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I S S U E 4 I 2 0 1 6
GUATEMALA HOCKEY
LONDON’S CHAMPIONS TROPHIES
BREAKING THE EAST/WEST DIVIDE
magazine
planetHOCKEY
2038
68
Lauren Penny, former international player and founder of the Hockey Performance Academy took some time to chat to two of the u21 players who will be representing the African defending champions, South Africa.
INTERVIEW:ABOUT PASSION & GOALS
NEW ERA FOR GUATEMALA
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS ENTERS RECORD BOOKS
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UNDER COVER EXCITEMENTYOUNG PLAYERS
READY TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE
MATIAS SHINES AT COPA DEL REY
KNOCKOUT HOCKEY EVENT
While the best senior teams in the world will be eyeing Rio as their big target this year, the next generation of hockey stars have their own seminal moment at the end of the year when the Junior Hockey World Cup gets underway.
It was the 2012 Olympic Games that saw Kate Richardson-Walsh break into public consciousness after she courageously led Great Britain to the bronze medal despite suffering a broken jaw in the middle of the pool matches. Until then, Richardson-Walsh had been well-known in hockey circles, now she had become a national hero.
ISSUE 4 2 0 1 6
56TWENDE: CHANGING LIVES THROUGH HOCKEY
Indoor hockey took England by storm for a four week period over January as the outdoor league took and break and all the action turned to the short game.
As the domestic season draws to its conclusion, Stephen Findlater and Sarah Juggins preview the dramatic final competition to be played.
62BREAKING THE EAST/WEST DIVIDE
2016 AWARDS74It has been awards time over at the International Hockey Federation, with players, coaches, officials and hockey enthusiasts everywhere asked to cast their votes. The nomination lists spanned the continents but in the final voting there was a distinctly orange feel to the top honours.
Editor’s notes 7
Sally joins the team 11
Speed of Hockey by Lauren Penny 12
Gone Dutch: A Canadian on Sabbatical to Hockey’s Promised Land by Lauren Logush 17
REGULARS
COVER: Lidewij Welten in action
4 planet HOCKEY
THE TEAMPUBLISHER
Neville ‘Ned’ Dawson
EUROPEAN EDITOR / DEPUTY EDITOR
Sarah Juggins
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
John Whiting
Lawrence West
Shevaun Sly
Diana Dobson
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
James Philip Harris
Iain McAuslan
Greg Thompson
Russell Brown
GRAPHIC DESIGN
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Auckland 1001, New Zealand
+64 21 757 747
planet HOCKEY 5
www.planethockeymag.com
HAVE YOUR SAY!
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www.planethockeyforum.com
planet HOCKEY 7
So, both the men’s and women’s Champions Trophies are to
be held in London, four years after the ‘Smurf Turf’ was a star
attraction at the 2012 Olympic Games.
For many of the players this will be a step back in time, with
some great and not so great memories. Great Britain’s Kate
Richardson-Walsh may ruefully rub her face and remember
both the pain of playing through the horrific injury that left her
jawbone shattered, and the ecstasy of winning a bronze medal.
For Jaap Stockmann, London was all about disappointment after
the Netherland’s ‘keeper produced save after save to keep his
team in the final, only to see the ball slipped past him, after a
poor clearance in the dying minutes of the match, sending the
gold medal back to Germany.
But that was then, and this year it is all about another date
with destiny… in Rio. The teams that line up for the Champions
Trophy in London will be in the final stages of preparation for
their Olympic journey and that is why the action at the Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park will be nothing short of spectacular.
Hockey venues around the world have shown they can
put on a great show. The 2014 World Cup in the Hague was a
fantastic feast of hockey, with a vibrant, orange-clad atmosphere
every time the Netherlands took to the pitch. Whichever venue
is hosting an event in Argentina, you can be certain that the
moment the first notes of the Argentine national anthem plays,
until the final whistle blows, the stadium will be rocking to the
tune of the blue and white spectators. And it is the same in India
– the crowds love to see their national heroes in action and the
cacophony of sound is unbelievable at times.
However, what London managed to do in 2012, was make
the stadium feel like a home crowd no matter what nation was
playing. The capital city is such a multi-cultural hot-potch, that,
no matter what nations were playing, there was always a sizeable
‘home crowd’. And if Great Britain were not playing, then the
crowd would good-naturedly get behind whichever team needed
the most support.
CHAMPIONS TROPHY BY TWO B y
S a r a h J u g g i n s
8 planet HOCKEY
Whether the Champions Trophy events will create the
same buzz remains to be seen. Certainly England Hockey
are already pulling out all the stops to make it a spectacular
showcase. The EuroHockey Finals, held at the venue last June,
were an indication of how successful a hockey event could
be. Every England game was a sell-out and the final afternoon
was as noisy and excited as any sports event gets, but there
were also matches where the spectators stayed away and the
players performed to a handful of family members.
The difference between the 2012 Olympic Games and
the 2015 EuroHockey Finals was that the former event was
part of a multi-sport experience. People wanted to go to the
Olympics – no matter what the event. And hockey was one
of the events which had a large capacity and relatively cheap
tickets. At the EuroHockey event, it was largely hockey fans
who were attracted, and there are only so many of them.
The beauty of using a venue for major events in quick
succession is that you can tweak things and learn from
mistakes. England Hockey will have gathered a lot of feedback
from the EuroHockey event. They will know that the ‘Hockey
Village’ was popular; that the street food was, on the whole,
well-supported – although the food of some nations was
better received than others! They will know that if it rains,
there is a dearth of shelter; they will know that the army of
volunteers are nothing short of fantastic; and they will know
they have to get their ticketing levels right if they are to attract
people from a wider cohort than just the hockey community.
The women’s Champions Trophy was always going to be
in London, the men’s event being moved there at this late
stage is both a bonus and a challenge to England Hockey.
The bonus is in having yet another major international on
home turf and the kudos that gives to the hosting nation; the
challenge is in selling the event to a public that falls in and out
of love with hockey with indecent haste.
Sarah JugginsDeputy Editor, Planet Hockey
NB: Here at Planet Hockey, we believe in audience
participation, so email/write/tweet to me and share your
thoughts on all things hockey - twitter: @sjuggs15
planet HOCKEY 9
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10 planet HOCKEY
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SALLY JOINS THE TEAM
Sally Munday has been chief executive of England Hockey since 2008 and, during
that time, she has overseen a revolution in hockey in England and Great Britain.
She was given the MBE by Queen Elizabeth in 2013 and has won admirers around
the hockey world for her straight talking and clear-sighted vision for hockey’s
development.
Under Munday’s leadership, England Hockey
– which is the national governing body for
hockey in the UK and is responsible for both the
England Hockey teams and teams representing
Great Brit-ain – has become a professional,
commercially-aware entity. The 2012 Olympics
were a huge suc-cess story for England Hockey
with thousands of people, who had never really
watched the game, flooding through the gates.
Sally Munday has always worked in sport, firstly
for the Lawn Tennis Association and then for
Eng-land Hockey in a regional development
role. She was also team manager for Slough Hockey
Club, which at the time was one of the pre-eminent clubs in Europe, and for
the south of England region-al team.
One of the things that makes Sally Munday such a successful chief executive is the
fact that her career pathway to the top has encompassed so many roles in hockey
along the way, giving her a unique understanding of how the sport works at all
levels.
The next few years are important times for Munday and her team. One of her
dreams was to cre-ate a home for hockey in the UK and the Lee Valley Hockey
Centre on the Queen Elizabeth Olym-pic Park is proving worthy of the title. This
June, Lee Valley is hosting both the men’s and women’s Champions Trophy and
next year, the men’s Hockey World League Semi-Finals will be held at the venue
followed by the women’s World Cup in 2018.
For Munday, this is all helping to create a legacy of hockey in the UK. Talking about
the busy inter-national fixture list she says: “We have an exciting few years ahead of
us and having a facility like Lee Valley is a fantastic tool for us to engage the public
with our sport and really stimulate some national pride in supporting England’s
hockey teams. It is also a huge benefit to the local clubs and schools in the area
who will use the pitches, which is of the utmost importance.”
With Munday committing to continue in the role for the next few years, England
Hockey and its fu-ture are in good hands. The great news for readers of Planet
Hockey is that Sally has joined us as a regular columnist, so you will have a chance
to hear her views first-hand. l
12 planet HOCKEY
In the modern game, speed can be a huge advantage.
It could be the difference between winning a 50/50, closing down
a dragflicker at a short corner, bursting into space which creates a
dangerous attack or making that crucial interception.
When talking about speed in hockey, there are however various things
to consider.
The first thing to note is that during a game most players will change
direction at least every five seconds. It will usually take roughly 50m for
the average player to reach top speed, which means that in a game of
hockey, unless you see a player sprinting the distance of half the pitch in
a straight line, hockey players tend not to reach top speed.
Speed is about how fast you can sprint at maximum velocity whereas
acceleration is reaching top speed as quickly as possible. Acceleration is
typically the first 10-20m, even five metres, which could be the difference
between gaining possession or not.
Therefore when I refer to
speed in hockey I am referring
predominantly to acceleration
and agility.
Speed is a very broad topic
and can be quite complex so
for the sake of this article I will
focus on a few basic concepts
to improve acceleration over a
short distance.
There are three primary
areas which can be trained to
improve acceleration:
1) Increase stride frequency
2) Increase stride length
3) Improve sprinting
mechanics
Stride frequency refers to the number of steps taken where methods
of overspeed training such as running downhill are often used.
Stride length methods focus on exerting more force (strength) into the
SPEED OF HOCKEY
B y L a u r e n P e n n y
Ashley Jackson shows great acceleration. Photo by Grant Treeby,
planet HOCKEY 13
ground at foot strike, although it is not just about the amount of force but
also how quickly that force can be produced (power).
That means that the a large part of acceleration comes from strength
and power.
A simple way of improving acceleration is by lifting a combination of
heavy and light loads and doing basic plyometrics.
Here are a few guidelines for improving your speed in hockey:
1. You must warm up
Before doing any form of speed based training you must take at least
10-15 minutes preparing your body and mind for what you are about to do.
2. You must sprint at 100 per cent
In order to get faster you must sprint at 100 per cent, which means
that getting enough rest between sprints becomes crucial. There is a
difference between training for speed and training for endurance.
3. Work on flexibility and mobility
The hips in particular are extremely important when it comes to
speed so make sure you do plenty of mobility exercises, stretching and
foam rolling.
4. Develop a stable core
The core is essentially the muscles which link the upper body to
the lower body. Having a stable core is key to being faster, maintaining
control and staying balanced. Medicine balls and stability balls are great
tools for this.
5. You must pre-condition
Sprint training places great demand on the body so pre-conditioning
Jamie Dwyer moving – and hitting the ball – at top speed. Photo by Grant Treeby,
14 planet HOCKEY
is essential to prepare the body to withstand these forces. Doing too
much too soon could result in injury. Make sure you have a good
strength base before undergoing sprint work. Remember the stronger
you are, the more force you can apply to the ground.
6. Sprint training shouldn’t take longer than 10-15 minutes
Always do sprint work first. Remember speed training is not about
making you tired, it’s about making you faster and improving your
technique.
7. Mechanics are important
When accelerating you should aim to lean your body at a 45 degree
angle to the ground, driving the foot down into the ground to create
maximal force. During acceleration the foot should strike directly below
or slightly behind the hips.
One of the exercises I use
for teaching linear acceleration
mechanics is the wall drill.
Lean your body 45 degrees to
the ground with your hands against
a wall, keeping your arms parallel
to the ground. Your feet should
be behind your hips and your core
should be tight. Your body should
form a straight line from head to
toe. Raise your right leg so that the
ankle is beneath the hips and then
march alternating legs. Keep your
focus on maintaining core control and driving the feet into the ground.
Many struggle just to hold the correct posture so make sure you start
slowly with a one count and hold, then progress to a three count and
hold, up to a 10 count.
In this article I have focussed on linear acceleration, but agility is
also a large part of hockey speed which has various mechanics and
techniques for changing direction quickly. l
For more hockey fitness advice and for ways to improve your hockey
visit: www.hockeyperformanceacademy.com
ABOUT LAUREN PENNY
A former International Hockey Player and Performance Coach specialising in the mental and physical parts of sport,
particularly helping others to be more confident, consistent and improve their fitness.
After missing out on u18 national selection Lauren travelled to England to play hockey. Six years later, while still living in
England, she made her debut for the senior South African national team. She believes it was her mental training that made
the difference this time. Her international playing career was cut short after struggling with several injuries. While recovering
from frozen shoulder (which put her out for 18 months), she realised her passion was to help others with the lessons she
learnt throughout her own experiences. Most of her injuries were as a result of either overdoing it or what she refers to
as conflict in one’s belief system, i.e. fear of success. The mind/body connection is extremely powerful and her coaching
methods addresses the unconscious barriers that hold many people back from reaching their potential. Her purpose is
inspiring others to realise what’s possible with the right mindset, helping them to prepare for success and develop that inner
confidence that makes us feel unstoppable.
planet HOCKEY 15
London, EnglandQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park10-26 June 2016www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/gbtickets
@PlanetHockeyMagConnect with your friends, get in-the-moment updates & watch events unfold, in real time, from every angle.
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planetHOCKEY
planet HOCKEY 17
I ’m Lauren Logush, 20 years old, and a member of both the Senior
and U21 Canadian Women’s Squads; currently playing a season in The
Netherlands with HDM Den Haag. I’ve been
a member of the junior team since 2010,
and the senior team since 2011. I’ve earned
22 senior caps so far, my first when I was
17 at Hockey World League Round 1 in
Trinidad and Tobago.
August 26th, 2015 was the date I first
set foot in The Hague, Netherlands, the
place I would call home for the next
seven months or so. I had booked my
flight just 10 days earlier.
During the first week of August, I
was able to spend a rare week in my
hometown of Richmond Hill, Ontario,
following my return from an 11 day, 1,100km biking/
camping/surfing tour of the Pacific Northwest Coast. My hockey, however,
that year had been disappointing. I was discouraged after being left off
the selection for a few tours with the Canadian Senior Team, and was
beginning to panic that, at 20 years old, I had reached a plateau. It was
then that I received a call from Haagse Hockeyvereniging Haagsche
Delftsche Mixed – thankfully better known as HDM – especially since I’m
still not entirely sure how to properly pronounce that.
The Netherlands has often been regarded as the hockey superpower
of the world; I witnessed this myself as I sat in the stands, enduring the
summer heat of Monchengladbach, Germany, and watched their U21
team fend off Argentina in a shootout to claim the title of 2013 Junior
World Champions. I’d listened to stories from both former coaches and
teammates who’d played countless seasons across the pond.
The following seven months would be filled with a lot of hockey,
adapting to a new way of life, and a heightened sense of Canadian pride.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect upon my arrival. I mean, orange
is my favourite colour, espressos my favourite type of coffee, house music
among my favourite genres and cycling a favourite activity, so I figured I
wouldn’t be completely lost. Well, despite falling off my bike a few times
since being here, it’s been an amazing ride.
GONE DUTCH: A CANADIAN ON SABBATICAL TO HOCKEY’S PROMISED LAND
Connect with your friends, get in-the-moment updates & watch events unfold, in real time, from every angle.
B y L a u r e n L o g u s h
Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek
18 planet HOCKEY
I was instantly taken aback by the infrastructure of hockey. Hdm, for example,
has a clubhouse with resident changing rooms for the first men’s and ladies’ teams,
showers, lockers, a bar/restaurant, an indoor hall, physiotherapy rooms and a gym,
along with two water based turfs, a semi-water turf, and two sand pitches. I didn’t
play on a water turf until I was 15 and attending my first Junior National Team camp,
having to fly five hours across the country to access it; whereas six year olds are
beginning to train on it here.
The hockey culture in The Netherlands is another reason I’ve fallen in love with
playing in this country. The clubhouse is filled with families on Saturdays as it is the
day of the youth competition, and on Sundays, with spectators to watch the senior
teams compete. I remember walking around the neighbourhood during my first
couple of weekends and seeing countless kids wearing their hockey uniform, often
riding their bike to and from the pitch. I couldn’t believe it, it was like nothing I had
seen before. I also recall the first time I rode my bicycle while yielding a hockey stick
and recreationally wearing hockey socks; I was practically giddy with amusement. It
was so Dutch! Looking back, I’m still slightly embarrassed at the mass Snapchat I sent.
There was also quite an adjustment period upon moving here. First and foremost:
Dutch. I had never spoken a word of the strange language prior to my arrival, but was
constantly assured by friends that “Everyone speaks English”. In retrospect, most of
these people had never been to The Netherlands, and especially hadn’t played for a
Dutch sport team, so I’ve also learned to better apply a filter to the advice I receive. I
was extremely fortunate to have a very welcoming team, and one other international
who was also coming for the first time – a player with the German National Squad.
That being said, every group setting is in Dutch, along with most of the hockey talks
both on and off the field. I would rely on teammates to relay the information in
English, but eventually became able to deductively translate with the words I know, a
base knowledge of the content of the conversation and interpreting body language.
Largely due to the lessons from my teammates and numerous shameless attempts
at conversation (being able to pronounce the letter ‘G’ took two months), it is my
humble opinion that: Mijn Nederlands spreken is heel goed!
Finally, being the only Canadian that most of my teammates know (jury’s still
out on whether or not that’s a good thing), I’ve often found myself reflecting on
what it means to be a Canadian hockey player. I’ve described the very small and
intimate hockey community in Canada, stories of hardships and triumphs and am
often solicited for some of my Canadian apparel. Each time I relive these moments,
I feel that small swell in my heart, the Yeah-that’s Canada! emotion. Coming to The
Netherlands to play has been fantastic for my hockey, the sheer volume and base
skill level proves that, but it’s also helped me expand my horizons as a person and
continue to instil a deep-rooted sense of Canadian pride. l
Pho
tos
by
Fran
k U
ijlen
bro
ek
20 planet HOCKEY
The Under 21 Junior World Cup Africa Qualifying tournament will be
held in Windhoek, Namibia from 18-28 March. This tournament will
determine which of the two African men’s and women’s teams will represent
the continent at each of the respective World Cup’s later this year.
There will be nine men’s teams competing at this tournament including
South Africa, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tansania and
Zimbabwe. Eight of these will teams feature in the women’s tournament,
with the exception of Egypt.
Lauren Penny, former international player and founder of the Hockey
Performance Academy took some time to chat to two of the u21 players
who will be representing the African defending champions, South Africa.
Tarryn Glasby is a dangerous striker who possesses skill, vision,
athleticism, pace, flair and lethal finishing abilities. She made her debut for
the SA u21 team at the 2013 Junior World Cup at the age of just 17 years,
making her one of the only SA players who will take part in two Junior World
Cups. The 21 year old has won various accolades including being named the
top goal scorer and most promising player in the U21 Women’s IPT in 2012.
Ryan Julius is a skilful and tricky midfielder who has been part of the SA
u21 team since 2015. He was part of the Western Province u21 team and
the WP senior men’s B team who both won gold at the 2014 IPT’s. The 20
year old recently made his senior international debut against Ireland on 18th
January 2016.
What are you hoping to achieve in the upcoming Junior African Cup in
Windhoek?
Tarryn: Firstly and most importantly, I am hoping to be a part of the process
of achieving the goal that has been set out by our u/21 SA team. This is to
be crowned the winners of the tournament, so that we can compete in the
Junior World Cup in Chile later this year. My aim is to score as many goals as
I can or set up goals for my team mates.
Ryan: I definitely want to come back from Namibia with a gold medal around
my neck. I believe we have a team that can achieve that and the one thing
ABOUT PASSION & GOALS
I N T E R V I E W
B y L a u r e n P e n n y
planet HOCKEY 21
that makes me very confident
is that everyone in the team is
on the same page. We all want
the same thing and that is to
win AFCON and qualify for the
Junior World Cup.
What are your ambitions for
the future?
Tarryn: Playing for the South
African Senior side has always
been a dream of mine, so I
would definitely love to one
day represent my country
at that level. After I finish my
degree, I would also love to go overseas
and play professionally.
Ryan: The one thing I hope for is that SA Hockey gets the credit that
it deserves and hockey grows to an extent where it becomes a paid
profession in South Africa.
For myself, I want to work hard to make sure I continue to make
appearances for the SA Men’s Hockey team and be able to represent my
country at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and other prestigious
events. I would love to play in Europe in the European Hockey League
and one-day play in India in the Hockey India League. I also want to give
back to the game by hosting and joining clinics to grow eager hockey
player’s techniques and abilities.
How did you come to start playing hockey?
Tarryn: I have three older siblings who all played hockey, so I used to
watch them play and I immediately loved the game and wanted to
give it a try.
Ryan: I played baseball from the age of four, moving onto soccer, tennis
and then I made the transition to hockey at the age of 13. I made my first
provincial team at the age of 13 and ever since then my love for the game
grew dramatically.
Who has encouraged and supported you?
Tarryn: I have always been very blessed with a solid support system from
my friends and coaches, but I am especially thankful for my parents for
all the support they have given me. This has had a major impact on my
perseverance and success that I have achieved up until today.
Ryan: My parents have always supported me and have my best interest
at heart. Although they are my biggest critics, they have taught me to
be humble and always work hard which is one of the most important
lessons I have learnt. I have also been blessed immensely with the best
coaches throughout my hockey career who have always supported me
and given me good advice; not just for hockey but also for life.
Ryan Julius
Photo by Sean Burke
22 planet HOCKEY
Who do you look up to?
Tarryn: Luciana Aymar, because she
has been dominating international
hockey for so long. From a local
perspective, Tarryn Bright has
always been someone I look up to.
Ryan: Austin Smith. Watching
him over the years has made
me realise that there is more
to hockey than just skill
and technique. He is very
professional when it comes to
maintaining fitness and looking
after his body. He has achieved
so many accolades throughout
his hockey career and yet he is
so humble and always pushing
himself to reach new goals all
the time. He is the epitome of
a true sportsman and hopefully
I will get the chance to play alongside him
one day.
What is your current training regime? And how much time do you
dedicate to training?
Tarryn: I am in my third year at Stellenbosch University and part of the
Maties hockey High Performance training program. This involves three
gym sessions, four evening training sessions (skills and fitness) and two-
lunch time training sessions. Each of these sessions are usually 1.5 to 2
hours each.
Ryan: I have club training 2-3 times a week, totalling six hours of training
which excludes matches on Saturdays. For my own training I go to gym
about three times a week for core and muscle strengthening. I also really
enjoy running and I commit to three running
sessions a week.
What has been your biggest
challenges
so far?
Tarryn: Managing my time effectively
and trying to balance my hockey
and academic commitments. Both
of these take a substantial amount
of time and effort in order to excel
which is why it’s important that I
remain close and connected to both
my family and friends.
Tarryn Glasby
Photo by Sean Burke
Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek
planet HOCKEY 23
Ryan: Trying to balance studies with hockey commitments is always a
challenge.
Why does this all mean so much to you?
Tarryn: Since I was a kid I always remember telling my dad how I would
one day play for South Africa and with this I wanted to inspire younger
players to believe that they too could achieve anything that they truly put
there mind to.
Ryan: When I started playing at the age of 13, I knew immediately
that this was the sport I wanted to pursue. I was raised to enjoy sport and
I grew very competitive, which helps to stay focused and remain on top
of your game.
I think because I constantly continued to learn and grow as a player, the
sport continued to cultivate inside of me. If I look back on the time and
effort I have put in thus far, it has become apart of my life and that’s why
it means so much to me.
What do you believe it
takes to become a great
player?
Tarryn: You naturally
need to be talented,
but I feel that it goes
a lot further then
natural talent. I believe
that the most basic
foundation is a
passion for the game.
If players enjoy
being out on the
turf, they are more
teachable as they
continuously want
to learn.
Other traits that
I feel they should
possess, is that they should
be intrinsically motivated and determined to achieve
their goals that they have set out for themselves. I also believe that it’s
important that they have a high level of self-belief, so that when they
get pushed to their limits, they persevere and have confidence in there
own abilities.
Ryan: One is that you must never think you bigger than the game, you
always have to work harder than everyone else, always stay humble and
believe in yourself.
For me, personally I believe that one must permanently set goals,
not just realistic and comfortable goals but implausible goals that can
become genuine with hard work and determination. l
Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek
24 planet HOCKEYStars in the making… Germany’s Charlotte Stapenhorst.
planet HOCKEY 25
Photos by Frank Uijlenbroek
26 planet HOCKEY
The next few months see the
continents deciding who
will be representing them
at this blue riband event,
which takes place in Santiago, Chile
from 24 November to 4 December
for the women, and India for the
men, from 1-11 December.
As we go to press, the Asia Junior
Hockey Cup has already been played,
with the Pan American Women’s
event taking place in March and
the men’s event in June. The Africa
Junior Cup will also be taking place
in March. Here, we report from
Malaysia on the Asia Junior Hockey
Cup and hear from some of the
players in the Pan Am region as they
prepare to battle for a place on the
biggest stage for junior hockey.
It was India all the way in the
Men’s Junior Asia Hockey Cup as
they defeated Pakistan 6-2 in an
exhilarating display of attacking
hockey at the Wisma Belia Hockey
Stadium in Malaysia.
In the eighth edition of this
tournament, man of the moment
was Harmanpreet Singh, who scored
four penalty corners, three of them
in the first half of the match.
India had taken a 2-0 lead in the
first quarter of the game through
Singh, catching Pakistan on the
back foot with the speed of their
attack, Pakistan came back through
Muhammad Yaqoob just before
half-time to make it 2-1. This was
only a temporary setback however
to the team in blue as they extended
their lead to 3-1 as the half-time
whistle went.
In the second half, India doubled
their score, with Armaan Qureshi
and Manpreet Singh adding two field
goals alongside Harmanpreet Singh’s
penalty corner. Pakistan scored a
consolation through Muhammed
Dilber but it was too little, too late
for the three time champions to
make a come back.
The bronze medal went to Korea
after they beat Japan in a cagey
2-1 match. This match was the
culmination of a good tournament
for Korea’s Shahril Saabah, who was
named Player of the Tournament.
Kim Sung Yeob and Ji Woo Chen
scored two early goals for Korea,
and despite a sustained attack from
the Japanese in the closing minutes
of the game, they could not find
a way past Kim Gil Myung in the
Korean goal.
Malaysia finished fifth after a
dominant display that saw them
beat Bangladesh 8-0 and China beat
Oman 7-2 to finish seventh.
There was no surprise that
Harmanpreet Singh won the Top
While the best senior teams in the world will be eyeing Rio as their big target this year,
the next generation of hockey stars have their own seminal moment at the end of the year when
the Junior Hockey World Cup gets underway.
planet HOCKEY 27
Florencia Habif.
28 planet HOCKEY
Goalscorer award – he scored a
total of 14 goals, and two other
awards went India’s way – Harjeet
Singh, India’s captain, won Man
of the Match for his performance
in the final and Vikas Dahiya was
Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Japan won the Fair Play Award.
This year’s final was the third time
these two teams had met in the final,
with India’s latest victory giving them
the upper hand. It also means both
sides have now won the title three
times each, Pakistan in 1987, ’92 and
’96, while India won in 2004, 2008
and this year. Malaysia and Korea are
the other two teams to have their
names on the trophy.
The prize for the teams finishing
in the top four places – India,
Pakistan, Korea and Japan – is
automatic qualification for the
Men’s Junior World Cup, which
takes place in New Delhi, India in
December 2016.
PAN AM PREPARATION UNDERWAY
Who will be representing the Pan
American region will be decided
through two events: at the end of
March (29th March to 10 April), the
women’s event will get underway in
Trinidad and Tobago, while in May
(20-28th May) the men are off to
Toronto in Canada.
The Junior Pan-American
Championships started in 1978 for
Pan-Am bronze medallists USA lining up at 2013 Junior World Cup.
Asian giants China battle with Korea in 2013 Junior World Cup.
Ghana take on Russia in 2013 Junior World Cup.
planet HOCKEY 29
the men, with the women’s event
commencing 10 years later. The
Championships take place every
four years, with qualification for the
Junior World Cup the ultimate prize.
In that time, it has been an almost
total Argentinian domination. The
men have won every edition of the
tournament, the women have been
beaten only once, by the USA.
Argentina’s dominance of
the Pan-American competition
doesn’t translate so readily onto
the subsequent Junior World Cup
competitions; since 1979 when
the first men’s Junior World Cup
was held, Argentina has won the
competition only once, in 2005, after
picking up silver in 2001. The men’s
competition at junior world level has
been dominated by Germany, who
has won six of the last 10 editions.
The Argentina women’s team has
enjoyed more success, they have
also only won the Junior World Cup
once, in 1993, but they also won
silver on three occasions, in 2001,
2009 and at the last edition in 2013.
The success, or lack of it, on
the wider international scene
Bronze medallists India in action at
Junior World Cup.
Pan-Am champs Argentina against Africa champs South Africa at 2013
Junior World Cup.
30 planet HOCKEY
is something that coaches and
managers will address in later articles
in this series.
For this year’s event, excitement
and anticipation surrounding the
sport generally will create an intense
atmosphere. With Argentina’s senior
men and women, the USA women,
Canada’s men and the Brazilian
men’s team all competing at the Rio
Olympics, excitement and interest in
hockey across the continent will be
high. This will be reflected in these
Junior Pan-Am Championships,
particularly as some of those young
stars may well be playing on the
most prestigious stage of all, just a
few weeks later and hockey fans will
be eager to see the players in action.
Eleven women’s teams and eight
men’s teams will be competing
at this year’s Junior Pan-Am
Championships. The figure is
slightly down on the previous
edition as 13 men’s teams lined
up to do battle in 2013, but even
with Guatemala, Brazil, Venezuela,
Jamaica and Uruguay missing from
the competition, there is bound to
be an intensity to the matches as the
teams battle to qualify for the Junior
World Cup.
Some familiar names emerged
from the previous edition of this
competition. For the men, it was the
Gonzo show as Gonzalo Peillat of
Argentina was crowned top scorer
and also named as player of the
tournament. His counterpart for the
women was Florencia Habif, who
was player of the tournament, with
Manuela Urroz of Chile taking the
top goalscorer award. Among the
many players to emerge from the
2012 Junior Pan-Am Championships
to take their place within their senior
teams were Abigail Raye, Lauren
Logush and Adam Froese, both
of whom played leading roles for
Canada in the Hockey World League
events in 2015, Denise Krimerman
from Chile and Jordan Reynos, who
Christoher Ruhr on way to Junior World Cup glory.
planet HOCKEY 31
has played more than 30 matches at
senior international level.
So let’s take a quick look back at
some of the previous Junior Pan-
Am Championships, starting with
the men’s competition. While the
gold medal has gone to Argentina
on every occasion, the runner-up
spot has been more varied. Chile
has always performed well at these
games and has taken the silver
medal in the men’s event on four
occasions. The Chile team has also
finished in third place three times,
coach Alfredo Castro will be hoping
both the men’s and women’s teams
will be among the medals this year.
The very first edition, held in Mexico
City, Mexico, back in 1978 was a
match between Argentina and Chile
– a match that signalled the first of
Argentina’s unbeaten run.
Canada has appeared in three
finals, most notably in the last edition
of the event in 2012, when the north
American side pushed Argentina all
the way in a tense 3-2 match. Goals
from Gordon Johnston and James
Kirkpatrick gave the Canadian side
hope, but goals from Joaquin Menini,
Joaquin Coelho and Peillat were
enough to seal victory.
The other side to appear in the
final on three occasion is Cuba,
although the last time they did so
was 1996 and the team seems to
have lost its way since then, finishing
out of the top four spot ever since.
One team that has teetered on the
edge of the medals has been the
USA men’s team. They took bronze
in 2008, after beating Canada on a
penalty shoot-out. Until that year,
the USA side had been perennial
fourth place finishers.
The women’s event began
in 1988 with a match between
Argentina and the USA. It is a fixture
that has been repeated on two
more occasions, with Argentina
emerging victorious both times – by
a 5-0 and 3-1 margin. Despite this,
the USA is the only other team to lift
the trophy. They did so in 2008 when
they beat Chile 2-1 after extra time.
Argentina had to settle for bronze on
that occasion.
Canada has also taken silver
twice, losing out to Argentina by a
7-1 scoreline back in 1997 but then
nearly causing an upset when they
took them to a tense 2-1 scoreline
in the 2012 edition. Two goals from
Julia Gomes – now a key part of
the senior Las Leonas team – was
enough to break Canadian hearts
in that final. Karli Johansen was the
Canadian goalscorer.
The players, coaches and team
staff are now in the final stages of
preparation for these tournaments.
In what is a huge year for hockey,
the Junior Pan Am Championships is
perhaps one of the most important
events for hockey in the Pan Am
region because it provides a signpost
for the future of the sport. Who
will emerge as heroes, who will
make their mark on the game?
When the players line-up for the
matches in Trinidad and Tobago or
Toronto, all thoughts of their future
will be far from their minds, but
how they perform on that platform
could be crucial for both their own
international careers and the future
of hockey in their country. l
Gonzalo Peillat.
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The Spanish
Copa del Rey has
a long history, starting back in 1914.
Since then it has been dominated by four clubs:
RC Polo, Atletica Terrassa, Club Egara and Club de Campo. And, as
Joan F. Chico reports, RC Polo continue to lead the way as they eased to a 28th title.
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It was the end of an era for Egara’s Edi Tubau who announced his retirement from international hockey after winning 300 caps in a 15 year career with the national team.
The Copa del Rey came to a thrilling
climax after a great three days’ of hockey
competition at the Eduardo Dualde
pitch. The final was between The Royal
Club de Polo of Barcelona and Madrid-based
Egara, with the Catalan team winning the exciting
match by a single goal. Argentinian striker Matias
Rey was the hero on the day, as his 53rd minute
strike won the title for the home side.
In the earlier matches, Club Egara beat Junior
FC in the first quarter-final, with Atletico San
Sebastian beating RS Tenis while SPV Complutense
lost to Club de Campo. The big match of the
quarter finals saw the reigning champions Atletic
Terrassa take on the hosts Club de Polo. Going
into the tournament, Atletic had 16 titles to their
name, while Polo were 27-time champions.
However, Club de Polo made short work of
Atletico’s aspirations for a 17th title as they swept
them aside in a 4-0 rout.
The home side beat Club de Campo 1-0 in the
semi-final and set up a show down with Egara.
In the final, on home turf, Polo had the best of the chances but could find no way
past the excellent defences of Quico Cortes. He saved several times from Xavi Lleonart
who had the best chances to score while Edi Tubau was Egara’s main threat.
Alex Casasayas hit the post from point-blank range while, at the far end, Pep
Romeu’s corner shot was denied by Mario Fernandez, later named goalkeeper of the
tournament. But, with time running out, Rey got a brilliant touch to a corner move to lift
the ball over Cortes and win the tournament for Polo for the 28th time.
It was the end of an era for Egara’s Edi Tubau who announced his retirement from
international hockey after winning 300 caps in a 15 year career with the national team.
During his career, Tubau won silver at the 2008 Olympics, bronze at the 2006 World
Championships and gold at the 2005 Europeans.
Tubau confirmed the decision after he initially took a break in the wake of the 2014
World Cup, taking on a new job and following the birth of his daughter.
The results mean that Club de Polo will represent Spain in the EHL again next year.
Winning is definitely becoming a habit for Club de Polo. Not only is this the Barcelona
team’s 28th Copa del Rey, it is also their third win in the tournament in the past four
years. This is in addition to three straight league titles. The team will hope this form
continues into this year’s EHL KO16, where they once again meet Egara.
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In the third/fourth place match Club de Campo defeated Atletico San Sebastian in
a 5-2 thriller. Goals from Luis Martinez, Leandro Tolini (3) and Joaquin Menini put the
Madrid team in the driving seat and into bronze medal position. l
Player of the tournament: Matias Rey (RC Polo)
Top scorer: Peio Azkoga (Atlético San Sebastian)
Goalkeeper of the tournament: Mario Fernández (RC Polo).
38 planet HOCKEYPhotos courtesy of National Hockey Association of Guatemala
planet HOCKEY 39
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The Asociacion Deportiva Nacional de
Hockey de Guatemala won the 2015 Pablo
Negre Trophy, an annual award given by the
International Hockey Federation (FIH) to a
national association which has either worked hard to
develop hockey in the country or has shown outstanding
dedication to embracing the spirit of the sport.
In the case of Guatemala, it seems both criteria have
been met and the result is a brand new pitch from FIH
partners Polytan STI, while Musco Lighting will provide
and install a free lighting system at a designated location
within Guatemala within the next few months.
President of the Guatemala Hockey Association is
Pablo Reyes. He says: ‘The award is fundamental for us
because it means we can take our hockey to the next
level. Currently there is no hockey pitch in the whole of
Central America. There are synthetic football pitches but
For a developing hockey nation like Guatemala, where there are
no artificial turfs for hockey, not just in the country, but in the
region, an award that gives you a new pitch with lighting must
seem like all your red letter days have come at once.
our problem is the access to these pitches, because the
football is too popular and it takes all time slots. And the
owners of the pitches will not let us to play hockey on
the turf because they think we will damage the surface.
“The dedicated pitch will help to develop hockey
in all Central America. Guatemala will be the principal
beneficiary, of course, but we want to share this award
with our neighbours.”
Hockey has been developing at pace in Guatemala,
driven on by Reyes and his enthusiastic team, but, as the
President says, it has sometimes been a slog. “We had the
full support of the Guatemalan Olympic Committee and
the PAHF when we started our journey 10 years ago but
you have to bear in mind that, in the first five years, there
weren’t many balls and sticks – in fact no-one sells them
in Guatemala – few places to play, few teams to play. To
keep the interest of the people was not easy.”
planet HOCKEY 41
Nonetheless, the national association founders
persisted and followed a simple but effective strategy.
First they got the 15-25 year old men involved because,
says Reyes, “they are the ones that play the most sport.”
Many of these players were physical education teachers
so they introduced the sport into schools and clubs and
began to target the 10-14 year olds. Eventually, sisters,
friends and relatives also began to take an interest in
playing the game.
“Speaking about it now, I make it sound easy,” says
Reyes, “but believe me, it was a very hard work. We heard
the word ‘no’ more times than ‘yes’. Also, it was not only
getting players, the most difficult part is to retain them.”
There are now more than 250 registered hockey
players in Guatemala, and Reyes says, there are many
more players who participate in schools but do not yet
play regularly. “The club structure is not developed in
Guatemala as it is in Europe, but we have a couple of
clubs playing hockey,” he says. “The best way to get
involved in hockey is through the schools, specially
private schools. We have teaching and development
programmes in a dozen schools in Guatemala City and
Sacatepéquez – in the central region of the country.”
Reyes also adds that hockey adheres to a strict
equity policy. There is a gender balance and the sport is
played by people across the economic spectrum. “We
try to give opportunity and access to all, because one
of the main social problems is the lack of opportunities
for the lower start of society. We strongly believe that
sport is a tool for development and equality and the
42 planet HOCKEY
way we want if we continue just playing locally. We have
to have an “international agenda” to show the Sports
Confederation of Guatemala and Guatemalan Olympic
Committee that we were a serious team sport.”
Even before the promise of a pitch, things were
heading in the right direction. Since 2012, both the
men’s and women’s team have a world ranking (59
and 67 respectively); they both competed for the
first time in the Caribbean Games and the Central
American Games – where the men took first place and
the women second.
The next step in the development plan is to build a
Hockey Academy where the elite and promising players
can train and play. This, Reyes believes, will help the sport
filter down and become more sustainable.
For the future, there are short and long-term
objectives. Both the men and women will play in Hockey
World League Round One and later in the year they will
compete in the third Central American Indoor Hockey
Championship – an event where Reyes expects both
teams to shine.
The big target is the 2017 Central American Games in
Managua. hockey is included in the programme for the
first time and Reyes has high hopes that Guatemala will
be the first name on the honours board. l
investment has already benefited many of the players in
the national team.”
The development of hockey in Guatemala was given
a boost in 2012 when the Association was recognised by
the Sports Confederation of Guatemala. This meant the
sport could access funds, which in turn meant entry into
international events, the implementation of development
programmes and wider promotion of the sport.
In addition, since 2006, the Guatemalan Olympic
Committee, with the technical support of the PAHF,
has supported coach, umpire and judging courses and
provided funding to pay for travel and coaching expenses
for the national teams. Currently five Guatemalan
coaches have been funded to go on training courses run
by FIH and they are now all working as head coaches
within the national team structure. Pablo explains that
a lack of a pitch or even a hockey base for the national
team has caused problems: “It is not easy to have high
level coaches because you have to send them to other
countries, which costs time and money. To do the
necessary training for top level coaching in Guatemala,
without an official pitch limits the progress.”
But the advent of a new pitch heralds a new era and
Reyes explains the Association’s growth strategy: “As
President, I understand that hockey can’t grow in the
planet HOCKEY 43
magazine
planetHOCKEY
instagram.com/teamplanethockey/
44 planet HOCKEY
planet HOCKEY 45
Indoor hockey took
England by storm
for a four week
period over January
as the outdoor
league took and
break and all the
action turned to
the short game.
Photos courtesy England Hockey
46 planet HOCKEY
There was a synergy to the final at SSE Wembley Arena as top
club sides East Grinstead and Canterbury battled it out to top the
podium in both the men’s and women’s National Indoor Hockey
Championships, and it was the Surrey side, East Grinstead who
emerged victors both times.
Great Britain’s David Condon was the two-goal hero for East Grinstead
as the men beat their Kent rivals by a convincing 5-1 scoreline. The women’s
game was a far closer affair, with Dutch international Malou Pheninckx scoring
two goals to give her side a 3-1 win.
For East Grinstead men it was the eighth indoor title in a row. Simon
Faulkner, Ross Stott and Josh Coniglio all scored to add to Condon’s double
strike. Although Canterbury struck back through Liam Foster, it was a case
of déjà vu for the Kent side who lost out to Grinstead just as they did the
previous year.
It was East Grinstead who struck the first blow, four minutes into the
game. Simon Faulkner found the target via the crossbar with a bullet strike
after a well-worked penalty corner routine.
Canterbury quickly evened things up when Ross Gilham-Jones cut
planet HOCKEY 47
the ball back to Foster who slammed it home. Canterbury began to exert
pressure on the East Grinstead defence. A terrific piece of individual play
from Harry Jawanda forced Paddy Smith into a superb sprawling save, keeping
the scores level.
It was a further 10 minutes before East Grinstead were able to break down
a determined Canterbury defence. This time Ross Stott broke free and lifted a
lovely finish into the roof of the net.
Neither side was giving an inch in the second half until scored his first –
slotting in a lovely low finish in the 26th minute. This was followed by a lovely
individual goal from Josh Coniglio. Canterbury went for a time out and came
back with no goalkeeper as they searched for a way back into the contest.
The gamble backfired as Condon lifted the ball past the kicking back for his
second and his team’s fifth.
Some resolute defence kept them at bay as did the crossbar which was
struck by a rocket from Kwan Browne. The clock ran down and East Grinstead
celebrated an eighth win in a row.
The women’s final was a keenly contested affair, with Netherlands
striker Malou Pheninckx striking the first blow for East Grinstead in the
48 planet HOCKEY
opening minute and then scoring a double with just seconds left on
the clock.
Takara Haines scored the other Grinstead goal and Sarah Kerly scored
Canterbury’s only goal.
It was Canterbury who had a lot of the pressure in the first half, with
former Canterbury ‘keeper Becky Waters, pulling off some miracle-like
saves to keep the ball out of the Grinstead net. The pick of these saw Waters
diverting Grace Balsdon’s shot over the bar with her face mask.
Canterbury continued to knock at the door and Waters was at her
imperious best once again to smother a chance for Lizzie Neal as the score
remained 1-0 to East Grinstead at the interval.
Both sides had their chances, former England defender Mel Clewlow
stopped a certain goal calmly on the line, while at the other end, her
Canterbury teammate, the South African striker Dirkie Chamberlain blistered
the woodwork with a shot.
Time was ticking away but with nine minutes to play Canterbury got their
equaliser. With the ball hitting a foot in the circle the umpire played advantage
planet HOCKEY 49
and Sarah Kerly was on hand to snap up the loose ball to tie it up at 1-1.
East Grinstead rallied and re-took the lead from an excellent penalty
corner from Takara Haines with five minutes to play. Canterbury withdrew
their goalkeeper as a last throw of the dice. There was a moment of high
drama almost immediately as the Kent side won a penalty corner. Once
again the jet-heeled Waters arrived at the edge of the circle to block this time
from Anna Kolarova. With Canterbury throwing it all forwards, East Grinstead
made it safe with under a minute left as Pheninckx grabbed her second to
clinch the title.
Earlier in the day, Canterbury had secured their place in the men’s final
with a fantastic 9-6 win oover Reading, while East Grinstead had defeated
outsiders Sevenoaks in a 6-3 contest.
The women’s semi-finals had seen Canterbury put paid to the hopes
of Birmingham University, while East Grinstead had defeated last year’s
champions Bowden Hightown.
The results mean both East Grinstead men and women will compete in the
European Hockey Federation Indoor Hockey Club Championships in 2017. l
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As the domestic season draws to its conclusion, Stephen Findlater and Sarah Juggins preview the dramatic final competition to be played.
Photos by Frank Uijlenbroek
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There is the usual air of anticipatory excitement
as the top European men’s clubs get ready
for the KO16 EHL Club Championships. The
annual tournament is a smorgasbord of exciting
hockey action as the top 16 men’s teams in Europe do
battle to be crowned champions, and this year is no
different. The event takes place from 26-28 March in
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Last year’s winners Oranje Zwart will be looking
to recapture the crown but player movement in the
intervening few months means there is a lot of frisson to
this year’s competition.
Eliot van Strydonck and Gaby Dabanch were both part
of the OZ team that lifted the trophy last year but the duo
have since moved to Belgium side Royal Leopold and
will be looking to use their inside knowledge to beat the
Dutch team in their first match of the KO16.
Talking about the meeting between the two sides,
drag-corner specialist Mink van Weerden says: “Luckily
we know these guys [van Strydonck and Dabanch] so
we can decide on a good plan to play against them. Elliot
is a very good defender but is also able to attack over
the left and right hand side, so our strikers will have to be
aware where on the pitch Elliot is and they will have to
defend very hard.
“Gaby is a skillful forward who is very dangerous inside
the circle. He can score from all angles with his powerful
backhand shot and is very dangerous on deflections as
well. And then there is his penalty corner. Our goalie
Vincent Vanasch will have to be in good shape!”
Jelle Galema – Oranje Zwart.
planet HOCKEY 53
Eliot van Strydonck &
Gaby Dabanch were
both part of the OZ team
that lifted the trophy
last year but the duo
have since moved to
Belgium side Royal
Leopold and will be
looking to use their inside
knowledge to beat the
Dutch team in their first
match of the KO16.
Chicote Marc Garcia – Club Egara.
54 planet HOCKEY
Talking about OZ’s chances this year, van Weerden
says: “Luckily we know how to hit form at the right
time. Last year’s EHL was awesome. It was incredible
to win the title and especially in the way we did it.
That shootout series in the final will stay with me for
a very long time!
“I think our performance last year came from the
fact that we had an insane amount of talent in our team,
but we were able to play to our task and every game
there was someone else who would make the difference.”
For Scotland striker Kenny Bain, the KO16 is a reward
for several years in a hockey wilderness. Bain has been
playing with Dutch team Hurley for the past five seasons,
but last season he made the hop across Amstelveen to
join Amsterdan – a team full of “stars and big pros.”
Bain, whose grandfather passed away just before
the EHL Round One, says: “That was an extremely
difficult time for me off the pitch but the team was
KO16 – RESULTS 25 & 26 MARCH WKS Grunwald Poznan 2 - 7 KHC Leuven
Rot Weiss Köln 5 - 3 UHC Hamburg
KHC Dragons 1 - 1 Atlètic Terrassa (2 - 3 SO)
Racing Club de France 1 - 6 Kampong
Dinamo Kazan 1 - 5 Harvestehuder THC
Real Club de Polo 3 - 0 Club Egara
Wimbledon 1 - 3 Amsterdam
Oranje Zwart 2 - 1 Royal Leopold HC
Leon Willemsen – Harvestehuder THC.
planet HOCKEY 55
absolutely brilliant and, of course, they were still getting
to know me too. They saw a really open side which was
not one I wanted to show when I was meant to be having
an amazing trip.
“When I got there, it took a lot off my mind and I
enjoyed every second. Also, my girlfriend flew over as
Hamburg – it is her home town – so that was nice to
have her and her family there for me.”
Bain will now take to the field against English club
side Wimbledon for his first KO16 appearance and it will
be made all the more special because it is in front of the
hone Amsterdam crowd.
Among some of the hockey stars looking to make
their mark on EHL history will be Pau Quemada, who
is hoping to lead KHC Leuven to victory in their first
appearance in the KO16 since 2010. Kampong, the third
of the three Belgium teams in the competition, will be
hoping that Davey Harte continues his fine form between
the posts, giving the Dutch trio Constantjin Jonker,
Sander de Wijn and Robbert Kemperman a platform from
which to attack.
WKS Grunwald Poznan and Dinamo Kazan are the
two teams who have appeared in every edition of this
tournament. Poznan exited at the group stages last year,
while Dinamo Kazan pushed the finalists UHC Hamburg
all the way in a 1-0 loss last year as they searched for
their first KO8 finish.
The German trio of Rot Weiss Koln, Harvestehuder
THC and UHC Hamburg are all seeking to restore German
domination of the event. Harvestehuder were champions
in 2013/14 and UHC Hamburg were beaten in devastating
fashion – 5-6 on penalty shoot-out.
If this year’s event is anywhere near as eventful and
dramatic then hockey spectators are in for a treat. l
Kenny Bain playing for Amsterdam.
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Photos by Valentina Quaranta/Silvana Zancolo
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Coach to both Twende and the Tanzania national
women’s team is Valentina Quaranta, and she arranged
for a film crew from Italy to follow the squad throughout
their preparations for HWL Round One. It is just one
more trick in her box as she attempts the most daunting
of challenges – to raise the standard of hockey in
Tanzania so the national team can be competitive on the
world stage and, at grass roots level, the sport is played
across the country. The purpose of the film is to raise
the profile of the team in both Tanzania and across the
world, hopefully attracting sponsors and supporters
in the process.
Although Quaranta would demur, it is largely
through her drive and ambition that hockey in Tanzania
is developing at a cracking pace, both at international
and grassroots level. In a short two years, the women’s
team entered the 2014 HWL Round One event for the
first time ever, and a year later at the 2015 Africa Hockey
Championships, both Tanzania men’s and women’s
hockey teams entered the competition after undergoing
some of the most intensive training the national players
have experienced.
Since 2012, the African nation has really begun
The scene is a dirt-based hockey pitch on the
outskirts of Das El Salaam in Tanzania. It is
4.30am and a handful of young women are
running around the pitch as they warm-up for
a training session. No two players look the same: some
have shin-pads and trainers, others wear socks around
their ankles but no protection. Some have very old sticks,
others are clasping the latest model. Their playing kit is an
array of colours and brand names.
As the session continues we see the players taking
it in turns to run through one set of training ladders
and a handful of cones. Equipment is limited, but
later we see the coach sifting through bags of equipment
that has been donated by hockey clubs from Europe,
particularly Italy.
This is the Twende women’s hockey team and they
were being filmed in the weeks leading up to the 2014
Hockey World League Round One for a documentary –
called Twende! – which will be released in 2016.
Most of the Tanzania national women’s team are part of
the Twende club, the name means “Let’s Go” in Swahili
and the club was formed to promote hockey to women
and girls in Tanzania.
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to embrace the sport, largely due to the drive and
determination of a small band of coaches and staff led
by Quaranta, an Italian national who came to the country
while working for the NGO COPE. A former player and
coach, she quickly realised that her skills and knowledge
of hockey could be used to great effect for developing
the sport and, through the sport, improve the lives of
people in Tanzania.
The film highlights the importance of hockey to
the girls at Twende club. One mother says: “I like my
daughter to play hockey, if she is exercising then she is
keeping off the streets, keeping away from the bad guys.”
But the film demonstrates more than the part that
Twende is playing in improving the lot of these young
women. Yes, playing sport is giving them self-confidence,
health awareness and addressing a myriad of other issues,
but it also highlights to western eyes, just how much
we take for granted. Some of the players interviewed
for the film show the camera crew around their homes.
They show their accreditation passes for tournaments
in Kampala and Kenya. A calendar with a picture of the
young women in their national playing kit hangs on a wall
and is a prized possession. And yet, these players, who
are representing their country, live in one-room homes,
where the whole family eats, lives and sleeps. They train
at dawn for several hours before they go to school or go
to work and they have minimal possessions.
As one mother says: “I understand that to be good,
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but, as Quaranta says: “We learned a lot and some
improvements have already been made.” Many of the
challenges faced by the teams were logistical – finding
funding for training, transport and accommodation were
chief among these challenges.
Now the Tanzania Hockey Association is looking very
much to the future as it prepares to send a team to the
Junior African Olympic Qualifier, which will be played in
Namibia in March this year. This is the first time Tanzania
has fielded an U21 side. “Nowadays in Tanzania, there are
new young players who didn’t know there was a sport
called hockey until two years ago,” said Quaranta.
“Participation in this tournament will be a big step
forward in the development of hockey among young
people in Tanzania, it means the sport is spreading among
the youth in this country.
It is not just at elite level that hockey is spreading
in Tanzania. Through an initiative between Dutch club
Rijswik and the Twende Hockey Club in Tanzania, the
Twende Foundation has been created. This foundation
aims to spread playing and coaching knowledge across
the country and part of the programme includes cultural
exchanges between the Netherlands and Tanzania.
my daughter must train, but if she trains and plays all the
time, how will she earn money. She needs money to eat
and, to be able to train hard, she must eat.” Kidawa is one
player who is combining everything as she pursues her
dream of being an international. She trains every morning
before working eight hours as a hairdresser. She looks
after her children as she cuts hair and then leaves them
in the care of the eldest children while she attends the
evening training session.
One of the aims of the programme is to help the
players develop careers around hockey. The idea is
for the players to be trained as teachers or coaches so
that when their playing career is over, they can give
back to the game and make a living. For other players,
representing your country at a sport guarantees you a
career in one of the government services – the army, the
police or as guards.
Quaranta first became involved fours years ago
after she was persuaded to stay on in the country after
her role with COPE ended. Now, hockey in Tanzania
is flying. True, the men’s team registered only one win
– against Botswana – at the 2015 African continental
championships, while the women lost all of their matches
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Quaranta explains: “Twende’s focus is to support
the development of hockey in schools through
training teachers and players and collecting hockey
equipment and coaching material from Europe. It will
also help support the national teams with high level
coaching and help the Tanzania Hockey Foundation
find sponsors.”
Meanwhile, in another demonstration of just how
far youth development has already come in Tanzania,
the first Schools Hockey Tournament took place in
November in the capital city Dar Es Salaam. More than
200 youngsters took part in the event, representing seven
primary schools and five secondary schools. Running
parallel to the tournament was a coaching course, run
by the Twende Foundation and attended by 18 school
teachers and 30 young players. It’s aim was to give the
potential coaches the basic tools necessary to coach
school children and grassroots players in clubs.
Returning to the documentary, Quaranta is talking
about the HWL tournament, which took place in Kenya.
“Most of this team, 90 per cent of this team started
playing four months ago. Many have not even played on
a proper pitch. I see the amazement on their faces now
when the television cameras and newspapers turn up to
do a story on them. No-one knew the existence of this
sport before, now women’s hockey is in the public eye.
“They train every day, they are regularly in the national
papers, but everything is new to them. They will be going
out of the country for the first time. This is a real life
experience.”
Zuwena was one of the players who went to Nairobi
for that first HWL Round One event. Becoming an
international hockey player has completely changed her
life. “Before I started playing hockey, my life was very
different. After cooking dinner for the family I would go
out on the streets. I was a bad girl. Now, I go to training
from 5.30am until 11am. Then I cook for my family before
going for a second training session. I hope I will get a job
through hockey, maybe with the guards, the police or the
army. But I will never leave hockey.”l
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Photos by Yan Huckendubler
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Mention hockey in Canada and most people will think of ice-
hockey. Kids grow up wanting to be Wayne Gretsky and the
shirts worn bear the logos Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto
Maple Leafs or the Edmonton Oilers.
Nowhere is this more true than on the snowy side of the country –
the east. In Canada, there is a definite west/east divide when it comes
to hockey. The sport is popular on the west coast, particularly British
Columbia, where the temperatures and lack of snow mean the
sport can be played all year round.
Head east and it is a different
matter. With three months of
heavy snow and temperatures
reaching depths of -25C, playing
hockey is a difficult ask. Indoor
hockey is keeping the sport alive in the
east, but for hockey fans, finding a club
is difficult to say the least. In Ottawa, for
example, the local league has dwindled
down to a few clubs with a limited
number of players.
However, two local players
wanted their children to have
a chance to play the sport
they love and so they started, from
scratch, structures to allow them to
discover and play hockey. The upshot is
two clubs which both have more than 100
players and field teams in various age group –
U12, U14 and U16 – competitions.
One of the clubs is the Nepean Nighthawks FHC.
This club was started by Sandeep Chopra, himself a
national level umpire and his wife Maureen, who played for
the Canadian women’s national team and participated in the
1995 Pan American Games). Maureen’s sister, Michelle Conn is
an Olympian, having represented Canada at the Seoul 1988 and
Barcelona 1992 Olympics.
Two other members of the Nepean Nighthawks were in the
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Canadian Team that won a silver medal at the last Youth Olympics, and a
couple are on the provisional roster of the U21 Canadian Team ahead of the
2016 Men’s Junior Pan Am Championships.
Sandeep talks about the programme. “About seven years ago we decided
to attempt to start a small programme to introduce field hockey to kids in our
community, mostly friends of our own children.
“Nearly everyone of the kids who joined were ice hockey players in the
winter and since this is Canada and kids will play anything with the word
‘hockey’ attached to it they began showing up in numbers that really surprised
us specially considering field hockey had virtually gone extinct in Ottawa.
It wasn’t just about the hockey for Sandeep and his family. “We are really
building a community and though our vehicle is hockey, we wanted to
introduce our kids not only to a new sport but to a family-oriented culture
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that involved people of many backgrounds. That is the Canadian way for us.”
Such has been the growth of the Nepean Nighthawks that the club is
struggling to provide for everyone. With nearly 200 youngsters in age group
teams, plus a senior women and a ‘Mom’s learn to Play’ programme, the club
is always on the look out for coaches and umpires. To fill this gap, the club
runs certification courses for potential umpires and coaches, which in turn
creates employment and volunteering opportunities.
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The lack of hockey clubs in the region means that finding opposition is
always a challenge. In the earliest days of the Nighthawks incarnation, the
teams had to travel 500 kilometres to Toronto for matches. However, the birth
of Chelsea Phoenix FHC just across the river, has led to a friendly but intense
rivalry between the two clubs.
Ian Bird is the brains and driving force behind the Chelsea Phoenix. A
former international and a double Olympian. Ian represented Canada in the
1988 Seoul Olympics and again in Sydney in 2000.
He moved from Vancouver to Ottawa 15 years ago for work, but was
determined to bring hockey back to the area. History was on Bird’s side as
there had once been an active hockey scene in Quebec, triggered by the
1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, but it had alldwindled to extinction in the
last 10 years.
Bird and his fellow enthusiasts have been rebuilding the hockey scene and
the new club in Chelsea became the only active club in the province – the
name ‘Phoenix’ refers to the rising of the club from extinction.
“We simply started and used what was available to us rather than worry
about what was missing,” explains Bird. “The beautiful thing about hockey is
that all you really need are a bag of sticks, a few balls, and a field. After a few
years, and now that we have about 100 players and volunteers, the needs
are growing and we’re glad to have friends in hockey to help us. Our nearest
hockey neighbours in Ottawa, the Nepean Nighthawks, have made such a
difference for us. We hope to do the same for the next group.”
Bird is helped in his work by a band of enthusiasts, and no-one is more
excited and driven by the thought of a growing hockey scene in the east than
the Shelley Fraser, who is club chair for the Chelsea Phoenix.
Fraser explains the motivation behind her own involvement: “From a
parent’s perspective, we were looking for a new opportunity for the kids.
An approach that was family friendly… meaning - multi-age drop offs, more
collaboration, cultural exchange and richness, and an exciting experience in
an inclusive environment.
“We soon discovered that getting the club off the ground was more
about “Can-do”, not ‘what are the obstacles?’. In the beginning, we
played on a bumpy grass field, which
technically, was not even a ‘real field’.
Parents came out and helped. Ian ran skills
development drills and a lot of “have fun” in
the process.”
And all the hard work is paying off,
in 2015, for the first time in years, there
was a Quebec team in the U16 National
Championship. The team lost out to Alberta
for bronze in a match that Bird describes as
a “heartbreaker.” The Olympian is also
using his contacts with his former
club, West Vancouver FHC, which
is the largest club in Canada and with
former teammates now coaching in the States
to organise road trips for the young players. Closer
to home the club have many fixtures with the Neapean
Nighthawks and they will also head to Toronto for three to
four weekends every spring.
Talking about his work with the Chelsea Phoenix, Bird explains:
“Field hockey has had such a substantial impact on my life - the
best of friends, great memories from training and matches, and grand
adventures with club and Canadian teams. I thought we could create that
kind of an opportunity in Chelsea, Quebec where I now live and where
field hockey had slipped out of the public eye.
And Fraser adds: “It was never about the Nationals. It was always
about the kids learning and having a good experience. The magic
happened when the kids discovered that the game was fast ... it was like
soccer on speed ... only with a stick in your hand. Girls loved it anyway but
when boys discovered how cool it was, they were hooked. Endurance. Speed.
Agility. Excitement. Summer + Hockey Stick + Soccer Strategy = Field Hockey
Hooked. Who knew?” l
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Photos by Frank Uijlenbroek
It was the 2012 Olympic Games that saw
Kate Richardson-Walsh break into public
consciousness after she courageously led
Great Britain to the bronze medal despite
suffering a broken jaw in the middle
of the pool matches. Until then,
Richardson-Walsh had been well-
known in hockey circles, now
she had become a national hero.
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In the recent six match test against Australia, Richardson-Walsh was again
in the limelight, this time proving that not only is she captain courageous,
she also has remarkable staying power. Since making her debut in 1999,
Kate Richardson-Walsh has represented her country at three Olympic
Games, four Hockey World Cups and four Commonwealth Games. Her medal
tally is immense, although that bronze medal and the gold medal from the
European Hockey Championships in 2015 certain have pride of place.
In the fifth match against the Hockeyroos, Richardson-Walsh strode into
the record books, becoming Great Britain and England’s most capped female
hockey player, with 365 caps to her name.
Assistant coach to the team Karen Brown had held the record for over a
decade and she was on hand to see her own record go: “While the record is
not something I have thought a great deal about over the years, now that it
has been broken, a part of me will be sad to see it go. However, as with all
records they get broken one day and Kate has had such an incredible career
that it is fitting that such an inspirational athlete who I have had the privilege
to see grow from the quiet teenager that I played alongside towards the end
of my career, into the hugely influential leader and skilled hockey player that
she has become.”
Coach to both England and Great Britain Danny Kerry added: “Kate
exemplifies many many qualities you wish to see at the very highest levels
of sport, however the one quality that sticks out to me above all others,
and the one I feel is within all truly great players, is that of resilience.
Kate’s longevity and perseverance in the international game has seen
incredible low points, but has consistently found a way back and this quality
has meant she has achieved medals at Commonwealth, European, World
and Olympic level.
“This was never more evident than when Kate broke her jaw in the opening
game of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Having had surgery to plate her
jaw back together, and having only missed two matches, Kate came back
to lead the team to Team GB’s first team sport medal in 20 years. I could
describe countless other examples of this resilience. Kate, like other high
achievers in the Olympic domain, finds a way to keep going, keep pushing
herself on and has been an inspiration to so many as a result.”
Her medal tally is immense, although that bronze
medal and the gold medal from the European Hockey
Championships in 2015 certain have pride of place.
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Other team members have been queuing up to pay their respects to
the captain.
“Kate epitomises everything that an elite athlete should represent. Her
professionalism, her fight and the way she leads the side sets her apart from
the rest.” says goalkeeper Maddie Hinch. “It’s difficult to put in to words just
how much of a legend she truly is! I look up to her every day. She inspires
me to be better and we are blessed to have such a brilliant captain.
“Kate has been a consistent rock in the back line for so many years,
putting her body on the line and cutting through teams with her eye of the
needle passes; these are just a few things that make her the world class
player she is. She thoroughly deserves this landmark and recognition.”
Lily Owsley, the FIH Rising Star of 2015 echoes Hinch’s sentiments,
adding: “Kate is an unbelievable captain, player and friend. The length and
success of her career is testament to the hard work she has put in and the
ability to drive everyone around her. I feel so honoured and proud that I have
been able to play a handful of these caps with her. She’s an absolute legend!”
There are certain phrases and recurring themes that come up whenever
her team mates speak about Richardson-Walsh. Fight, drive, determination,
professionalism, inspiration, world class, leader, dedication and legend
are just a few of those. Her no-nonsense, never-say-die attitude as well
as her almost telepathic ability to read what an attacker is about to do has
made her a thorn in the side of many a striker over the years and has led to
Richardson-Walsh becoming a household sporting name as well as a player
synonymous with this Great Britain side.
The final word goes to the woman herself, who spoke after receiving
her 365th cap: “It was a really special moment to be out there today with
Helen [Richardson-Walsh]. We’ve played together so many times and we’ve
been through so many ups and downs so it was really special to share
this with her.” l
“Kate exemplifies many many qualities you wish to see at the very highest levels of sport, however the one quality that sticks out to me above all others, and the one I feel is within all truly great players, is that of resilience.” Danny Kerry – England and Great Britain’s coach
planet HOCKEY 73
GRAPHIC DESIGN
BRAND IDENTITY I LOGO DESIGN I STATIONERY
COLLATERAL MARKETING I BROCHURES
ANNUAL REPORTS I ADVERTS I MAGAZINES
... but I would rather be playing hockey instead.
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Photo by Grant Treeby
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It has been awards time over at the International Hockey Federation, with
players, coaches, officials and hockey enthusiasts everywhere asked to
cast their votes. The nomination lists spanned the continents but in the
final voting there was a distinctly orange feel to the top honours.
HERE IS OUR ROUND-UP OF THE AWARDS:
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEARNetherlands star Lidewij Welten is a winner in every sense of the word.
While her team has had to settle for some results that are below their usual
high standards, the FIH Women’s Player of the Year has enjoyed another
tremendous season. A win in the FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final
was followed by a runners-up spot at the EuroHockey Championship and
fifth place at the HWL Final in Rosario, Argentina. But even if the team weren’t
winning, the silky-skilled midfielder still gathered fans wherever she played.
Her winning mentality was best summed up by her response to finishing
with a silver medal at the EuroHockey Championships: “We do not like to lose,
this is a horrible feeling.”
With Welten leading the charge, you can be pretty sure that the
Netherlands will be ready to put recent defeats behind them and defend that
Olympic title in Rio just seven months from now.
MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEARThe Netherlands also picked up the FIH Men’s Player of the Year Award,
with the vote going the way of Robert van der Horst. The midfielder and
Dutch captain has been in impressive form all season, his consistency landing
him this award.
It was exactly 10 years ago that van der Horst picked up the FIH award for
Rising Star of the Year and like last year’s winner, Australia’s Mark Knowles, van
der Horst has gone on to enjoy a stratospheric international career, including
captaining his country.
While van der Horst and his team enjoyed great performances at the
HWL Semi-Final in Antwerp and the HWL Final in Raipur, India, it was the
final of the EuroHockey Championships in London, last August, when the
Netherlands really showed what they are made of. A resounding victory over
reigning champions Germany was “the highlight of my career so far,” said van
der Horst. Although, with that sort of form, there might be an even greater
moment awaiting the 31-year-old in Rio this year.
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Lidewij Welten. Photo by Koen Suyk.
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Robert van Der Horst.Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek.
Joyce Sombroek.Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek.
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WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEARA Dutch treble is completed by Joyce Sombroek who has won the
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award for the second consecutive season.
Sombroek’s strength is her consistently high peel of concentration. Where
other ‘keepers have moments of sheer brilliance, Sombroek can always be
relied upon to be on her game. Her performances at the HWL Semi-Final in
Antwerp were a study in calm composure and, while the Netherlands had to
settle for silver in the EuroHockey Championships in London, Sombroek’s
performances throughout that event were again first class.
Her impressive powers of concentration are the reason that the
Netherlands team is able to play with such creativity and flow. When you have
a foundation as steady as Sombroek, then the rest of the team can shine.
In typically modest fashion, Sombroek paid tribute to her competitors: “I
am really happy and honoured to be announced Goalkeeper of the Year! I was
pleasantly surprised, especially considering the fact that fellow goalkeepers
like Maddie (Hinch) did a great job as well. I would also like to thank my
teammates, trainers, family, friends, fans and sponsors for their great support!”
MEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEARDavey Harte is a goal keeper extraordinaire. His performances at the HWL
Semi-Final and the EuroHockey Championships bronze medal match are the
stuff of legends and were pivotal in Ireland achieving two firsts this year: a
bronze medal in a major international (v England in EuroHockey 2015) and a
place at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
“To be honest it hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Harte on hearing the news of this
award. “I am so honoured and proud – all the more so when you consider
that so many people had to take the time to vote, to whom I’m very grateful.
While it is recognised as an individual award, I certainly know I would never
have envisioned reaching such a level without my coaches in school and
at underage level, my club Kampong in my second home Utrecht, and of
course my Irish team mates, especially my twin brother Conor, and incredible
coaching staff. Not to forget of course my family and friends who have been
with me from the start, through the highs and the lows.
“The year ahead will hopefully only be the beginning of Hockey Ireland
competing at major tournaments like Olympic Games and World Cups,”
added Harte. “It is a year the players, staff and whole Irish hockey community
are looking forward to!”
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Davey Harte.Photo by Grant Treeby.
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WOMEN’S RISING STAR OF THE YEARLily Owsley is a tour de force on the pitch. Fast, hard-working and with
a strong mental attitude, the England and Great Britain forward provides a
powerful element that has been pivotal to England and Great Britain’s success
this year. Owsley herself invariably usually deflects praise onto her teammates
when she is being interviewed. After scoring the winning goal against
Germany in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals – a win that secured Great
Britain’s spot at Rio 2016 – she praised everyone around her for the win.
When she scored the last minute goal that took the game to penalty
shoot-out against the Netherlands in EuroHockey 2015, it was her teammates
who got the praise.
So it is no surprise that the skilful, talented and humble forward had this
to say on receiving the FIH Rising Star Award: “Individually this is the biggest
award I could have won, but really I’m lucky to win it and lucky to have so
many fantastic team mates around me. I couldn’t do anything without them
making me look good.”
Since making her full international debut in 2013, Owsley has amassed 74
combined England and Great Britain caps. With her strong running and habit
of popping the ball into the net at just the right moment, she is one of the
players certain to figure strongly in coach Danny Kerry’s plans for Rio 2016.
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Lily Owsley.Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek.
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MEN’S RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
After taking the FIH Rising Star of the Year Award for the second time,
Germany’s wonder striker Christopher Ruhr is brimming with enthusiasm for
the year ahead. “This is the perfect way to start the Olympic year and gives me
a lot of self confidence.”
The fact that Ruhr is feeling ever more confident will be of little comfort
to his rivals. In the 30 international matches he played in 2015, Ruhr scored 15
goals including six in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals, which Germany
won, and a further three at the Hockey World League Final in Raipur. With his
speed and power, the young German is one of the most devastating forwards
currently playing on the international stage.
“I feel very honoured and proud to be the first player who has received this
award twice! I could never have done this without all my amazing team mates
and staff members of both my former club Alster Hamburg and my new club
Rot-Weiss Köln as well as the German national team.
“I also am truly thankful to all the people who voted for me and believe in
me! Also huge thanks and much love to my family for the strong family ties
and the support all the way and especially in 2015.
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Christopher Ruhr.Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek.
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WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEARKaren Brown has spent a lifetime immersed in hockey, firstly as a
player and then as a coach. Talk to her and you would never know that this
unassuming woman is the most capped female player to represent Great
Britain and England, or that she is one of the most highly rated coaches in
the game.
She is also often held up as an example, both within hockey and across
the wider sporting arena, of a role model for women wanting to move into
coaching – an area where there remains disparity.
In 2015, Brown was part of the coaching team that plotted England’s gold
medal win at EuroHockey 2015, plus a tremendous win at the Hockey World
League Semi Final in Antwerp.
“Getting the Women¹s Coach of the Year Award is a huge honour for me,
although I have to say that my role within England and Great Britain¹s success
is as one part of a much wider team, so I am a little embarrassed to be singled
out of what is a highly skilled coaching and back room staff,” says Brown,
“While I am grateful to be recognised I am acutely aware that there
are very few female coaches working at the cutting edge of our sport and
hopefully this will alter in the coming years”
“However, the very positive side of this award is that it also shows
that female athletes can become successful coaches. By winning this
award, I hope I can act as a role model to other players who want to make
the transition from playing to coaching. It does take hard work and sacrifice,
but as a player you gain so much knowledge that can be transferable
into coaching.”
Karen Brown.Photo by Grant Treeby.
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MEN’S COACH OF THE YEARMen’s Coach of the Year is South African-born coach to the Irish men’s
team, Craig Fulton. The coach, who was appointed as head coach to Ireland
in 2014, was the mastermind behind Ireland’s successful Hockey World
League campaign – the team’s fifth place finish meaning they qualified for the
2016 Olympics.
This is the first time Ireland men’s hockey team has qualified for the
Olympics in more than 100 years. If that was not enough, Fulton also led his
team to bronze in the EuroHockey 2015 Championships, defeating England
in the process. This was the first major medal won by the team in modern
hockey history. Under Fulton’s leadership, Ireland has climbed to 12th place in
the world rankings.
On receiving the award, Fulton said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to
accept this award from the FIH. We had an amazing year and pushed as
hard as we could and got the just rewards in qualifying for Rio and a bronze in
the Euros.
“This is a collective award for all the players and staff that sacrificed as
much as they have over the past 18 months. What an amazing honour to lead
this team!”
Fulton himself is a double Olympian, having represented South Africa in
Atlanta and Athens so, when he says “it will be a challenging year ahead”, he
certainly knows what is in store. As well as 191 caps to his name, Fulton has a
wealth of coaching experience, not just with Ireland but also with the South
African men’s and women’s teams. He will undoubtably be bringing all that
experience to bear when the Green Machine take their place in Rio.
Craig Fulton.Photo by Grant Treeby.
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WOMEN’S UMPIRE OF THE YEARMichelle Joubert celebrated her golden whistle in Rosario during the Hockey
World League Women’s Final. She then took control of the gold medal match between
the host nation and New Zealand.
The South African umpire is known throughout the game for her fairness, great
knowledge of the game and her support for her colleagues, so this was a popular
winner of the award – the first time such an award has been given.
“I am extremely thankful for this award, especially because it is the first time that
this category has been introduced as part of the FIH Annual Awards,” said Joubert. “I
do feel that this award could have gone to either Sole, or Irene who were the other
nominees. They are both great umpires whom I respect and have learnt so much
from.”
“Over the past week it has been amazing to see how much support we, as umpires,
have and I think that as umpires we feel ‘included’ in the current developments within
the hockey world and it makes us feel like we are part of the bigger picture. I hope that
the publicity around this specific award has, and will continue to inspire and motivate
other umpires, not only at an international level, but also at grass root levels.”
Joubert is one of the team of top umpires who will be travelling to Rio for the 2016
Olympics. She spoke of the pressure that umpires feel at events in which the eyes
of the world are upon them. “The pressure to perform and to constantly make 100
per cent correct decisions at all times, is definitely felt. Just like in any sport, teams
and spectators only really remember the ‘wrong’ decisions, and it is these decisions
which we as umpires and officials learn from and try to build on for our next game or
tournament.
“It is more important for me to focus now on my preparations for on Rio.
I hope to build on my successes from 2015 and to be part of an umpiring team that
will share in the success of a great spectacle that hockey will provide in Rio.”
MEN’S UMPIRE OF THE YEARIt was 1999 when Nathan Stagno umpired his first international and 16 years later
he became the first umpire from Gibraltor and only the 36th male umpire ever, to
receive the Golden Whistle for 100 senior international matches.
Speaking about his award, the quietly-spoken Stagno said: “First of all, I wasn’t
are ware that I was short listed with Hamish (Jamson) and John (Wright), both quite
outstanding umpires. For me, coming from one of the smallest hockey-playing
countries, you can’t imagine what that this mean to me, my family, my hockey club
(Collegians H.C.) and of course to Gibraltar.
“Being named top umpire of the year 2015 is another tick in my box in my umpiring
career. I would like to especially thank all those who voted for me, a big thank you.”
The next few months will be full of both excitement and poignancy for Stagno
as he will be umpiring in his second Olympics when he takes charge at Rio 2016,
but it will also be his last year at the top-flight of umpiring as he has announced his
retirement.
But, as he says: “What better way to retire than in Rio with my family watching and
among all my umpire friends, both male and female. This is a big year; besides the
Olympics I also have the Champions Trophy in Argentina, the EHL KO16 in Amsterdam
and EHL Final 4 in Barcelona, I can’t ask for more.” l
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