Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Best wishes from RSC Hockey Committee!

2012 coming to an end...

Yes, another year is almost over. Another year older. A split second slower. A couple of minutes of stamina lesser. A few kilos heavier (at least, some of us!)...

It has been another eventful year for the hockey section, but sadly we could not make it for some of the planned tournaments due to lack of committed players. Maybe this is something we need to look into and see how we can widen our circle of active playing members.

The final weekly hockey session for the year at Tun Razak Stadium will be tomorrow, 20 Dec 2012, 7pm. Hope to see more faces there!

From the RSC Hockey Section Committee members, we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

GOOD BYE 2012, WELCOME 2013! 

Argentina Hockey Champions Challenge 1

Our Malaysian national hockey team is currently participating in the Argentina Hockey Champions Challenge 1 in Quilmes, Argentina.

The winner of the event will gain automatic qualification for the next edition of the men’s Champions Trophy


For more information, please visit the website.

http://www.fih.ch/en/competitions-170-argentina-hockey-champions-challenge-1-men

The participating teams are as follows :

Quilmes is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the capital of Quilmes Partido (Partido de Quilmes), and has a population of 230,810. It is located 17 km (11 mi) south of the capital of Argentina, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

For more information on Quilmes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilmes

DURIAN Road Trip - 1 Dec 2012

Our convenor James Sia featured in the news!

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Dear members,
James Sia, our beloved Convenor and self-confessed durian lover, is planning for a DURIAN Road Trip on 1 Dec 20120 (Saturday) to Karak.

This is the orchard that James is planning to go to. It was featured in Nanyang Siang Pau recently.

All interested members are to contact James on his email jsia@tm.net.my or mobile no. 019 667 8297.

Happy Deepavali!

Happy Deepavali to all our Hindu members!

May you enjoy the festivities with your family and friends! 

RSC vs KL Bar - 3 Nov 2012

Not much words to describe this game except that it was drawn and washed out.

Let the photos do the talking!

Gimme the ball!

After another failed raid!

Mango BFF #1

Mango BFF #2

The Bobby pose!

The Sambu pose!

Finally... some running!

Our playing condition!

The umpires finally gave up and stopped the game after about 30 minutes of play.... as the rained poured relentlessly!

All rained out!

Wet but still standing!

The wet look!

All wet, but certainly not out, the boys proceeded to the Pavilion for the usual pre-dinner drinks....

Judith - the ardent supporter!

The preferred beverage?
100Plus - not opened
Beer - Half jug

Enjoying  S.Bala's company! 

And last on the schedule.... dinner at the Dewan, presentation of trophies and the customary Boat Race!

Couple of words from Anand!

Sports Chairman getting on with it!

Hungry, hungry... let's eat! 

Simon and Chin Chin

Sharing stories!

Vegetarian corner 

Drinks only corner

The dispute!

James leading the way!

Man-to-Man : The Final Drink-Off... KL Bar wins

Hockey Personalities... featuring S.BALA

Interviewed by Charles Lim

Born on 15th November 1947 in Ipoh, Balasingam Singaram or better known as S.Bala, grew up mainly in the Klang valley under the watchful eyes of the La Salle brothers at La Salle Brickfields and subsequently at St John's Institution. Back in the school days, he played in many positions but found his niche as a left-half, a position which gained him prominence and place in the Malaysian national team in 1968.

Making his national debut at the 1968 International Hockey Tournament in Lahore, S.Bala will always remember how he first rubbed shoulders and competed against the hockey legends of that era as a young 21 year-old player. He had many more such opportunities in the next 8 years as he continued to make his name as a regular in the national team, participating in the Munich (1972) and Montreal (1976) Olympics, as well as 2 world cups in 1973 (Amsterdam) and 1975 (Kuala Lumpur). 

He laughs as he recalls how the national team of yesteryears trained at PULAPOL, staying at the 1st barracks and taking showers at the Bomba station nearby, mischievious team-mates stealing towels and leaving them stranded until it was dark enough to run back to the barracks, and meals were mainly 'mamak' food! Things were much simpler then, and players did not ask for much.

When asked what other sports he played, S.Bala said 'Hockey, only hockey!', which he continued to play until the age of 60 in 2007, representing RSC in the KL Hockey League since 1977. But in reality he was also a good golfer, a game which he excelled naturally, playing off a single handicap until the day he gave up the game in 2004.

Despite giving up the sports the he enjoys so much, S.Bala continues to be a Hockey and Golf section member until today and led the annual RSC 9s Hockey Tournament organising committee for 8years until 2009, when he had to slow down due to his health condition. Having survived surgery and colon cancer, he now enjoys his sports via television and was 'guilty' of watching every single day of the recent London 2012 Olympics.

After contributing 22 years service to the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) as a Technical Soil Surveyor (and hockey player!), S.Bala ventured into the fertiliser business, with the support of his wife Indra in 1993. He readily admits that being a very public and recognisable hockey personality back then helped him to open many doors.

Today, he spends most of his days at his office from sunrise to sundown as he has done in the last 20 years. In his office on the 1st floor of his shop in Brickfields, the framed photograph of the 1975 Malaysian national hockey team commands a prominent and visible place behind his office chair. This is how much hockey means to the man many also fondly refer to as Bacardi Bala!

S. Bala has a son who lives in Australia, travels for leisure whenever time permits and believes that in a team sport, every member of the team is equally important, as there's very little any single player can do without the support of the other 10.

Interport vs Penang Sports Club(PSC) - 29 Sept 2012

The interport vs PSC this year was held in Penang, and the RSC contingent arrived early afternoon to hit the food joints before the game at 5pm on PSC grounds.

Mango in action!

According to the Captain Colin, the game was played in good spirit with RSC winning 7-4, despite our limited number of players that made it up north.

Goal scorers were Bernard (4), Bobby (1), Black (1) and Colin (1).

GOAL?

And of course.... the food pics!

Selamat Hari Malaysia!

Hornbill saluting Jalur Gemilang!

Hockey Personalities... featuring DATO R.YOGESWARAN

Interviewed by Charles Lim

On 28 February 1940, in the little town of Sungkai, Perak, our very own hockey legend, Dato' R. Yogeswaran, was born to a family of 10 siblings. He was the 4^th child in this large family.

Growing up in the hillside town of Tapah, he was a boy of many talents and played football, cricket and hockey for school and state. In cricket, he went on to represent North Malaysia and Malaysian President’s XI.

The young Yogeswaran spent much of his free time learning his hockey trade with the European planters, Royal Malay Regiment soldiers and teachers on the school field of the Government English School (GES), Tapah.

In 1957, at the tender age of 17, Dato' Yogeswaran captained the GES to win the National Schools Tournament and hence, his long association with the sport of hockey, despite his first love being FOOTBALL!

Few would also know that the reward for winning the tournament then, were seats for the whole team in 'Blok J' in Stadium Merdeka for the Independence Declaration on 31 August 1957! Dato' Yogeswaran still fondly remembers the experience of being part of this historical event and the repeated cries of 'MERDEKA!', by our then Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. What an experience for this boy from Perak!

Just a year later, Dato' Yogeswaran was selected for the Malaysian hockey team and played his first international hockey game against the mighty Koreans in Stadium Merdeka under flood lights! This was the beginning of an illustrious hockey playing career, which includes participating in the inaugural International Hockey Tournament in 1961 in Ahmedabad, several Asian Games (Jakarta – 1962, Bangkok - 1966), Olympics (Tokyo – 1964, Mexico – 1968) and numerous other tournaments.

Dato' Yogeswaran (3rd from the right) at the International Hockey Tournament(1961) in Ahmedabad

The combined Malaysia-Singapore team back in 1964

Dato' Yogeswaran perfected the skill of hitting on the 'wrong foot', a skill most coveted by left-sided players, long before reverse-stick hits became a norm in today's modern hockey game. Combined with his stunning speed on the field, he revelled in the left wing and left-inside positions, in the traditional 'Pyramid System', mesmerising the opponents as well as his own team-mates!

This eventually earned him a place in the Asian All-Stars team in 1966. And back in the days of grass hockey, dominated by the hockey powerhouses of India and Pakistan, this meant Dato' Yogeswaran was effectively one of the best left-wingers in the world!

Alas, his hockey playing career spanned only a short 11 years, retiring from international hockey in 1969, at the age of 29, but fortunately for Malaysian hockey, his love affair with the sport did not end there!

Dato' Yogeswaran, a holder of an All England Hockey Association coaching certificate, continued his contribution to Malaysian hockey, taking on the role of coach and subsequently, manager of the numerous national hockey teams - Juniors, Ladies and Men's team (1975 World Cup Kuala Lumpur, 1979 Junior World Cup Paris, 1982 World Cup Bombay, Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur – 1998, Sydney Olympics – 2000, Hockey World Cup, Kuala Lumpur - 2002).

Some of the notable RSC hockey section members under his mentorship include S.Bala, Dato Poon Fook Loke, K.Bala, Dato Ow Soon Kooi, Colin Sta Maria, KT Rajan, Tam Chiew Seng, Steven Van Huizen, MA Sambu, Supt. Mohinder Singh and the Teh sisters, Siew Bee and Siew Heng. Until today, they still hide their cigarettes behind their backs in the presence of Dato' Yogeswaran (Credit to their parents for their good upbringing!).

Managing the 2000 Sydney Olympics Hockey team

He continues to share his vast experience and passion for the development of hockey through his involvement in the multi-million 1MAS Hockey program as the current Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee, and is the Curriculum Chairman of the Asian Hockey Academy, which was set up in April 2011. 

Dato' Yogeswaran was been inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Hall of Fame in 2004, in addition to his earlier induction into the Hall of Fames of Royal Selangor Club and Astro Arena, in recognition of his contribution to the sport in Malaysia.

During his long association with the sport, his wife of 44 years, Datin June Shanta (Brinsford Lodge-trained teacher) and his 2 daughters, Shirnita (accountant) and Shirlena (practicing lawyer), have always stood by him and supported him during his difficult early years in the sport (especially when he was posted to Kuala Lumpur, whilst his young family was based in Ipoh) and throughout his hockey career (as player, coach and manager). He recalls the time when both his daughters flew to Sydney in 2000 at their own expense to support and care for him during his stint as Manager of the Men's Hockey team at the Olympics!

Dato' Yogeswaran, the mentor, and his prodigies, at his 70th birthday celebration

Dato' Yogeswaran believes that the way forward for Malaysian hockey, is for clubs to play a bigger role in the junior development programs and to build interest in the game from an early age, with the direct involvement of parents. In his exact words - “If you want your children to be Champions, then parents must start thinking like Champions!”.

He also believes that we need more specialised sports clubs e.g. Hockey Clubs, with their own hockey facility and professional management, as opposed to multi-sports club, if we want to develop a bigger pool of quality hockey players for the future.

Today, at the grand age of 72, Dato' Yogeswaran enjoys the company of his friends and family (especially when the conversation is about sports!), and he believes that he is where he is today because of them. The hockey stick and pace of the game have long been replaced with golf clubs and the leisurely pace of the fairways. And he now aspires to be the best coach and manager to his grandchildren – Rebecca and Aiden!

Being a simple man, his favourite food is salted or dry fish curry (karuvadu kulambu) and fried eggs, and his favourite drink is the occasional White Label whiskey-water, on-the-rocks!

Needless to say, his favourite woman is....  his wife!

The proud family!  

Final words of wisdom from Dato' Yogeswaran :-

1. Always display HONOUR and RESPECT! - For the Rules and Regulations of the game. For the Officials of the game. For your team-mates (players and officials) and your opponents.

2. Never do anything that will bring embarrassment to your family, your team, your sport, your beloved nation and most importantly YOURSELF! 

Pangkor Island on Malaysia Day Weekend!

This year's trip to Pangkor island was jointly organised by James Sia and Jonathan Choe for RSC Hockey and MAS Crew on 14-16 Sept 2012 at Sea View Hotel and Holiday Resort.

Joined by family and friends, it was a fun-filled and relaxing weekend for all!

Feri sudah sampai!

Welcome to Pangkor Island!

Our regular hotel on Pangkor!

Our beach-side rooms!

Lepaking by the sea!

Dining by the sea!

The beach just steps from the hotel - Fantastic!

Sunset at Sea View Hotel - Awesome!

With no hockey in sight, the hockey boys put their feet to good use instead and showed a surprising amount of talent with the bigger ball and goal! Over 2 days, the end result was LFC-1 Rest of BPL-1, and lots of name-calling, taunting and plenty of goals!

Players arriving!

Kaki ayam!

Our own stadium - LFC vs Rest of BPL!

Meals were provided and we had (guess what?) - seafood, plenty of it! And thanks to our part-time fishermen, we even had some freshly-caught fish for dinner!

Mi Kari and Nasi Lemak for breakfast!

Countless dishes for dinner!

S E A F O O D!!

Owner and Badminton Legend - Datuk Tan Yee Khan

Despite having a mixed group of young and old, singles and families... and a whole spectrum of characters, there was always something for everyone!

A private moment?

Early start!

We finally meet her!

The beach boys and girls!

And after dinner, the 'party' continued with music (compliments of MAS crew!), drinks and the cool sea breeze... till the early hours of the morning!

Talking about old times!

The dancing girls!

Jon orchestrating!

Post-Dinner drinks!

Thanks to all involved in the organising of this memorable trip, especially James and Jon!