Malaysia: Lissek: Selected Under-16 hockey players need quality matches 
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| Malaysia |
November 23, 2004 
The Star Online
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BY RAJES PAUL
KUALA LUMPUR: A stint in Central Camp will be held next month for 40 young hockey players and those who are impressive will be called up to join the national Under-16 team.
And the National Sports Council's (NSC) junior development coach Paul Lissek warned that it would be an exercise in futility if those selected were not given proper exposure to local and international tournaments.
Since leaving the national team in April to handle junior development programmes full-time, Lissek together with national Under-16 coach Yahya Atan have completed a tour of almost all the states to identify new talent.
“Malaysia are blessed with many talented hockey players and it is good to note that there is still a lot of interest in the sport among the juniors,” said Lissek.
“We have identified 40 juniors for our Central Camp. The best will be roped into the national Under-16 team. But what is worrying me is what happens to those selected after the camp.
“In order to move up, these youngsters need to have aims, targets and challenges. But the problem is that they are not given enough good and high quality matches at the local or international levels.
“It will be great if they have a tournament like an Asia Cup for Under-16s or friendly matches against Australia and India to help them raise the standard of their game.
“In Germany, the national Under-16 recruits get immediate exposure. They compete against their European counterparts and they can look forward to playing in the annual Under-16 European Cup.
“Ironically, the current Malaysian Under-16 squad hardly had any matches this year. Players at this level need between 20 and 25 matches a year to keep them competitive.”
Lissek also made known some of the problems he learnt of during his visit to schools in the country over the last few months.
“The schools are hindered from having full-time training on artificial pitches,” said the German.
“Why? This is because they have to pay to use these pitches. Some cannot afford it at all while some can only afford to use it once or twice a week. The authorities should make it free for these schools to train there at least two hours a day.
“It will also be good to have a sports school in the Northern Zone. Some parents are heavy hearted to send their children to the BJSS (Bukit Jalil Sports School) and the BPSS (Bandar Penawar Sports School).”
Although his contract with the NSC ends next March, Lissek is keen to stay on.
“I enjoy what I am doing now. If some of these problems that I have highlighted is solved, Malaysia will have good talent coming through the ranks,” he said.
Prior to the Central Camp, Lissek will have a stint as consultant of the Malacca team for the Razak Cup tournament, which begins at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday. He joined the team in training yesterday.
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