Young squad shoulders hockey challenge
by Ting Tieng Hee, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 27, 2012, Friday
Sivasubramaniam Chellappah
KUCHING: State chief coach for women’s hockey Sivasubramaniam Chellappah is facing a selection headache as he lost three key players before centralise training commence on Feb 6.
The trio of Orian Mary David, Jessica Bijot and Marilyn Tina Garing withdraws from the shortlisted 24 players due to study or work commitments.
However, Sivasubramaniam has called up reserve players Camelia Anoy, Lora King and Moyzyliana Ezza as replacements.
“I have a very young squad to train, with the average age of players at 17 and there are only five players on the list who have played at the last Sukma in Melaka,” he said. They are goalkeeper Lavriss Rawing and outfield players Preshyla Ara Francis, Ivana Sonia Beriak, Susilawati Brandy and Christina Uchat.
Preshyla and goalkeeper Jenny Luyah Siew will be training in Johor as they are studying at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (formerly known as Bandar Penawar Sports School).
The other players called up for training are Ruziana Serah, Vernity Ricky, Janater Kadir, Gelimaya Birie, Linda Liwek, Florance Paul, Vegrasia Apany, Wisnika Jurin, Bong Me Ling (goalkeeper), Jossiekay Franklin, Kaflina Eve Kepel, Wilina Mac Carina Willson, Shelly Bayang, Christian Petra Nikul, and Christina Ela Ahong.
Sivasubramaniam is also facing an uphill task to turn the green horns into formidable challengers in Sukma XV in Kuantan, Pahang.
“We have to train the girls on the basics and they also have to go through physical conditioning because they need to be physically strong. We are now talking about playing total hockey where a fullback does not stand at one position. Instead the player have to be an all-rounder/utility player and move forward with other players as a team.”
The daily training sessions will be held from 6.30am to 9.30am and 3pm to 7pm while an hour’s video session will also be conducted at night.
The players will undergo physical strength training every Tuesday and Thursday morning at Sarawak State Sports
Council’s gym at Civic Centre Kuching. Monday will be their rest day.
Sivasubramaniam have Christina Janggui and Nellyana Ahing to assist him in the training sessions.
As part of the preparations, the state Sukma players will be sent for exposure matches at the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHC) Milo Junior League hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur in April.
Apart from that, the selected players will also participate in the MSS Sarawak U-18 and U-15 hockey tournament on March 10-11.
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