adidas Reveals a Football Original Re-Imagined with COPA 17 Red Limit

adidas has today launched COPA 17 Red Limit, a football original re-imagined in a modern colourway. With on-pitch, cage and street versions, COPA 17 Red Limit is the latest release from the Limited Collection, a range of exclusive footwear designed to show the latest in footwear innovation.   

--> The COPA 17 Red Limit range features a premium KANGAROO LEATHER UPPER to deliver unrivalled ball control, while a COMPRESSION TONGUE and ORTHOLITE SOCKLINER provide improved fit and optimal comfort. A lightweight SPRINTFRAME OUTSOLE offers stability with round stud tips for smooth pitch penetration. The COPA 17 Red Limit cage version also features added suede material around the toe area to avoid abrasion, creating a more durable product for cage players. The COPA 17 Red Limit street version has a blend of modern and classic elements to make it more suitable for off-pitch wear. It features a lightweight, EVA-injected midsole to provide the best balance while maintaining the cupsole aesthetic. 

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‘Believe in yourselves, Tigress’

The greatest psychological barrier faced by Malaysia Tigress over the years is slowly but surely chipping away and now chief coach K. Dharmaraj wants his players to start believing in themselves in the face of bigger challenges ahead. 

Dharmaraj wants his charges to step into forward mode beginning with the five-match test series between the world No 21 Malaysia Tigress and Olympic bronze medallist and world No 5 New Zealand from Dec 12-18 in Stratford, located in north island, with the same kind of passion produced in the 4^th Women Asian Champions Trophy in Singapore two weeks ago. 

“Believe in yourselves. That’s what we have been telling the players all along and we can sense changes taking place slowly. They have the potential to play good hockey and it’s only a matter of giving them opportunities against top teams like New Zealand,” said Dharmaraj. 

Keeping an eagle eye view as the players pushed through an absorbing physical training programme at the National Sports Council gymnasium, Dharmaraj confessed that the ACT in Singapore was the turning point. 

“In the past we have always feared playing against top Asian teams like China, Japan, Korea and India. We were so contented within our ‘comfort zone’ of beating teams like Cambodia 36-0. So the ACT was indeed an eye opener when we played good and hard hockey. This momentum has to carry on against New Zealand. The scoreline, big or small, does not matter. Building their confidence level is far more important.” he added. 

In the WACT, the Tigress lost 2-5 to world No 9 Korea who scored three quick goals within six minutes into the game and held world No 9 China to a 1-1 draw for a good 56 minutes only to allow the Chinese to score two penalty corner goals minutes before the final hooter. 

They lost to India 0-2 and defeated world No 10 Japan, 2-0 subsequently. It was Malaysia’s first victory over Sakura Japan in 30 years. All four of the Asian top ranked teams had competed in the Rio Olympics in August.

With the New Zealand series taking a big chunk of the team’s training structure, Dharmaraj believes the experience in Stratford will come good when the Tigress stroll into the World League Round 2 in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 14-22. Malaysia will be up against ranked teams Italy (world No 15) and Ireland (16) as well as Thailand (31), Wales (32), Kazakhstan (33), Singapore (43) and Fiji (46). 

“Honestly, it was the first time we played Asian top teams in the ACT and against Korea in the first match the team froze in the early stage and then got back. They overcame this fear mentality as results against China, India and Japan proven. New Zealand is world No 5 and when they go into the World League, they won’t fear nor care less about ranked teams as they have had the experience of playing top teams already,” said Dharmaraj. 

However, with less than a month for the New Zealand tour, Dharmaraj is hoping for Asia’s No 1 goalkeeper Farah Ayuni Yahya and defender Nor Hasliza Ali to join the tour. Both players are in their final phase of trainee inspectors’ course with the Royal Malaysian Police. 

“We have written to the Royal Malaysian Police requesting for their release and hope to receive a favourable reply. Both saw action in the WACT and the New Zealand tour is also crucial in our preparation for the World League,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Tigress captain Siti Noor Amarina Ruhani said the ACT experience has lifted the team’s confidence.

“We have learned two things. First is to be physically fit in high level matches as in the ACT and secondly be mentally strong even when the odds are against us. But we did well to come back,” said the 29-year-old Amarina who has 96 international caps. 

“The most important things are we should not look too much into rankings of our opponents and do what needs to be done on the field. If we focus too much on rankings we will lose our momentum and also unnecessarily create an atmosphere of fear. This has to end,” she added.

Stepping up the gear in Melbourne

The Four-Nation International Festival of Hockey in Melbourne from Nov 23-27 will provide an opportunity for several players to step up the gear against formidable oppositions.

Malaysia Tigers head coach, Stephen van Huizen, disclosed this today after watching the players go through the paces during an-hour long physical training at the National Sports Council gymnasium in Bukit Jalil.

“The Four-Nation in Melbourne will certainly witness several players stepping in for the larger experience in our preparation for the Hockey World League Round 2 in Trinidad & Tobago next March,” said Van Huizen.

“The Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan recently was very important and equal emphasis is given to the Four-Nation in Melbourne. We have a major task ahead and every player in the national team will be involved in match experience,” he added.

As of now Malaysia Tigers will be devoid of penalty corner specialist Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim and midfielder Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor who are undergoing inspector training course at the Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur since May. The duo was granted permission by their employers – The Royal Malaysian Police – to feature in the QNET 4th Asian Champions Trophy at the Wisma Belia Stadium in Kuantan from Oct 20-30.

Midfielder Fitri Saari and defender Faiz Helmi Jali will also not join the 18-member Malaysia Tigers who leave for Melbourne this Saturday as they are currently pursuing their studies at University Malaya.

The Four-Nation International Festival of Hockey in Melbourne involves QNET 4^th Asian Champions Trophy winners India, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. The Indians will also play two test series against the Kookaburras on Nov 29 and 30.

Malaysia Tigers will play New Zealand in the opening match on Nov 23 followed by the Australia-India encounter. Van Huizen’s boys take on India on Nov 24 and Australia on Nov 26 (Saturday).

Meanwhile, after India’s successful campaign in the Asian Champions Trophy where they beat rivals Pakistan in the final, the Indian hockey team will head Down Under captained by the experienced drag-flick specialist VR Raghunath in the absence of PR Sreejesh who is carrying a knee injury.

The responsibilities of his deputy will be shouldered by defender and penalty corner specialist Rupinder Pal Singh who showcased splendid form and was adjudged top scorer at the Kuantan Asian Champions Trophy.

Akash Chikte who came up with outstanding performance in the final of ACT will be India’s custodian in Melbourne.

Turtles march on; Guardians stay in touch

Terengganu Turtles continued its winning run after the fifth round of the Ekspres Perdana Sepak Takraw League (STL) 2016 with a 2-0 win over Kedah Eagles at the Serdang Jaya Municipal Council Stadium on Sunday.

It was Turtles eighth consecutive victory in the league as they stand tall going into next week’s sixth round. In another match, ATM Guardians overcame a gritty Kelantan Warriors 2-0 to record their third win in eight matches so date.

The Turtles got off in the first set struggling to win points before getting over the edge 21-18 as the trio of Irsyad Faiz Aziz (tekong), Kamal Alfiza Shafie (striker) and Zulkifli Razak took 25 minutes to secure their first point against Eagles’ Shahrol Nizam Romli(striker), Nazirul Akram Razali (tekong) and Syakim Jamil (feeder).

However, Turtles returned in the second set with much panache with long rallies before striking the ball deep down the baseline in a 19-minute battle to prevail 21-6, thus sending Kedah Eagles to their fourth defeat in the league from eight matches.

Terengganu have played a total of 18 sets since the league started – winning 16 and lost only in two sets to register a 0.89 set winning percentage to stay top of the chart.

In the second match of the day, ATM Guardians, lying third from bottom before today’s encounter, defeated Kelantan Warriors 2-0 with scores of 21-18, 21-15 lasting 45 minutes. The victory has certainly lifted their confidence level going into next week’s proceedings.

ATM Guardians are lying sixth in the table standings – ahead of Kelantan Warriors and Malacca Titans - following three wins and five defeats in eight matches. They have played a total of 19 sets, won eight and lost 11 for a 0.42 set winning percentage.

On Saturday, Kuala Lumpur Thunder recorded their third successive win after defeating Johor Tigris in the fifth round of the Ekspres Perdana Sepak Takraw League (STL) 2016.

Penang Black Panthers also came back on Saturday from a narrow defeat against Turtles a week earlier to claw Malacca Titans 21-17, 22-20.

Panthers down Titans, Thunder leap to third

Kuala Lumpur Thunder recorded their third successive win after defeating Johor Tigris in the fifth round of the Ekspres Perdana Sepak Takraw League (STL) 2016 at the Serdang Jaya Municipal Council Stadium, today.

Fresh from their 2-0 victory over defending champions ATM Guardians, the Thunders were hoping to emulate their performance in today’s match as it  will ensure they leapfrog Kedah Eagles into third place before the latter’s match tomorrow against league leader’s, Terengganu Turtles.

Thunder’s coach, Azhar Sarabini opted for the trio of Aizat Nor Azmi (tekong), Amirul Zazwan Amir (feeder) and Hafiz Rahman (striker) who came in for Zamree Dahan. Thunder stormed to victory in the first set within 20 minutes with a 21-9 score line.  

In the second set, Tigris trio Haidzir Rashid (tekong), Lutfil Azmi (feeder) and Norhafizi Razak (striker) refused to go down easily thus increasing their momentum to storm home to a 21-15 win, taking the match into the tie-breaker.

After 75 minutes of non-stop action, Thunder went back home smiling after edging Tigris 21-18 to move up into third place of the league while condemning the Southern boys to their 4^th defeat of the season, leaving them lying in fifth place.

Thunder will take on Kedah Eagles next Saturday while Johor Tigris face-off with the in-form Turtles hoping to avoid another defeat to climb up into the top four spot which will advance into the play-off round in mid-December.

In the second match of the day, Penang Black Panthers clashed with Melaka Titans, with hopes of overcoming their defeat at the hands of Turtles, yesterday.

After yesterday’s intense match, Panthers coach, Helmi Ismail opted with Kamal Ishak on the inside right role, replacing Azlan Alias while partnering Syahir Rosdi (tekong) and Suhairi Sulaiman (feeder).

As expected, the Panthers carved out an easy 2-0 win over the Titans trio of Sahidan Ali (tekong), Zarlizan Zakaria (feeder) and Amirul Asyraf Idris (striker), claiming the first set 21-17 before undergoing nervy moments towards the end of the second set to win 22-20.

While the win sees Panthers remain in second place, cutting the gap with league-leaders Turtles to 4 points, Melaka Titans stay bottom place with the STL 2016 approaching mid-season.