Hockey: Malaysia added to tight season

By TERRY MADDAFORD

An unexpected, but readily accepted, invitation to the annual Aslan Shah tournament in Kuala Lumpur will give an already busy programme for the New Zealand men's team further impetus.

The tournament in March will be used by the national side as a lead-in to a tour here by Canada in April.

The long road to a hoped-for place at the Athens Olympics begins next month, when coach Kevin Towns will hold a goalkeeping course in Auckland. At the same time, 24 players to be named in the national squad next week will have fitness tests.

A second training camp, for players aged 18-20, will be held in Australia in February. The camp is timed for the days leading up to the Australian national league, so Towns is assured of at least four games.

After the Aslan Shah (from March 22), the team will return for a four-test home series against Canada in April.

The Champions Challenge, to find the last qualifier for the six-team Champions Trophy, will be held in either July or December at a venue to be arranged - the challenge had been scheduled for strife-torn Zimbabwe.

The Champions Trophy, originally scheduled for England who surrendered their hosting rights because of financial difficulties, will be played in the Netherlands - possibly in September.

New Zealand will also play Australia in a home three-test Oceania Olympic qualifying series.

New Zealand Hockey are keen to play these tests in August or early September, but are finding resistance from the Australians, who have a European tour planned at that time.

The English are due for four tests in November next year.

If New Zealand do not win the Oceania Olympic berth, they will have to play the Olympic qualifying tournament in Madrid in February 2004.

Towns admits it is a hectic programme (the national league must also be accommodated), but one that should have his players primed for the Athens Olympics - if they get that far.

The format for the Lion Foundation national league is under review.

All players in the 12 teams (men and women) have been asked to respond to a questionnaire. Coaches and associations will also be canvassed.

"We are looking at the timing, the format and the number of teams," said New Zealand Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel

"There might be some further tweaking - we brought in semifinals for the first time this season - but we have to again look at the pros and cons of a league versus national tournament format.

"The timing is a consideration," Patel said. "We played the league early in 1999 and 2000, and late [September/October] last year and this year.

"We went away from a tournament to a league to make people more aware of domestic hockey. We feel we have lifted the profile and recognition."

Patel said it cost about $200,000 to stage the league, of which $144,000 is recovered from the associations, who pay $12,000 for each team entered.

One option is doubling the number of matches by introducing weekend double-headers (rather than playing home and away which doubles the costs).

There have also been suggestions the leagues (men and women) should be increased from six to eight teams.