All the news for Wednesday 31 December 2008
Best wishes for 2009 from the FIH President Leandro Negre
On behalf of everyone at the FIH, I would like to wish the entire Hockey Family and all fans of our sport a wonderful 2009.
The year 2008 was an extremely successful year with the Olympic Games in Beijing as the Highlight. During this fantastic hockey tournament, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Hockey at the Olympic Games.
Together with the Olympics, two excellent organized Champions Trophies and six spectacular Olympic Qualifiers made 2008 one of the best years ever in hockey.
For me, as the newly elected FIH President, 2009 will be an important year, as we will keep making the necessary steps and decisions to constantly move hockey forward.
PIA, Port Qasim in Gold Cup final
From our correspondent
LAHORE: PIA and Port Qasim reached the final of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at National Hockey Stadium, here on Tuesday.
In the first semifinal, PIA beat National Bank after a thrilling match by 2-1. At the end of the first half the score was 1-1.
The first goal was scored from PIA by Muhammad Zubair in the 14th minute on the only penalty corner. The goal was levelled for National Bank by Imran Warsi in the 27th minute on a penalty stroke. The decisive goal from PIA was scored by Waqas Akbar in the 42nd minute.
PIA were showed three yellow and green cards each by the umpires, while National Bank got three penalty corners in the match but penalty corner specialist Imran Warsi did not succeeded to score a goal.
Port Qasim beat Pakistan Army on a golden goal by 2-1 in the second semifinal.
In extra time Port Qasim got their first penalty corner of the match, Muhammad Khalid converted the goal in the 75th minute. Earlier in the match Muhammad Atif of Port Qasim opened the account in the 32nd minute.
Muhammad Afzal of Army levelled the goal in the 34th minute on a penalty corner.
The final match between PIA and Port Qasim will be played today (Wednesday).
The News International
PIA to clash with Port Qasim in final
LAHORE: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Port Qasim reached the final of the Gold Cup Hockey Tournament after winning their respective semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday. In the first semi final, PIA narrowly defeated spirited National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) 2-1 while Port Qasim thrashed Pakistan Army with the same score in the second semi-final.
PIA and NBP were locked 1-1 at half time. PIA shot into lead with the 14th minute penalty corner goal scored by Muhammad Zubair. NBP’s Imran Warsi levelled the score in 27th minute on a penalty stroke. The decisive goal was scored Waqas Akbar in 42nd minute. NBP could not benefit with the presence of penalty corner expert Warsi.
Pakistan Cricket Board director human resource Wasim Bari and former Olympian Shahbaz Ahmad Senior were the chief guests of the first semi-final. The second semi-final was the repeat of the first semi-final as Port Qasim and Army were tied 1-1 at half time and no goal was scored in the second half. Port Qasim scored the all-important goal in the extra time off a short corner through Muhammad Khalid in 75th minute. Pakistan Peoples Party president DG Khan Khawaja Mudassar was the chief guest of the second semi final.
The Daily Times
Decision over hockey team’s India visit on Jan 2: Jilani
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The fate of the Pakistan hockey team’s proposed visit of India to play in a quadrangular double-header will be decided following a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Friday.
Pir Aftab Shah Jilani, the Federal Sports Minister, said here on Tuesday that representatives of the sports ministry and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will meet with foreign ministry officials in Islamabad on January 2 before a decision is taken over the issue.
“A decision would be taken whether to send our team to India after considering all the aspects,” said Jilani.
Pakistan were supposed to feature in a four-nation tournament to be played in the Indian cities of Jalandhar and Chandigarh in February.
It is an important event considering the fact that world and Olympic champions Germany, Holland and hosts India are the other participants. Pakistan have not featured in any worthwhile hockey event since August’s Olympic Games in Beijing.
However, it became apparent that Pakistan will not feature in the event soon after India cancelled their cricket team’s tour of Pakistan earlier this month over November’s terror attacks in Mumbai.
But the authorities decided against taking a hasty decision and have now opted to summon a meeting of all stake-holders in the capital. Jilani said that his ministry has also forwarded a request from the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), which is currently training its top boys for next month’s Asian Junior Squash Championships to be played in the South Indian city of Chennai.
Pakistan are supposed to defend both the team and individual titles in the tournament to be played from January 16-23.
But their participation in the event is in serious doubt because of strained relations between the two countries.
Jilani, who had supervised an inter-provincial meeting between the sports ministers earlier in the day, said that the next such meeting will take place in February in Lahore.
Speaking on steps being taken to raise the standard of sports in the country, Jilani said that he wants some progress at the grassroots level. He said that the ministry will make efforts to ensure that sports-related funds reach schools all over the country and are utilised properly. Jilani said that the authorities will also be reviewing the sports policy for 2009.
The News International
Decision over visit to India on Friday: Pakistan
KARACHI: Pakistan will take a decision on Friday on whether to send its hockey team to India for a quadrangular tournament, the country's sports minister Aftab Jilani said on Tuesday.
Jilani said that representatives of the sports ministry, foreign ministry and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will sit together on Friday in Islamabad to take a decision over the issue.
Pakistan had confirmed its participation in the double-leg tournament to be played in Chandigarh and Jalandhar in February.
However, after India's decision to block its cricket team's tour of Pakistan over last month's Mumbai terror attack, Pakistan, in retaliation, said it would think again before sending its sports teams to India.
The PHF later sent a request for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the foreign ministry but so far the matter is unresolved.
Pakistan was supposed to join host India, world champions Germany and the Netherlands in the tournament. India is already searching for a team to replace Pakistan.
Jilani said the sports ministry has also forwarded a request for an NOC from the Pakistan Squash federation, which wants to send its youth team for the 2008 Asian Junior Squash Championships to be played in Chennai January 16-23.
The Times of India
PHF Executive Board meets today
KARACHI: Second Executive Board meeting of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will be held here at the National Hockey Stadium Lahore on Wednesday (today). 14 members executive Board includes President PHF Qasim Zia, Secretary PHF Asif Bajwa, Chairperson PHF Women Wing Barrister Shahida Jamil, Senior Vice President PHF Saeed Khan, Treasurer PHF Gulfraz Ahmad Khan, Secretary Punjab Hockey Association Rana Mujahid Ali, Secretary Sindh Hockey Association Rao Muhammad Saleem, Secretary NWFP Hockey Association Syed Zahir Shah, Secretary Balochistan Hockey Association Qaiser Loni, Olympians Akhtar Rasool Chaudhry, Islahuddin Siddiqui, Shahbaz Ahmad Sr, Rashid Butt (Railways) and Col Nadeem (Army).
The News International
Players urge corporate and media support for hockey's revival
RANCHI: India internationals have called on the corporate world and the media to help in reviving hockey's lost glory.
"We know why hockey is lagging behind cricket, because we are unable to deliver. We can give better performance if sponsors give half the attention to hockey compared to cricket," said senior national team member Prabodh Tirkey.
"The media also has an important role to play in reviving the game's glorious past," he added.
Prabodh's views were echoed by his brother and India team-mate Ignace Tirkey.
"We are capable of recovering the golden period, but with a little support from all," said Ignace, who on Monday married Masira Surin, a member of national women's hockey squad.
Olympian Sylvanus Dung Dung was of the view that the administrators of the national game need to sincerely work towards lifting the game at par with cricket.
"I have seen hockey attracting more crowds than cricket. In a Champions Trophy match against Pakistan the stadium in Karachi was overflowing. Sadly, now it is just the other way round. We have to think and do something," said Dung Dung, who was a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal winning team.
The Times of India
Best and worst of 2008
BEST AND WORST OF THE YEAR GONE BY
Best Thing happened to Hockey: End of KPS Gill’s IHF regime
Worst Thing happened to Hockey: Premier Hockey League and National Championship not held
Hero of the Year: journalist Deepak Sharma who exposed corruption in a popular television
Most Highlighted Event of the Year: Olympic Qualification Failure
Best Comment by a foreigner: “I dont' think we can work with a half suspended Secretary and a president who is probably linked because he protects his secretary in this case" by former FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman to K. Arumugam for PTI.
Best Comment by an Indian: Jude Felix: in the Times of India.
Casual Comment by an Administrator: Md. Aslam: “We will conduct Indian Hockey League”
Worst Comment by an Indian: “We are not concentrating on chhota mota tournaments like Asian Games or Commonwealth Games, but Olympics”, Ajit Pal Singh in a IOA Press Conference.
Comedy of the Year: The way MK Kaushik and other former Olympians went about scouting Men’s chief coach.
Amusement of the Year: National Selectors Reasoning of many events
Worst Match of the Year (Men): Chile Olympic Qualifier final against Great Britain
Best Match of the Year (Men): Junior Asia Cup Final when India bounced back to defeat Korea 3-2 after trailing 0-2 at one point.
Worst Match of the Year (Women): India’s pool match against Netherlands Antilles (Olympic Qualifier), where our women failed to stop the pushed ball in 7 out of 8 penalty corners.
Best Match of the Year (Women): Yet to come!!
Betrayal of the Year: When whole of India was up against Gill, Olympian M.P. Ganesh going to Gill’s house and getting the post of Selection Committee Chairman.
Most Illogical Comment of the Year: “With the huge amount we pay for Richard Charlesworth we can hire five Indian coaches’ by M.S. Gill, Sports Minister.
Absurdity of the Year: Upgrading Ajit Pal Singh as Selection Committee Chairman from member, as if that was the ill affecting the selection process.
Ugly Incident of the Year: Namdhari players hitting an umpire in the KSHA League
Beautiful Incident of the Year: Two great players Ignace Tirkey and Masira Surin in wedlock
Most Regretful Incident of the Year: Richard Charlesworth leaving India
Most Welcome Incident of the Year: Ad-hoc Committee’s firm resolve to bring a foreign coach.
Best Initiative of the Year: Schools hockey by many enthusiasts.
Best News Article of the Year: Centenary of Roop Singh in Hindustan Times.
Worst News Article of the Year: ‘Olympians Support Carvalho’ in Times of India (March 2008).
Perfidy of the Year: Joaquim Carvalho taking in Amit Kumar for Australia 4-Nation and playing him just under 10 minutes in the entire tour.
Double Game of the Year: NK Batra, after all his blitzkrieg in the media, trying to be in both rival camps of IHF tussle.
Most Irrelevant Incident of the Year: MP Ganesh resigning from IWHF treasurer, and KPS Gill attending an AHF meeting in Hyderabad.
Holiday of the Year: Amrit Bose, IWHF Secretary, went to Los Angeles to attend the FIH Congress, and yet to return India!!!!
Day Dreamer of the Year: JB Roy expecting to become the IHF president just by organizing a seminar.
Recall of the Year: Arjun Halappa
Surprise Achievement of the Year: Indian women defeating Japan in the race for Junior World Cup slot.
Good News of the Year: World Cup will be in Delhi in 2010
Mischief of the Year: KPS Gill canceling Junior tour to Poznan
Surprise of the Year: 90 percent of people who had 100 percent loyalty to KPS Gill easily changing sides and calling shots in the new dispensation as well.
Stupidity of the Year: IWHF President contesting for the FIH Vice-President post, and losing it by a margin of 70 votes in a electoral college of just above 80.
Media Event of the Year: Sting Operation by Aajtak television
Selvaraju wants to continue playing in Germany
By AFTAR SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR: National forward S. Selvaraju wants to return to Germany in April to continue playing in their hockey league.
The 23-year-old Perak player said that Berliner manager Jurgen Haner was happy with his performance and would be glad if he could return to the team.
Selvaraju was with the Division One club last September and scored seven goals in 10 matches.
“Haner e-mailed me a few days ago asking me to come back in April. I am interested in continuing to play in the German League as it has helped me build up my confidence in scoring goals,’’ he said.
Selvaraju added that the German League season had not ended because it started only after the Beijing Olympics last August and matches could not be completed before the winter break in late October.
“The competition will resume in April,’’ said Selvaraju, who has 36 international caps to his credit.
Selvaraju is in his second season in the German League.
He was with Moenchengladbach in 2006 and scored five goals in 12 matches.
However, it is doubtful that Selvaraju will get to complete the season with Berliner.
“The national team will play in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in April and the national team management may not want to release me to play in the German League,’’ said Selvaraju, who played for Tenaga Nasional in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), which ended last week.
The national team will resume training next week and they will also be preparing for the Asia Cup in Dubai in May.
The Asia Cup winners gain direct entry to the 2010 World Cup Finals in India and if Malaysia fail to win the championship, they will have to feature in a qualifying tournament in November.
The Star of Malaysia
Nakuru Simba feeling the financial crunch
By Ben Ahenda
Chances of Nakuru Athletic Simba featuring in the Hockey Premier League next year are slim following withdrawal of the sponsor, Andrew Jean Louis.
He cited lack of support as his main reason for pulling out. However, he said he would continue supporting the club only if other stakeholders could chip in.
"We cannot keep on relying on an individual. The club management must find committed sponsors to fund the team if we are to come in again," he said.
Nakuru Simba players led by full back Lawrence Macharia told FeverPitch yesterday they feared they would be forced out of the league due to financial problems.
Macharia appealed to well wishers to come to their assistance as most players were students drawn from Menengai, Koelel and Afraha High and Nakuru Day Secondary schools.
He said they had even approached civic leaders at Nakuru Municipal Council with no success. The players appealed to Nakuru Town Member of Parliament Lee Kinyanjui for assistance.
The team finished at the bottom of the eight-team league. Coach Anthony Egesa said they were not out of the league but were seeking financial support for next season. Egesa said they had been forced to relocate from their training venue, Nakuru Athletic Club, which also served as their home ground, to Menengai High School.
"We pay rent to train and play at Nakuru Athletic Club. Since there are no funds and we are determined to feature in the league next season, we must cut down on costs," he said.
The club spends between Sh30,000 and Sh40,000 on players to honour an away league fixture.
The Standard Online