News for 07 November 2018
All the news for Wednesday 7 November 2018
Belgium squad for World Cup announced
Head coach Shane McLeod has announced the Belgian men's national team who will compete at the upcoming Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.
The “Red Lions” won the silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games
The Olympic 2016 silver medallists and Hockey World League Semi-Final gold medallists will play their sixth World Cup. Belgium sit in Pool C with Canada, India and South Africa.
Belgium men's team for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018:
Vincent Vanasch
Loic Van Doren
Arthur De Sloover
Arthur Van Doren
Loïck Luypaert
Alexander Hendrickx
Gauthier Boccard
Emmanuel Stockbroekx
Simon Gougnard
John-John Dohmen
Victor Wegnez
Felix Denayer
Sébastien Dockier
Cédric Charlier
Tom Boon
Thomas Briels
Florent van Aubel
Nicolas De Kerpel
#HWC2018
FIH site
Ireland’s David Harte a doubt for Hockey World Cup
Goalkeeper seeks second opinion on injury suffered in warm-up before loss to Netherlands
Stephen Findlater
Ireland goalkeeper David Harte’s initial diagnosis was a fractured fibula. Photograph: Freddie Parkinson/Inpho
The Irish men are anxiously waiting for news on David Harte after he ended their World Cup preparation tournament in Valencia with a protective plaster on his leg.
The two-time world goalkeeper of the year suffered an injury in the warm-up prior to last Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Netherlands. The initial diagnosis was a fractured fibula from the hospital in Spain but Harte is hoping a second opinion from a follow-up CT scan in the Netherlands will produce more positive news.
It puts his hopes of captaining Ireland’s men to their first World Cup appearance since 1990 in major doubt. The competition gets under way in India on November 30th when Ireland meet world number one side Australia.
They follow up with games against China on December 4th and England on December 7th. With a usual six-week healing time for a fractured fibula, it leaves it touch and go whether the keeper can be part of the panel.
Ireland are next in action on Saturday when they will play Belgium at White Star in Evere.
Hours prior to Harte’s injury, the Kinsale man had been elected by his fellow players to be part of the International Hockey Federation’s Athlete’s Committee as a liaison member.
The committee consists of current and former players and gives them a voice in the FIH’s decision-making processes and the make-up of the international calendar.
The Irish Times
Uncertainty hangs over participation in World Cup: Tauqeer Dar
LAHORE - Pakistan hockey team’s newly-appointed head coach Tauqeer Ahmad Dar has said uncertainty hangs over participation of national team in the World Cup to be played in India later this month owing to paucity of funds.
“At the moment, it is not yet sure that our team will be taking part in the mega event and it is the most unfortunate situation, the national game has been going through,” he said after taking over the responsibility of head coach of the team here at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
Dar said that he and the PHF authorities are requesting the concerned quarters to rescue Pakistan hockey by providing funds for ensuring team’s participation in the World Cup to be played in Bhubaneshwar, India from November 28 to December 16.
“In the given circumstances, things are not conducive for hockey as players are sacrificing in a big manner and not receiving their allowances. We must appreciate their gesture. The PHF is going through the worst ever financial crunch, which has diminished hopes of its (team’s) participation in the World Cup.”
The former Olympian said Pakistan is known around the globe due to its glittering past in hockey and called for launching collective efforts for revival and development of hockey. “The PHF will also take up the issue of present hockey crisis with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani for lending support.”
He held responsible the hockey family for the over downfall of the game and said the PHF was made a ‘job centre’ rather an institution to strive for regaining lost glory. “People related to hockey love to get a job in the PHF setup and when they are out of it, they start criticising the PHF which is quite illogical because they do not say a word against the PHF while enjoying perks and privileges during the job,” he asserted.
Dar said that it was an honour for him to work with the hockey legend Hasan Sardar, who is manager of Pakistan team and playing his role to lift hockey out of gloom. He said despite adverse circumstances, the team performed to a high level by emerging as joint winners in the recently-concluded Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat but the team’s fine performance has not been acknowledged by the government. “Hockey has lost its pride and its players have not ‘high value of heroes in the society’ compared to cricket or other games,” he added.
The former Olympian said that it is irrelevant to talk about Pakistan’s low international ranking as others nations have progressed high in past two decades and even Asian teams like Malaysia, Japan and South Korea are fast coming up and in coming years, gulf nations will be a visible threat as well at Asia level. The head coach pointed out that he is bearing all the expenses of his Dar Hockey Academy to contribute in a national cause and he is also doing it to keep his family affiliation with the game.
PHF names team management for World Cup
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Tuesday announced the management of the national hockey team for the World Cup Hockey Tournament to be played in Bhubaneshwar, India from November 28 to December 16.
Former hockey Olympian Tauqeer Ahmad Dar was named as head coach with former Olympian Danish Kaleem comes in as a coach. Former Pakistan captain Rehan Butt was retained as coach. Former Olympian Hasan Sardar is manager of the team. He said PHF President Brig (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar has approved the team management.
The Nation
Venues announced for Pakistan’s FIH Pro League ‘home’ matches
Lausanne, Switzerland: Pakistan will play their ‘home’ games in Argentina, Belgium, England, Germany and the Netherlands for the inaugural FIH Pro League which will be played from January to June next year.
After FIH had been made aware in early October that the FIH Pro League partnership between the Pakistan Hockey Federation and Scottish Hockey could not reach agreement, FIH held discussions with the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the participating National Associations, investigating solutions for Pakistan’s 'home' matches in 2019.
FIH CEO Thierry Weil stated: “Once again, the solidarity of the international hockey family is showcased. It is overwhelming to see that the participating National Associations were willing to adapt their schedules to support a solution for Pakistan. FIH is very thankful to all of them. It was important to find a solution to enable the Asian team to participate and I’m pleased with this outcome.”
Pakistan will play their first ‘home’ game in Argentina on 3 February 2019.
To find out which venues will host which matches in 2019, view the official FIH Pro League schedule here.
FIH site
Kookaburras To Play Pakistan In London In FIH Pro League
Ben Somerford
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) have announced the Kookaburras’ away match against Pakistan in the 2019 FIH Pro League will be played at London’s Lee Valley Hockey Centre.
Australia are due to play Pakistan on June 7, marking the first FIH Pro League match of the side’s European leg which includes matches away to Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in June.
The Hockeyroos also have numerous European fixtures in June too, as part of the new FIH Pro League.
The FIH statement wrote that Pakistan will play their ‘home’ games in Argentina, Belgium, England, Germany and the Netherlands for the inaugural FIH Pro League.
After FIH had been made aware in early October that the FIH Pro League partnership between the Pakistan Hockey Federation and Scottish Hockey could not reach agreement, FIH held discussions with the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the participating National Associations, investigating solutions for Pakistan’s 'home' matches in 2019.
FIH CEO Thierry Weil stated: “Once again, the solidarity of the international hockey family is showcased. It is overwhelming to see that the participating National Associations were willing to adapt their schedules to support a solution for Pakistan.
“FIH is very thankful to all of them. It was important to find a solution to enable the Asian team to participate and I’m pleased with this outcome.”
Both of Australia’s teams will begin the FIH Pro League with matches in Melbourne, Hobart, Perth and Sydney in February and March.
Tickets will go on sale for the Australian matches in the FIH Pro League on Friday 16 November from 9am (AEDT) via Ticketbooth.com.au.
Click here to pre-register your interest in FIH Pro League tickets
Click here to view the full schedule
Hockey Australia media release
Spark Sport Secures Rights to Hockey
Spark announced today it has won a four-year deal for FIH (International Hockey Federation) media rights in New Zealand. These rights include the Hockey World Cup, the Hockey Pro League and Olympic Qualification, plus rights to the National Hockey League. All rights are for live and on demand coverage of both women’s and men’s competitions from January 2019 to the end of 2022 and include all Black Sticks fixtures.
Notably, the FIH Pro League is a new international competition that will run from January to June 2019, with matches in New Zealand and overseas. Spark has production rights and will be host broadcaster for all FIH Pro League matches in New Zealand.
This is Spark's first sports partnership that includes local production rights, demonstrating Spark’s ambition to become a key player in the local sports market as well as a provider of international sports coverage.
NEP New Zealand, part of the NEP Worldwide Network, will be Spark’s production and outside broadcast partner for the FIH Pro series. NEP run more than 2,000 hours of Australian broadcast production each year, including key live sport titles (NRL, AFL, Cricket, MotoGP, Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix). As the FIH Pro League hits off in Auckland in January 2019, all initial Black Sticks matches will be broadcast live on TVNZ 2. However, once Spark’s new service goes live, matches will be available exclusively from Spark Sport.
Head of Spark Sport, Jeff Latch, says Spark was thrilled to be supporting New Zealand hockey. “This deal means New Zealanders will be able to watch our national Hockey teams live every time they play in New Zealand or overseas – and will have more access to live hockey event coverage than ever before. Across all the events, every year there will be hundreds of hours of play available on Spark Sport.
“We’re excited to be taking on the responsibility for local production and broadcast, in conjunction with our production partner NEP New Zealand, for the inaugural FIH Pro League. We’re really proud to be working with New Zealand Hockey to ensure hockey fans get to enjoy all the games in New Zealand.”
FIH CEO, Thierry Weil says: “I’m delighted that FIH could sign a media rights agreement with such a strong partner as Spark. This new partnership will give hockey more exposure than ever before in New Zealand, thus substantially contributing to the development of the game, which is FIH’s number one mission.”
CEO of New Zealand Hockey, Ian Francis, says, “We are excited by the opportunity that a partnership with Spark Sport brings. It will allow the Black Sticks and hockey in New Zealand to reach a larger audience both locally and globally. Spark Sport already has a strong line up of sports and being part of this service will open up hockey to an audience that might not have previously considered watching it.”
The hockey rights are in addition to the rugby, football and motorsport content already announced by Spark, including the Rugby World Cup 2019, the Premier League from August 2019 and Formula 1 from March 2019. More content rights will be announced in coming weeks.
Unveiling Spark Sport
Today Spark has also unveiled the official brand for the sports streaming service.
David Chalmers, CFO and Spark’s Executive Lead for Sport says: “Spark’s new sport streaming service will be known as Spark Sport. We picked a name that clearly demonstrates our ambition both to help Kiwis get the most out of technology and to deliver them a better sport experience - with the freedom and flexibility to watch sport the way they want to watch, at a time that suits them.”
“World-class” sports streaming platform provider
Chalmers says US-based iStreamPlanet, a subsidiary of Turner, a WarnerMedia company, has an impressive pedigree, having provided the streaming platform for a number of large sports events – including the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the NCAA March Madness, the NBA League Pass and the F1 TV Pro channel.
With New Zealanders embracing streaming, Chalmers says that “Spark wanted a provider capable of supporting a very large number of concurrent users while still offering a world-class viewing experience.”
iStreamPlanet was selected after an extensive evaluation process by Spark. They will provide the bulk of the technical infrastructure for Spark Sport, including video encoding and distribution, user authentication, subscription management and billing and App development across a wide range of devices.
“The team at iStreamPlanet has sports streaming in their DNA, having been in the online sport streaming game for 15 years. They use leading cloud technologies to provide a reliable, scalable and exceptionally high-quality video experience for sports fans – and that is exactly what we want to provide New Zealanders for the Rugby World Cup 2019,” says Chalmers.
“The platform will also offer a number of attractive features such as live pause, restart live events, and a comprehensive library of on-demand and highlights packages across a wide range of platforms and devices”, Chalmers says. After launch, Spark will continue to enhance the feature set and expand the device coverage.
Spark will announce more details about Spark Sport, including pricing options, over the next few months. In the meantime, New Zealand sports fans can register their interest at www.spark.co.nz/sport.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Scott Tupper Represents Canada on FIH Athlete Committee
Scott Tupper, captain of the Canadian Men’s National Team will now wear another hat as he was recently appointed as a member of the FIH Athletes’ Committee. Elections took place for the Athletes’ Committee over the course of the last month. The committee consists of current and former hockey players who ensure that the athletes themselves have influence in the FIH decision making process.
Mark Knowles (AUS), Rogier Hofman (NED), Janne Müller-Wieland (GER) and Carla Rebecchi (ARG) were all elected by fellow athletes as Regular Members, with David Harte (IRL) and Camila Caram (CHI) being elected as Liaison Members, who are required to be current players. They are joined on the Athletes’ Committee by Scott Tupper (CAN), Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran (IND), Kate Richardson-Walsh (ENG) and Jacqueline Mwangi (KEN), who were all recommended nominations by the Executive Board to give both gender and geographic balance.
Tupper is one of the most capped players in Canadian history and continues to represent Canada on the world stage. He put his name forward knowing he could provide a voice for Canadian hockey players.
“I’m excited to have been appointed to the Athletes’ Committee and to have the opportunity to be a voice for hockey players around the world. I think it’s always important for Canadians to be involved at the higher levels of our sport, and to follow Scott Sandison as a member of the committee is an honour,” Tupper said.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the FIH and helping grow our sport, while shaping it in a way that keeps the athletes -Hockey’s number one asset- front of mind.”
Field Hockey Canada media release
HNZ Appoints Under 18 Head Coaches
Hockey New Zealand has appointed their head coaches to lead the U18 programme as they work towards the Junior World Cup. Mitch Hayde and former Vantage Black Stick Hymie Gill have been named to lead the Men’s teams while Verity Sharland and former Vantage Black Stick Katie Glynn will take the reigns of the women’s team.
Athlete pathway manager Greg Nicol identified the need to have capable people creating longer term planning in this age group and supporting the regional programmes as one of the most positive changes. “We have operated on a camp by camp basis in the past, the consistency of these appointments to connect alongside the regional programmes and then collaborate with the Vantage Black Sticks and National U21 programmes will help build and strengthen our system”.
All the coaches have a strong playing background and extensive Hockey coaching experience, Katie Glynn is the most recent international with 134 caps while Hymie Gill played in 79 internationals between 1997 and 2002. Mitch Hayde is a professional in coach development and recently returned from the Sultan of Johor Cup. Verity Sharland has accumulated a successful hockey coaching career alongside her profession in teaching. Verity was competing in the 2018 Ford NHL where she was the captain of the Central Mysticks.
Sharland comments “the roles are exciting ones as growth at these levels happens over time. I am looking forward to being a part of a long term approach to player development and to support and mentor the athletes through the system. It will also be an opportunity for me to collaborate with other coaches and best support the athletes coming through”
The 1st camp for the new programme will be held in Taranaki from the 15 – 21st December 2018
U18 Women’s Head Coaches
Katie Glynn – Auckland
Verity Sharland – Central
U18 Men’s Head Coaches
Hymie Gill – Northland
Mitch Hayde – North Harbour
Hockey New Zealand Media release
KHU summons umpires over controversial Police win
By AYUMBA AYODI
Kenya Police's Willis Okeyo looks to pass the ball under pressure from Wazalendo's Nelson Shikaku during their Kenya Hockey Union men's Premier League match at City Park, Nairobi on November 11, 2018. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) have now convened a meeting for umpires and technical officials on November 17 to address concerns of poor officiating and protests in the ongoing hockey leagues.
The meeting that will take place the City Park, will also coincide with hockey teams’ chairman and team managers meeting at the same place the same day.
At the same time, KHU has launched investigations into the controversial Kenya Police and Wazalendo match last Saturday where Wazalendo allowed Police score unchallenged protesting biased officiating.
Police won 16-2 with Amos Barkibir scoring all Police goals.
The Union’s deputy match secretary Moses Majiwa said that by all standards, the results and happenings from match between Police and Wazalendo weren’t normal.
“We have had complaints not only from that match but several others weeks ago,” said Majiwa. “We want to interrogate and understand what has been happening.”
Majiwa said the results from Kenya Police and Wazalendo will be put on hold until the executive comes with a decision following the two meetings on November 17.
“We came with drastic changes to the leagues this season with a view of improving competition and quality. We want to know whether we are heading the right direct or we are where we want to be,” said Majiwa.
Majiwa warned that they will not tolerate cases of match fixing and biased officiating especially at this crucial time when the leagues are about to end with both the title and relegation races yet to be decided.
“Every match counts now, which demands for transparency and accountability from the umpires. We also want clubs to uphold the highest standards of discipline,” said Majiwa.
With the development, Kenya Police remain in second place in the league with 48 points with five matches to go as Butali Sugar upheld their league’s lead with 51 points and three matches to go.
It’s Butali’s new signing Dutchman Merteen Fonteyn, who scored one goal and made one assist as they silenced United States International University 2-0 at City Park on Sunday.
It’s in the third quarter that Butali Sugar managed to break USIU's defence when Zack Aura floated the ball from the left before Fonteyn drew first blood in the 43rd minute.
Then in the last quarter, Aura played Fonteyn through before finding Vincent Odhiambo to sweep in the second goal with seconds to go.
Daily Nation