HEAVY RAIN CRIES OFF MALAYSIA, SOUTH AFRICA MATCH

RAIN FORCES MATCH TO BE DECIDED ON SUNDAY 

 SOUTH AFRICA 1 (11^th min)  MALAYSIA 0

(Game halted  at 13th minute because of heavy rain)

 

THE match between South Africa and Malaysia was postponed last night after heavy rain which made he turf unplayable did not stop for almost more than an hour after the match was halted in the 13th minute in the 29^th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2022 International Men’s hockey tournament at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium, Ipoh.

Malaysia started at a furious space and put South Africa in defence and earned four penalty corners in 13 minutes, but it was only close calls and goals to show in the first 11 minutes.

It was after Malaysia’s third penalty corner in the 11^th minute, that in a lighting counter attack by South Africa that caught the Malaysian defence off guard when in a one on one situation with replacement goalkeeper Mohd Zaimi Mat Deris, Cameron Yves Norman le Forester beat him clinically.

National coach Arul Selvaraj had wanted to give both goalkeepers in the team playing time and was supposed to have alternated the goalkeepers but after he took custodian Muhammad Hafizzudin Othman to task after his opening game performance against Korea going down to three penalty goals, Arul did not want to make the change in the second game so as not to break Hafizzudin’s confidence.

Last night, heavy downpour saw the game halted with 1 minute 42 second left on the clock for the end of the first quarter - probably to the relief of the Malaysian camp.

After 15 minute of stoppage, it was announced that the technical delegate, Muneer Mohammed, will make a decision on the match at 9.00pm (half an hour after the match was stopped).

After 1 hour and ten minutes there was no decision forthcoming as rain continued to pour.

And finally at 9.45pm (after the match was stopped 1 hour 15 minutes), Munner met team coaches of both teams to announce that the game will now be continued on Sunday (Nov 6) at 5.00pm

Both coaches Arul and Ewing Garreth said that they had preferred for the match to be played on completed when the pitch was playable.

"A decision has been taken and we will just come back on Sunday and start the game afresh and no consider the one goal deficit and get back to the game as we started tonight," said Arul.

"We just have to be more clinical and make use of every chance that comes our way."

Malaysia play Egypt today before they play the postponed game on Sunday evening and their final group match against Japan on Monday.

Ewing said: "We could have loved to finish off the match especially since we were leading and the momentum was catching on. We now have to prepare for the game once more time and lose the off day on Sunday."