anna O’Flanagan (Muckross, 207) – vice-captain
Lena Tice (Old Alex, 109)
Sarah Torrans (Loreto, 26)
Roisin Upton (Catholic Institute, 76)
Chloe Watkins (Monkstown, 226)
Travelling reserves: Deirdre Duke (Old Alex, 141), Sarah McAuley (Muckross, 0)
Tournament details
EuroHockey Championships 2021 (all times Irish)
Group A (world rank): Netherlands (1st), Spain (7th), Ireland (8th), Scotland (22nd)
Group B: Germany (4th), England (5th), Belgium (12th), Italy (17th)
Irish fixture schedule
June 5th, 2021: Ireland v Netherlands, 2.30 pm
June 7th, 2021: Ireland v Scotland, 11.30 am
June 9th, 2021: Ireland v Spain, 11.30 am
June 11th 2021: Semi-finals/relegation pool
June 12th/13th: Medal matches/relegation pool
Irish Hockey Association media release
Carey to get first formal cap as part of Irish panel for Euros
Michelle Carey will make her formal debut at the Euros. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
After over 20 months preparing in the background, the Irish women’s hockey team is looking to hit the ground running at June’s EuroHockey Championships in the Netherlands.
It is the first phase of a huge summer that culminates in the Tokyo Olympic Games with the Euros doubling up as a key preparation tournament for the Games while also providing three potential 2022 World Cup tickets.
Ireland ready to leap into action at Euros; Chloe Watkins, Anna O’Flanagan, Michelle Carey, Katie Mullan and Nikki Evans at Skerries Mills this morning. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Sportsfile
It means head coach Sean Dancer has selected his strongest available squad for the eight-team competition at Amstelveen’s Wagener Stadium, bidding for a first ever semi-final spot.
There, they will take on world number one side the Netherlands on June 5th in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup final; on June 7th, Ireland face Scotland before closing out the group stages on June 9th against Spain.
Dancer’s 18-player panel features 12 of the 2018 World Cup silver medal-winning side and 13 of the team that won qualification to the Olympic Games in November 2019 in a dramatic shoot-out in front of a packed-out Donnybrook Stadium.
Heroes like Ayeisha McFerran, Lizzie Colvin, Nicci Daly, Nikki Evans, Megan Frazer Hannah Matthews, Shirley McCay, Katie Mullan, Anna O’Flanagan, Lena Tice, Roisin Upton, Sarah Hawkshaw and Chloe Watkins bring a wealth of talent to the table.
There have been injury issues, though, which have seen Zoe Wilson and Barr twins Serena and Bethany have to sit out the summer action.
And so, over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dancer’s panel has evolved with several new faces emerging.
Rising UCD star Michelle Carey is set to make her formal capped international debut when the Green Army take the field against the Dutch.
A product of the Railway Union youth system, she has been an ever-present at training camps in Spain, Belfast and England since the turn of the year, scoring a number of goals from midfield in international challenge matches to date.
She is one of three players making their first appearance in a world ranking event. Loreto speedster Sarah Torrans gets her chance having been on the list of reserves for the World Cup while UCD’s Hannah McLoughlin has impressed in defence in recent series against Great Britain and Scotland.
Cratloe native Naomi Carroll will play her first capped match since the summer of 2018, having taken the long road back from an ACL injury sustained while in ladies football action for Clare. Since then, she was part of the rejuvenated Irish indoor hockey side in 2020 before earning her recall to the senior outdoor setup.
All going well, a number of established faces will hit major milestones during the tournament. Evans is two caps shy of her 200th international outing; Colvin will hit that same mark if she plays four matches in the competition; Matthews, meanwhile, is three caps away from 150 appearances in green.
Due to Covid-19 concerns, the European Hockey Federation has allowed a further two players to join the panel as “travelling reserves” in addition to the initial panel of 18.
Deirdre Duke will offer cover for midfield and forward lines while uncapped Muckross player Sarah McAuley waits in the wings defensively.
For World Cup qualification, Ireland will only be absolutely assured of a ticket if they finish in the top three positions. Currently, Spain and the Netherlands are already pre-qualified as hosts; should either or both finish in the medal positions in Amstelveen, fourth or fifth place could provide the golden ticket.
Speaking at the announcement about the selection, coach Dancer said: “It has been a long, tough 12 months, preparing in a Covid world. It is a credit to the group’s strength to arrive at this year’s Euros with a very balanced team.
“I will enjoy watching the experienced players controlling our play in combination with the excitement of our young players such as Michelle Carey and Hannah McLoughlin.
“The European Championships is a major tournament with ramifications for next year’s World Cup. We have made our objectives very clear and will push hard as a group towards them.”
The squad was announced this morning in Skerries at a joint event run by primary sponsors SoftCo and Park Developments, supporting their rise to the sport’s elite levels.
“Congratulations to the players that have been selected for the Irish women’s hockey squad for the European Championship today,” SoftCo co-founder Susan Spence said.
“Since achieving a World Cup silver medal, this group have continued to drive forward with Olympic qualification and the recent historic victory over Great Britain. We are extremely proud to be their main sponsor as they go in search of European and Olympic glory this summer and wish them every success.”
Getting a Dutch flavour of things at Skerries Mills. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Park Developments’ managing director Sean O’Neill added: “From a Park Developments perspective, we wish Sean, Katie and all the squad all the very best for the 2021 European Championships.
“Our journey with this team is built on support, and we are so proud of this group’s unique ability to inspire so many young sports people and fans alike.”
Ireland women’s squad for EuroHockey Championships – June 5-13, 2021, Wagener Stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands (club/caps):
Ayeisha McFerran (SV Kampong, 100) – goalkeeper
Lizzie Murphy (Loreto, 13) – goalkeeper
Michelle Carey (UCD, 0)
Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute, 111)
Lizzie Colvin (Belfast Harlequins, 196)
Nicci Daly (Loreto, 189)
Nikki Evans (Old Alex, 198)
Megan Frazer (Belfast Harlequins, 136)
Sarah Hawkshaw (Railway Union, 33)
Hannah Matthews (Loreto, 147)
Shirley McCay (Pegasus, 306)
Hannah McLoughlin (UCD, 14)
Katie Mullan (Ballymoney, 193) – captain
Anna O’Flanagan (Muckross, 207) – vice captain
Lena Tice (Old Alex, 109)
Sarah Torrans (Loreto, 26)
Roisin Upton (Catholic Institute, 76)
Chloe Watkins (Monkstown, 226)
Travelling reserves: Deirdre Duke (Old Alex, 141), Sarah McAuley (Muckross, 0)
Tournament details
EuroHockey Championships 2021 (all times Irish)
Group A (world rank): Netherlands (1st), Spain (7th), Ireland (8th), Scotland (22nd)
Group B: Germany (4th), England (5th), Belgium (12th), Italy (17th)
Irish fixture schedule
June 5th, 2021: Ireland v Netherlands, 2.30pm
June 7th, 2021: Ireland v Scotland, 11.30am
June 9th, 2021: Ireland v Spain, 11.30am
June 11th 2021: Semi-finals/relegation pool
June 12th/13th: Medal matches/relegation pool
The Hook
Dancer names Ireland squad for Netherlands tournament
Michelle Carey is set to make her first appearance in a world ranking event
Ireland coach Sean Dancer has announced his squad for next month's European Championships in the Netherlands.
Michelle Carey, Sarah Torrans and Hannah McLoughlin will make their first appearance in a world ranking event.
Ireland will use the tournament as preparation for the Olympic Games.
"It has been a long, tough 12 months, preparing in a Covid world - it is a credit to the group's strength to arrive at this year's Euros with a very balanced team," said Dancer.
He added: "I will enjoy watching the experienced players controlling our play in combination with the excitement of our young players such as Michelle Carey and Hannah McLoughlin."
It is the first phase of a summer that culminates in the Tokyo Games with the Euros doubling up as a key preparation tournament for the Games while also providing three potential 2022 World Cup tickets.
Strong squad
Head coach Dancer has selected his strongest available squad for the eight-team competition at Amstelveen's Wagener Stadium, where the Irish will be bidding for a first ever semi-final spot.
Rising UCD star Carey is set to make her formal capped international debut along with team-mate McLoughlin and Loreto speedster Torrans.
They will take on world number one side the Netherlands on 5 June in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup final, then face Scotland two days later before closing out the group stages on 9 June against Spain.
For World Cup qualification, Ireland will only be absolutely assured of a ticket if they finish in the top three positions.
Currently, Spain and the Netherlands are already pre-qualified as hosts - should either or both finish in the medal positions in Amstelveen, fourth or fifth place could provide the golden ticket.
Dancer said: "The European Championships is a major tournament with ramifications for next year's World Cup. We have made our objectives very clear and will push hard as a group towards them."
Ireland squad: Ayeisha McFerran, Lizzie Murphy, Michelle Carey, Naomi Carroll, Lizzie Colvin, Nicci Daly, Nikki Evans, Megan Frazer, Sarah Hawkshaw, Hannah Matthews, Shirley McCay, Hannah McLoughlin, Katie Mullan, Anna O'Flanagan, Lena Tice, Sarah Torrans, Roisin Upton, Chloe Watkins.
Travelling reserves: Deirdre Duke, Sarah McAuley
BBC Sport
How Podge Collins helped hockey star Naomi Carroll conquer cruciate trauma
While it was far from a standard road to recovery, some big performances for Catholic Institute paved the way for a recall from Sean Dancer
Stephen Findlater
Naomi Carroll and Podge Collins: Team-mates at Cratloe until age 16. ‘If we could have kept her past 16, we would have,’ says Collins.
Naomi Carroll is relishing her return to the Irish women’s squad for the European Championship in Amsterdam after a long and winding road, waiting in the wings since July 2018.
Named as one of the non-travelling reserves for the World Cup, the multi-talented Cratloe native subsequently suffered an ACL injury while on Clare Gaelic football duty, putting her out of action for close on a year.
It left her wondering would she get a chance again for the Green Army but a chance encounter with Banner dual star Podge Collins helped get her perspective back in check.
And while it was far from a standard road to recovery, a successful introduction to indoor hockey and some big performances for Catholic Institute paved the way for a recall from Sean Dancer to try out once again.
But no sooner had she got an invitation to join a touring party to South Africa in the spring of 2020 than Covid came along and set the process back once again.
A new year, though, and a new promise has her buzzing for the challenge ahead having played a full-part in this year’s programme.
“It crossed my mind I might not get this chance again,” she said of returning to the fold. “You hope to come back… then come back fit but there was a new coach and you don’t know if he sees something in you that he likes and values.
“When I did get the phone call from Sean, it totally reenergised me.”
It is a far cry from her feelings during her recuperation when she wondered whether she had the motivation to rise again after the World Cup exclusion after 111 caps in green.
Naomi Carroll: Having overcome her cruciate injury, she has been named in the Irish women’s hockey squad for the European Championship in Amsterdam.
“To be honest it was heart-breaking, it was really tough,” she said of that time. “I had trained for so long and it’s something I had been working towards, so to get that disappointment, it’s hard,” she said in 2019, admitting it was tough to marry her disappointment with how proud she was of her team mates.
“I felt like I had let my friends and family down. I had tried really hard to make the squad and so much goes through your head like ‘am I just not good enough?’”
The plan was to throw herself straight back into GAA but her first game back with Clare ended in disaster as a seemingly innocuous side-step left her with the dreaded cruciate gone.
To compound matters, her first surgery was delayed.
"I just thought I actually don’t care anymore, everything is just going wrong, what’s the point in even trying?"
It left her contemplating skipping her prehab but, thankfully, dragged herself to her club gym where serendipity intervened and she happened on her old friend, Clare All-Ireland winner Podge Collins.
The pair had grown up together as part of all-star Cratloe teams, playing hurling and football up to Under-16 level when county rules meant Carroll had to stop playing with the boys.
Collins says she would have easily played beyond that level had it been allowed.
“I remember one occasion I was corner forward, Conor McGrath was full-forward and Naomi was in the other corner. She scored 1-4 or 2-4 in a final and pretty much won it for us.
“If we could have kept her past 16, we would have. It wasn’t a case of the game getting too physical. That was no was an issue, she was smart. We definitely could have used her at minor!”
Collins had been through ACL trauma himself, the county dual star hearing a snap in May 2015 that put paid to a year of his prime. Carroll credits their chat as the catalyst to her change in mindset.
“When he first did his cruciate, he dropped into my house looking for a [bicycle]. I asked him was he even allowed be out of the house!
“He said you have the time now to work on things you would have considered weaknesses. When you come back, you can come back faster, stronger, fitter.
"Take things day by day, don’t see the end goal at all. Just take it bit by bit to focus on other things. At the start, there is loads of time."
“So I spent more time with my family, more time to do things [outside of sport]. I went to India with the Hope Foundation. Some people struggle to come back but I knew if I backed myself, I wouldn’t — touch wood — have many issues.”
Collins, for his part, downplays his role, saying he never really doubted Carroll would get back on track.
“It is something that can be hard to come back from but she was so dedicated, it was never going to be an issue.
“I told her that the physios and the doctors will give you the best advice but, in my own case, the plyometrics were crucial, getting back bounding as quick as you can, hopping over a shoe or something as simple as that.”
It struck a strong enough chord and Carroll returned to sport with only limited trepidation.
“The only fear I had was my very first training session with contact; it was a camogie session. I said to myself after that ‘I played through my first knock’, it’s as good if not better than my other one.
“I was as strong as I possibly could be after all the gym work. There’s no point going into anything with fear once I backed myself. When the physio gave me the all clear, I knew I was 100% ready.
“I’ve loved it since being back in. Being injured gives you more perspective that you don’t take things for granted and appreciate every single training session, every opportunity to play.
"I am delighted to have the chance and have loved every minute. "
The Irish Examiner
Black Sticks striker Wilson wants one last shot at Olympic glory
George Heagney
Black Sticks veteran Nick Wilson wants one last crack at an Olympic medal before retiring. WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
Black Sticks hockey player Nick Wilson has returned to the national side for one last tilt at an Olympic medal.
Wilson is back on home turf in Palmerston North next week as the men’s Black Sticks prepare for a four-test series against Australia this week and it will be Wilson’s first tests for New Zealand in five years.
The series will be the Black Sticks’ final outing before the Tokyo Olympics, which will be Wilson’s last hurrah, as he is retiring after the games.
The prolific striker has played 170 tests since his 2007 debut, but after the 2016 Rio Olympics he took a break from the game.
A knee injury put him out of action for a couple of years, but it started coming right at the end of last year, just in time for him to consider having one last crack at winning an Olympic medal.
Wilson, 30, is a veteran of the 2012 London and 2016 Rio games, so felt he had unfinished business.
His last game for New Zealand was the heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Germany in the dying moments of the quarterfinal.
“I’ve come back wanting to play and the main reason is just to have fun. It’s also a chance of winning a medal at the Olympic Games. “
He was enjoying being back training with the team and there are still a good chunk left from when he was last in the team.
The Tokyo Olympics were meant to be held last year, but were postponed to this year due to Covid-19. David Rogers/Getty Images
That worked in Wilson’s favour because he was still battling with knee problems and couldn't walk without being in pain. He had surgery in 2017 and it took a long time to come right.
“It was touch and go whether I could physically get back to the level I would need.”
He also had a serious injury to his other knee in 2013 and 2014, which kept him out of the game for 18 months.
Wilson, who works as a commercial real estate agent in Auckland, said his body was hanging in there now and he was managing the pain. This crack at Olympic glory was his last chance.
He has followed a similar path in his career, injuring his knee after the 2012 Olympics and then having a break from the international game, then doing the same thing after Rio.
He has been training full-time with the national squad this year and was hopeful of getting to Tokyo.
With four tests in Palmerston North, he was excited to be playing in his hometown, having last played there in two tests against Malaysia in 2009.
Wilson said the goal was to play well in front of his home crowd against a strong Australian team and be picked for the Olympics squad.
“The only reason I came back was to have a chance at winning a medal. I’m not here just to go another Olympics, but to be the best and the goal is to get a medal.”
The Black Sticks men and women play Australia at the turf at Massey University on Thursday, Friday, Sunday, May 30 and Tuesday, June 1.
Stuff
Meg Pearce proof of dual career balance
Balancing study, work, volunteering and hockey has always been part of Hockeyroo and Marketing Assistant Meg Pearce’s DNA.
Having broken into the Hockeyroos squad for the first time this year, the 26 year old also works 30 hours a week as a Marketing Assistant at EY (Ernst & Young).
Further to her hockey and work commitments, she is also undertaking a double degree, a Bachelor of Commerce, and Food and Nutrition Science, online through Deakin University (although her studies are currently on hold until after the Olympics).
Pearce has also completed a Certificate III and IV in Fitness through the Australian Institute of Fitness, while having stints volunteering for a host of community and charity organisations. View Meg’s LinkedIn profile.
As part of National Careers Week, Pearce sat down with Hockey Australia Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Manager Rohan McHugh to talk about why having a dual career has been and is so important for her.
Why is talking about National Careers Week and successful stories of athletes in their careers, both during and post their careers, important?
MP: “I think it’s really important because we’re much more than just athletes. I think it is key to understanding the foundation of who we are. In having a career outside of your sport, it gives you something else to look at and a different avenue for your life.
It also sets you up after hockey and after sport. The balance for me has been really good because I know that I am more than a hockey player and I do have something that shifts my mind away from hockey when I leave the field.”
What does your definition of dual career look like and can you share some of your experiences?
MP: “I have always been a person who has enjoyed working. I’ve always balanced work, study and hockey. I would be lying if I said it was easy. It has always been a balance and a juggle but it comes down to having really good communication with the relevant people in each of those endeavours.
I balanced doing a double degree at uni, training to get into the Hockeyroos squad and also working 30 hours a week for EY (Ernst & Young). So it has been a big balance but it has also taught me a lot about resilience, determination, communication and developing a good mindset to be able to do all of that.”
How do you manage it all?
MP: “It’s a juggle and it’s about picking the times to do things and when to pull back on certain areas. Having the communication aspect and the ability to have open conversations is pivotal. Working with Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement helps me with my uni workload and having a good boss at work is important. EY has an Elite Athlete Program which opens doors but it also bridges the understanding with my boss and what I do outside and around that.”
What benefits has a dual career had for you?
MP: “I have always enjoyed work and enjoyed having an avenue outside of hockey. I think it brings out the best in me. I go to work, hang out with different people, learn a completely different skillset, so while you still do a lot of hockey training, I really saw the value in working as well.
Working in a place that you are passionate about also changes your mentality when you turn up to work. There is that priority at the Hockeyroos to have that balance and develop myself so that when I do retire from hockey, I have a job and career that I am passionate about and that I enjoy doing.”
What advice would you give athletes who are hesitant to jump into a dual career for fear of it getting in the way of their sport?
MP: “I think the term ‘getting in the way’ is interesting. I think it’s about a mentality. It would be hard if I was working at a job that I didn’t enjoy or care about. But because I am super passionate about the job I do and the company I work for, it means I rock up and am really excited to be there. If you find a place where you can thrive, jump right in and talk to the people around you because there is always a way to make it work. I certainly wouldn’t waste the opportunity thinking that you can’t do it while you are playing sport.”
Hockey Australia media release
After success in Asia, Indian women's hockey team ready to achieve bigger feats, says Savita Punia
Savita, who plays as a goalkeeper, said the team has improved immensely in the last three years.
Indian women's hockey team vice-captain Savita Punia. Reuters
Bengaluru, May 20 (PTI) Indian women's hockey team vice-captain Savita Punia believes it is time her team replicates the success at the Asian level in big ticket events including the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
The Indian women's team has established itself as strong contenders in Asia having won one gold (1982), two silver (1998, 2018) and three bronze medals (1986, 2006, 2014) in the Asian Games. Besides, India also clinched two gold (2004, 2017) and as many silver and bronze medals in the Asia Cup.
The Indian women also bagged the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018.
"We have achieved good results at the Asian level tournaments. Playing well in these events has given the team, particularly youngsters, a sense of what it really takes to do well at big tournaments. Now, I feel we are ready for bigger feats," said Savita.
Savita, who plays as a goalkeeper, said the team has improved immensely in the last three years.
"We have improved our attack and we play with good speed now, there are a lot of positive changes within the group.
"In fact our fitness levels have improved over the years which, in turn, has helped us improve our overall performances," she said.
Savita feels they now have developed the right temperament required to face top teams of the world.
"If you have seen our recent performances, we have tried to come back into the game after initial setbacks. We don't give up until the last whistle," she said.
Firstpost
N. Mukesh Kumar takes over as secretary of Telangana Hockey
Mukesh says he had to accept responsibility in view of the Junior Nationals being awarded to Hyderabad.
V. V. Subrahmanyam
Triple Olympian N. Mukesh Kumar at Gymkhana Ground, Hyderabad, during a recent tournament. - V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM
In a surprise development, triple Olympian and renowned right-winger of yesteryears N. Mukesh Kumar has taken over again as secretary of Telangana Hockey.
This comes in the wake of the resignation of the incumbent and former national player Alphonse Lazarus following differences with president Saral Talwar. He was secretary earlier before quitting the post since he could not devote enough time and do justice to it.
The 51-year-old Mukesh informed Sportstar on Thursday that he had to accept the responsibility again as the majority of the members of the State Association needed someone like him at the helm because of the Junior Nationals - scheduled for November/December this year - being allotted to Hyderabad.
“I have nothing personal against anyone in the Association. I am back in the post for the sake of the game and give it a new direction,” he said.
'Need to mobilise resources'
“Since the Junior Nationals for men featuring 30 teams involves a massive expenditure of about ₹70 lakhs and even though Hockey India also chips in with substantial amount, we still need to mobilise resources to fill the gap. So, many thought it would be better if I take up the position again,” he explained.
“Yes, in this regard, we have already met the Telangana Sports Minister V. Srinivas Goud today morning and briefed about the need to support Telangana Hockey in this regard. His response was very positive,” Mukesh said.
The former India captain also said once he completes the balance of the secretary’s tenure, he is ready for elections as and when they happen.
Interestingly, Alphonse, whose four-year tenure was to end in May 2023, was not happy with the “indifferent treatment” meted out to him consistently on important issues. “Since I felt unwanted in the association, I thought it is better to put in the papers rather than being humiliated further,” said Alphonse, who interestingly played four Senior Nationals with Mukesh when the latter made an early impact as a teenager.
“Unfortunately, the members forgot that more than a year of my tenure (took charge in May 2019) saw the pandemic disrupting the whole schedule. Yet, I can proudly say that I have conducted inter-district championships for different age groups and also for girls,” said a visibly disappointed Alphonse.
Sportstar
EB holds last meeting before Congress
Lausanne, Switzerland: Meeting virtually ahead of the 47th FIH Congress, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) approved a 5-year partnership with a gaming company – Gold Town Games (GTG) – which will develop a hockey manager game, available on mobile, planned to be released globally before the end of 2021 on Google Play and the App Store. The game will be free to download.
Furthermore, the EB confirmed the appointment of four new members for the Athletes’ Committee. Sreejesh Parattu (IND), Marlena Rybacha (POL), Mohamed Mea (RSA) and Matt Swann (AUS) are now joining the Committee. It also approved the appointment of Steve Horgan (USA) as the new Chair of the FIH Rules Committee, succeeding David Collier (England), whose term will be ending at the upcoming Congress.
Various updates were given during the meeting about development, FIH events - including the FIH Hockey Pro League and the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 -, finances, sport matters, governance, TV, commercial, marketing-communications matters and of course about the final preparations for the 47th FIH Congress session will be held virtually on 22 May. The Congress agenda is available here.
As already announced, all Congress delegates have been invited to join tomorrow, Friday 21 May, a #HockeyInvites virtual conference organised by FIH where a number of topics, such as development, sport matters, gender-equality, promotion or integrity, will be discussed. The FIH Awards will be announced on this occasion too.
Both the #HockeyInvites conference and the Congress session can be watched live on Watch.Hockey as follows:
- #HockeyInvites conference: 21 May, from 11am until 3pm CEST (note: end time is flexible)
- Congress session: 22 May, from 11am to 3:30pm CEST (note: end time is flexible)
#HockeyInvites
FIH site
India's hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh appointed as member of FIH Athletes' Committee
The experienced Sreejesh, who has led the Indian team in the past, was one of the four new members appointed by the EB which met two days before the 47th FIH Congress, which will also be held online.
File image of India men's hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. Image courtesy: Hockey India
Lausanne: Star India hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was on Thursday appointed as a member of the FIH Athletes' Committee during the virtual meeting of the world body's Executive Board.
The experienced Sreejesh, who has led the Indian team in the past, was one of the four new members appointed by the EB which met two days before the 47th FIH Congress, which will also be held online.
"The EB confirmed the appointment of four new members for the Athletes' Committee. Sreejesh Parattu (IND), Marlena Rybacha (POL), Mohamed Mea (RSA) and Matt Swann (AUS) are now joining the Committee," the FIH said in a release.
The 33-year-old Sreejesh is one of the seniormost and decorated players of the Indian team.
The EB also approved a five-year partnership with a gaming company — Gold Town Games (GTG) — which will develop a hockey manager game, available on mobile, planned to be released globally before the end of this year on Google Play and the App Store. The game will be free to download.
It also approved the appointment of Steve Horgan (USA) as the new chair of the FIH Rules Committee, succeeding David Collier (England), whose term will be ending at the upcoming Congress.
Various updates were given during the meeting about FIH events, including Pro League and the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, development, finances, governance, TV, commercial, and marketing communications matters.
All Congress delegates have been invited to join on Friday a #HockeyInvites virtual conference organised by FIH where a number of topics, such as development, sport matters, gender equality, promotion or integrity, will be discussed.
The FIH Awards will be announced on this occasion too. The main agenda of the FIH Congress on Saturday is the election of the president and Executive Board members. Incumbent president Narinder Batra of India is seeking re-election.
Firstpost
Honoured to be able to present hockey players' views before FIH, says PR Sreejesh
The experienced Sreejesh, who has also led the Indian team in the past, was one of the four new members appointed by the EB which met two days before the 47th FIH Congress, which will also be held online.
File image of India men's hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh from last year. Image courtesy: Hockey India
New Delhi: Seasoned India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh on Friday said being re-elected to the FIH Athletes Committee provides him with another opportunity to voice his fellow players' views about the game before the world body.
The 33-year-old decorated Indian custodian was on Thursday re-elected as a member of the FIH Athletes' Committee during the virtual meeting of its Executive Board.
The experienced Sreejesh, who has also led the Indian team in the past, was one of the four new members appointed by the EB which met two days before the 47th FIH Congress, which will also be held online.
He has been a member of the panel since 2017.
"Over these past four years, I have grown not only individually as a player but the opportunity with the FIH Athletes Committee provided me with a unique chance to understand, observe and express the views of my fellow hockey players," Sreejesh said.
"With regular tournaments in Asia such as the Asian Games, Asian Champions Trophy, the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, I get to interact with players from this region and it provides me a chance to understand their concerns and further discuss the same with the FIH Athletes Committee."
Hockey India congratulated Sreejesh on being re-elected to the FIH Athletes Committee for a second term.
"Apart from his terrific performances on the field, Sreejesh has made invaluable contributions to the growth of hockey off the field as well. We are delighted about his re-election to the FIH Athletes Committee.
"I would like to congratulate Sreejesh on behalf of Hockey India and wish him all the very best for a second term at the FIH Athletes Committee," HI President Gyanendro Ningombam said in a statement.
The FIH Athletes Committee consists of current and former players who make recommendations to the FIH Executive Board, FIH Committees, Advisory Panels, and other bodies on behalf of all athletes for the development of various resources and initiatives required for the growth of players and the sport.
Firstpost
No water and growing hockey: FIH candidate Marc Coudron sets out presidency aims
By Rod Gilmour
Marc Coudron will aim to grow the game outside of the Pro League
Marc Coudron, vying for world hockey presidency on Saturday, doesn’t proclaim to be an engineer but he will contact the heads of Fifa and World Rugby with the aim of tackling the issue of waterless pitches head on as one of his key priorities should he be voted in at the FIH Congress.
By the time Coudron takes his seat for the virtual vote in New Delhi, the Belgian would have spoken to the heads of around 100 nations as he seeks their nod to become the next world hockey president.
Coudron goes head-to-head with Narinder Batra, who is seeking re-election for the FIH hotseat, with the former making clear that he has different intentions to grow the sport, mainly from the bottom up. But not only that, he knows how important the pitch debate is in the environment stakes, so too keeping the 11 v 11 product as an Olympic sport, but also growing all three versions so that more nations can compete.
“I will contact the president of Fifa and rugby union to put the pressure on the manufacturers. We need to get high class pitches without water,” he tells The Hockey Paper. “It’s difficult to water pitches in the high summer and it’s actually scandalous that it’s happening still.
“Watering pitches in some countries is just not possible anymore and so for the future we have to find solutions for that even if we have to give back a little less [pitch] quality.
“We have to find solutions now and for the Olympics in 2028, why not? We have to get pitches of the same quality without using water and the manufacturers have to invent different pitches.
“I’m not an engineer but I’m sure we can find solutions for the different sports. What really matters for me is to play without watering a pitch.”
Coudron, a private banker and former international, has overseen Belgium’s rise to hockey powerhouse over the last 15 years but as he readies himself to leave the role and take on Batra, he believes he can serve the needs of the sport for the better. And he knows too that many lower nations don’t even have the capacity or infrastructure to install outdoor astro pitches.
“I’m coming from a country which is in the Pro League but I have to consider all the other nations, not the top ones,” he says. “We have to give possibilities for other nations to climb the ladder and to understand there is a better future for hockey. We have a responsibility.”
He also says he will fight tooth and nail to maintain the status of the 11 v 11 game and perhaps even look at the shortened indoor format becoming a Winter Olympic sport.
Coudron, who sat on the FIH exec board from 2010-2018, says it’s not a problem if a child plays one of the three sports, what matters is that they play one of the three products.
He doesn’t want to see is a “confrontation” where Hockey 5s is concerned. “What matters is a young boy or girl from Nicaruagua or Bangladesh, if he or she wants to begin hockey it doesn’t matter if it’s 11-a-sde, indoor or Hockey 5s, it’s that they start hockey.”
By enriching the sport at international grassroots level, he also wants to make it possible to compete at World Cups across the products.
He aims to rejig the World Cup showpieces, which is currently set at 16 teams for outdoor and 12 for indoor. “That’s not possible for me,” he admits. “We have to go to 24 teams indoor women and men and 24 teams for Hockey 5s men and women. We will then look to get subsidies for the government to get teams to play. We will then have better products, players and coaches and more sponsors. We have to expand the number of nations exposed to the world of hockey.”
Having accrued over 350 caps for Belgium, Coudron has seen the same top nations compete at the global tournaments with no other story lines filtering through to the top.
Coudron played at the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. “The names of those nations are still the same today and we need to close the gap between the nations,” he says.
So too the sponsors of hockey’s global tournaments. He notes Rabobank, Hero and Odisha as examples, without any global brands coming on board.
FIH chief executive Thierry Weil told The Hockey Paper last year, pre-pandemic, that the FIH was close to inking a top tier sponsor for the Pro League but that never materialised.
Nations Cup gives countries chance of Pro League promotion
“That’s great,” he says of the previous World Cup sponsors, “but we need sustainable sponsors for the long term and I want to work with the big names on a good corporate social responsibility programme to help hockey to develop and have an impact on the lesser nations.”
This should be feasible given hockey’s off-pitch track record. “We don’t have any doping scandals, violence problems on and off the field,” he adds.
“The Pro League has to be self sufficient, the country has to cover their own costs with the TV rights. But it’s not possible that it’s a cost for the FIH.
“Maybe we will have to adapt some points of it. It has a place but other than the Pro League there is really nothing for the nations for the 10th [ranking] down to 30th and beyond.
“But my main objective will be the development and we have to get back to a healthy financial status, as well as good governance.”
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The Hockey Paper
European hockey alliance formed to protect top clubs and players
By Rod Gilmour
Atlètic Terrassa reached their first EHL final in 2021 PIC: EHL
Some of Europe’s top hockey clubs from five nations have joined forces to form an international alliance to protect its continental domestic league structure, the Euro Hockey League and the 11 v 11 traditional format.
The European Association of Hockey Clubs (EHCO) was unveiled on Friday with clubs initially signed up from Belgium, Holland, Germany, Spain and Austria. So far, English clubs have not joined the table.
The EHCO said that with these top Euro nation clubs signed up, the association will be able to represent and have direct influence on world and European hockey’s future agenda, which would also protect player welfare.
“Due to the increasing number of national team matches, culminated by the FIH Pro League founded two years ago, national competitions have suffered in quantity and quality,” an EHCO statement read. “The increasing number of international matches and the necessary preparation time for national teams have affected European clubs very negatively.
“Excessive inefficient international competition devalues the European leagues and causes a negative effect at all levels and in all clubs: fans, sports structures, sponsors.”
The Hockey Paper first reported last year that top Euro nations were set to launch an association after fears over the Pro League’s six-month scheduling was impacting on players being available for clubs, while there was also the need for a streamlined calendar to protect the prestigious EHL.
The EHCO has now proposed to agree where European leagues can have a clear slot from Sep 1 to mid-December and from March 1 to the beginning of June to safeguard top domestic competition.
The EHCO noted Spain as an example following the reduction of the national league to just over four months with the need to incorporate double headers in the national competition and reducing the calendar.
Dutch clubs have signed up to association PIC; EHL
“In Germany, a new example, the majority of German clubs have started to limit the presence of their players in the national team and have reached an agreement for the German Club Association to organize and manage the Bundesliga,” the statement added.
The EHCO was founded by Spaniard Leandro Martínez Zurita.
Zurita told THP that talks had been held with Surbiton and informal talks with Wimbledon to join the association.
He said: “In the end I believe after some talks with England Hockey they all decided not to take part. However the doors of EHCO will always be open for any English club willing to join us.”
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'A Little Bit Smarter': Four Quakertown Women on U.S. Masters Field Hockey Teams Getting Better as They Get Older
By Tim Shoemaker
Quakertown sisters and U.S. Masters Field Hockey teammates Jane Cygan (left) and Jeanne McLaughlin. (Contributed photo)
Sisters Jane Cygan and Jeanne McLaughlin did not play high school field hockey together at Quakertown High School because of their age difference. Born five years apart, Cygan graduated from Quakertown in 1977 and McLaughlin in 1982.
Time corrected that problem.
They have played in the popular and competitive Philadelphia Field Hockey Association and other club teams for years, staying in shape as they grew older.
Cygan and McLaughlin are among four Quakertown residents playing for the U.S. Masters field hockey teams. Diane Bracalante Molinaro, a 1988 Olympian and one of the committee members, and Toni Arner, a teacher and coach in Upper Perkiomen School District, are also on the rosters.
McLaughlin, Molinaro and Arner are on the U.S. Masters Over-55 training roster. Cygan is on the Over-60, or Grand Masters, squad.
The U.S. Masters field hockey program was created about 10 years ago to help grow the sport nationally. While sports are often grown from the youth level, they can also improve from the other direction.
The countries that dominate the sport worldwide have competitive national teams at every age. But the U.S. has an opportunity problem in the sport, according to Molinaro and others.
Arner, Cygan, McLaughlin and Molinaro have taken their opportunity and run with it, hockey stick in hand.
Cygan played with the Grand Masters team that competed in the European Cup in June 2019 in Antwerp, Belgium. The U.S. did well there, with a win and two ties in its three games. According to the local masters, wearing their country’s colors is a thrill.
“It was pretty incredible,” Cygan said. “I never thought I would be doing that.”
A bookkeeper and treasurer of the Pancreatic Cancer Cure Foundation, Cygan was planning on going to South Africa for another tournament in 2020, but that was canceled due to the pandemic. She played collegiately at Lock Haven and has joined club teams ever since.
“Every year I say ‘one more year,’ " Cygan said. “I can’t run as fast as I used to, but if you stay active, as you get older, you learn to play a little smarter. … It’s pretty cool that we get to play.”
McLaughlin and her husband own a physical therapy business. She played at West Chester University and with club teams. A field hockey and lacrosse official, she is on the U.S. Over-55 roster, but has not seen action yet representing the U.S.
“It’s fun,” McLaughlin said. “I’m glad we’re healthy enough and strong enough. It helps me stay in shape. … We came from an athletic family. We became runners. We exercise regularly. That enables us to play. If you’re not active, it’s hard to play.”
Molinaro, now retired, is a three-time NCAA champion at Old Dominion University, and serves on several boards. She also participates in various volunteer activities.
“[USA Field] Hockey wants to grow the sport across all different age groups,” she said. “One of the things that’s a problem is that people, unfortunately, stop playing hockey after they graduate from college. That takes a lot of talent away from actual club play. There are adult club leagues in this country - some are strong and some are not so strong.
“[USA Field] Hockey has this goal of saying that you don’t stop playing hockey when you’re 22, 23 years old. There are avenues that allow you to play competitively for however long you want to play, following more of an international model. Other countries have a vibrant adult hockey community.”
Molinaro stayed active by rock climbing nationally and around the world. The Masters program gave her an opportunity to sharpen her field hockey skills. She serves on the committee that oversees the several tiers of teams - 35-over through 60-over - that began in 2014 after a group of former players, Molinaro included, conceived the idea of a U.S. team.
What Father Time has stolen in athletic ability has been replaced with savvy.
“I can’t run as fast, so that’s part of it,” Molinaro said. “I did not play competitively for more than 20 years. The physical part of it, in training, you have to be smarter. … I can’t do the things that I used to do. So I have to adapt to the different types of movement. In some ways, I’m playing a smarter brand of hockey.
“I love that I don’t have any physical issues: pulled muscles, torn muscles, aching knees. I don’t have any of that to deal with, so that’s a positive.”
Tori Arner holds the USA flag up while at a U.S. Masters event
Arner is representative of the type of player that [USA] Field Hockey targets. She teaches fifth grade students and coaches field hockey in Upper Perkiomen School District and played at Kutztown University in her 30s when she was working on her teaching certification.
She is on the Over-55 roster in the Masters program and competed for the U.S. in Australia in 2016.
“It’s just fantastic playing at this age,” she said. “Honestly, I feel that I’m a better player now than when I was younger. I play smarter. I have learned so much more, some of it by watching my own daughters play hockey. I coach hockey. I’ve met some amazing women on the Masters team. They’re positive go-getters and role models. Playing at this age is wonderful. I don’t plan to stop playing any time soon.”
Former Moravian College assistant Phil Danaher played on the Men’s Masters team in its early years a decade ago. Former Lehighton coach and Athletics Director Shawn Hindy is currently on the Men’s Over-40 roster.
The Women’s programs have gone from two teams to six - Over-35 to Over-60 - and from losing almost every time to some medals in 2018. Some Olympians who were not part of the original Masters team caught wind of the project and joined in succeeding years. The numbers, and talent, grew.
“That’s exciting,” Molinaro said. “We’re now able to compete and place very well.”
The hope is not only to grow the game for the older players, but for all players.
“The goal for [USA] Field Hockey is to keep lifetime engagement, a term that they use across all the different age groups,” Molinaro said. “Whether you’re playing in a U12 league, or playing in college or playing as Masters. They want to see a lifetime of engagement. The hockey community is a fun group of people. It’s nice to see.”
USFHA media release
Sabah players train with 'no target'
By Jugjet Singh
Sabah Hockey Association are diligently training their boys and girls in Likas with no promise of a tournament in the near future. - Pic courtesy of Sabah Hockey Association
SABAH Hockey Association are diligently training their boys and girls in Likas with no promise of a tournament in the near future.
The 2018 Malaysia Games boys' champions have been training for years for their chance to defend the gold, but Covid-19 has made it a near impossible dream.
"We had a hockey team ready to defend our gold at the 2020 Malaysia Games, but it was postponed to 2021 and now the Johor Games are expected to be held in 2022.
"And with the Junior Hockey League (JHL) also not a certainty because of the pandemic, it looks like all our players can do is keep on training and hope for the best," said Sabah HA secretary Avtar Singh.
Olympian Yahya Atan is training the Sabah girls while their boys are with a school teacher.
"Since there are not many Covid-19 reported cases in Sabah, sports go on as usual. But we don't know for how long.
"We are only hoping that the JHL is not cancelled, and our players can at least have one more tournament to look forward to," said Avtar.
Sabah competed in the recent Malaysia Hockey League, and even though both the men's and women's results were not encouraging, the East Malaysians are bent on exposing their players.
"Right now, it's 14 days quarantine for anybody who wants to enter Sabah, and I hope this ruling is not there when the JHL window opens in the third quarter of the year.
"If not, Sabah will find it difficult to travel and play in the JHL," said Avtar.
Last year, the JHL, as well as the boys' and girls' national Under-14 and Under-16 tournaments, were cancelled after the Education Ministry did not give the green light for students to compete in sports.
And it looks like this year's JHL is also in danger of being scrapped, but Sabah HA will keep on training their youth until the Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control.
New Straits Times
Schoolgirls hockey challenge put on hold
Collegiate’s Micaela Sanderson goes on the attack against Pearson in the final of the PE Coastal leg of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge at Framesby in Port Elizabeth this month. The tournament is on hold following the decision by the Department of Basic Education to suspend schools contact sport. Photo: Leon Hugo
The SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge has been postponed following the decision by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to suspend all contact sport at schools with immediate effect.
With the prospect of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic looming, this means the tournaments in Grahamstown and George will not be played as scheduled on May 23 and May 30 respectively.
The provincial finals, which feature the various regional winners, were due to take place in Port Elizabeth on July 31 and August 1.
National tournament director Les Galloway said that while it was a frustrating time for all sports enthusiasts, their primary objective was to safeguard the health of the players and officials concerned.
“We respect the decision of the DBE and will naturally fall in line with the regulations they have laid down. We want to assure everyone that the health of the players come first.”
She added that they were grateful that three of the five playoffs had already taken place.
These were held in East London, Port Elizabeth and Queenstown, with Clarendon, Collegiate and Queenstown Girls’ High emerging as the respective winners.
“It is great that we have had these events which have at least allowed the girls to experience the competition, but obviously we need to be careful going forward.”
Galloway said that because the Covid-19 wave could ebb and flow, they were keeping their options open regarding the future of the event, hence the decision to postpone rather than cancel the remaining tournaments, as happened last year.
“What we want to do is to monitor the situation and to be guided by the DBE on the way forward for schools sport. We are definitely keen to continue the tournament if the restrictions are eased.
“If that does happen, we will also check with the schools if they are available and make the decisions on the events based on that. It will obviously have to tie in with what dates are available if we get the green light.
“These SPAR tournaments are a highlight on the schools’ hockey calendars and I believe that they will be keen to play if their calendars allow.”
SPAR EC promotions and events manager Alan Stapleton said it was disappointing but he still had hope that the event would be completed.
“The suspension of contact sports is a sad but necessary precaution as the Eastern Cape hockey challenge was building to a wonderful climax,” he said.
“With the Grahamstown leg poised for some exciting competition, we were anticipating another great day of competitive camaraderie this weekend.
“Hopefully we will still be able to find time in the school calendars to complete the last two legs, and to host the final in Port Elizabeth before the matrics take their leave.
“The SPAR Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge is a great memory for these girls so it will be special if we can still squeeze these events into the year.”
In its statement, the DBE said it would continue to monitor the situation regarding the possible resumption of schools sport.
Full Stop Communications media release for SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls' Challenge
FIH partners with GTG to launch its first-ever hockey manager game
Lausanne, Switzerland: Always wanted to be managing a hockey team but you haven’t quite reached that step yet? Here’s a great place to start: a hockey manager game!
For the first time in its history, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has engaged on a 5-year partnership with a gaming company – Gold Town Games (GTG) – which will develop a hockey manager game, available on mobile, planned to be released globally before the end of 2021 on Google Play and the App Store. The game will be free to download.
GTG is a Swedish, publicly listed, mobile game developer and publisher that makes competitive, intuitive and social sport manager applications. The company currently has three sport manager games in ice hockey, in football and, by autumn 2021, in American football.
“It is an honor for us at Gold Town Games to be able to produce the world’s first mobile hockey manager game. It will be a challenge but also lots of fun and hopefully we can please the fans. The game of hockey has old, strong roots and it’s going to be exciting to develop and publish a game to its broad and growing global fan base”, said Gold Town Games CEO Pär Hultgren.
Commenting on the announcement, FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “As an International Federation, entering the gaming world is a must nowadays, frankly. We’re glad to be partnering with GTG to help us doing this with a high-quality product. The hockey manager game will add significant promotion to our sport by bringing it to the attention of the huge gaming community around the world. From there, I do believe that a number of gamers will become hockey fans as well, and possibly even hockey athletes. That would be a really great outcome. Furthermore, with this new initiative, we’re also providing hockey lovers with a game they’ve been waiting for since a long time.”
Whilst the mobile manager game is currently being developed, here are some of the great functionalities which will be on offer:
- Create your own hockey club and draft a team of players
- Build and develop up your hockey stadium, academy and training facilities
- Set your team tactics, win games against live opponents
- Advance to the top in the global hockey league and compete for tournament prices
- Join a social league with your friends to challenge others
#HockeyInvites
FIH site
International Goalkeeper Qamar Riazul Haq Passes Away
Pakistan`s former goal keeper Qamar Riazul Haq breathed his last in Lahore on Thursday afternoon after a prolonged illness.
He made two tours with the Pakistan hockey team in 1965, to Indonesia and East Africa.
In East Africa, the team played matches in Kenya, Uganda and erstwhile Zanzibar (now a part of Tanzania).
His display in the test matches against Kenya, a strong side of the time, was outstanding and many predicated a long international career for him.
Unfortunately, towards the end of the tour he picked up an injury which turned out to be career ending.
His younger brother Qamar Zia, also a goalkeeper, played for Pakistan from 1975-81 and won gold at 1978 World Cup, bronze 1976 Olympics, gold 1978 Asian games.
Ijaz Chaudhry writes on hockey & other sports. For more about him and his work, visit: www.sportscorrespondent.info
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