Thursday 11 February 2010

Good morning,

Yesterday the national team of India played their first practice match under very strict rules of the authorities in New Delhi.

No visitor or media was allowed to follow the game.

More and more it seems that the World Cup fever has become out of control.

If this is for security or privacy matters around the National team, it is unsure but this issue will get more conflicts.

It all has to do with good communications and information.

Blocking out the media is not something what India can hold for a long time.

And from the same camp the statement that the captaincy issue is still not solved, after quotes of Hockey India players should concentrate on hockey.

All these issues are not good for the atmosphere around the national team.

The management of Hockey India blocked even a charity event, which was organized for the national players in Chandigarh.

India is not free of all small issues, which doesn’t benefit the peace in the camp.

A bit more than 2 weeks and then the World Cup will start and how fit are the players of India?

From Pakistan the news that their players are very fit, the two Dutch trainers, one responsible as physiologist for sport science at the Pakistan team, tested the players under strict conditions.

The outcome was very impressive and promising. The team is very fit and in top condition.

Although Pakistan is missing in playing test matches their results so far are very hopeful.

For them the World Cup can start.

And the same can be said for Australia as we wrote for you yesterday and the day before yesterday.

Also news from Malaysia, which changing their decisions for the national teams regularly, about who gets the job and with whom.

Yesterday the so-called committees made their decisions and these seems to be final.

Especially the news about the national juniors is very surprising again.

One day the coach Dharmaraj was given the job as assistant coach after not very impressive results, the next day he got his job as national coach of juniors back again.

Yes, this is Malaysia, everything is possible.

Have a nice day and keep smiling,

Hockey Asia