The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Asians have skills: Shanmuganathan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005

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Sport - Hockey

Asians have skills: Shanmuganathan

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, FEB. 1. "The Asians have skills and the Europeans tactics," said Malaysia's most experienced and active hockey international Kuhan Shanmuganathan. Not often does one see a player stay on top for 11 years on the international scene in a country where football is the No. 1 sport. He feels that it is better late than never as his federation officials have started looking at the future.

The 29-year-old, who took to the sport watching Pakistani great Hassan Sardar in action in a tournament in Kuala Lumpur against Germany as a 10-year-old, feels that his country is going through a transition phase.

"Eight of them who played together from 1996 to 2002 have retired simultaneously. This has left a big void. That was the phase when we badly felt the absence of a back-up structure, which could have found the proper replacements. This is where the Federation is focusing now and conducting developmental camps," Shanmuganathan says.

Minute details

"I look at the issue this way. We have the skills and they have the tactics. What makes the Europeans more successful is the attention they give to minute details in training. They are far ahead in building second-string teams than us," says Shanmuganathan, who had a stint in the German league.

Shanmuganathan, an electronics graduate, is more famous for engineering moves from deep defence with an excellent blend of speed and skill. "Yes, it was true that we had some problems with Paul Lissek. But since most of the players felt that they badly needed him he was back.

"He is now concentrating on the developmental schemes for the sport and not associated with the seniors team," he says. "In fact, we have a new president of the Federation (Raja Nazrin Shah, son of the former chief) and a new coach, Wallace Tan, who never trained the seniors. But if the recent 3-0 win against Belgium in the Test series is any indication, it looks like the start has been good," says Shanmuganathan.

"Maybe, when we tour New Zealand this March for a Test series, we will know where exactly we stand."

Pride and performance

What makes a hockey nation powerful? "From my experience, the motivating factor for any player is proportionate to the pride he derives by wearing the national colours.

"I sincerely believe this is one of the pre-requisites for any good performance," says the double Olympian (1996 & 2000 Games).

Shanmuganathan doesn't believe that any changes in rules will affect only a particular country. "Every rule has its positives and negatives," he says. "It is for the players to adjust."

Shanmuganathan recalls with satisfaction the 3-0 victory against Belgium when he scored two goals in the World Cup 1997 in a do-or-die encounter. He is also quick to remind the 1-0 verdict Malaysia managed against India in the Commonwealth Games once.

Shanmuganathan, who plays for Bangalore Hi-Fliers here, has a word of advice for the PHL organisers. "Why not have only a one minute time-out per quarter instead of the current number?" he asks.

For one who has never seen any of the senior Nationals being telecast live back home, Shanmuganathan says, "this is something special about PHL and it is definitely a good beginning for Asian hockey."

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