K. ARUMUGAM
Alyson Annan is taking Mandarin lessons. The Chinese women’s team she coaches is working on their English. Together, however, they appear to be on the same page evidenced by a thumping 4-0 victory over India in the Asian Games hockey semi-final at Gongshu Canal Sports Park in Hangzhou, China, on Thursday.
China will take on South Korea in Saturday’s final and are primed to realize 16 months of effort after Annan, the legendary player and coach, took over after quitting the job with the all-conquering Netherlands.
At a post-match media conference, Annan exuded quiet satisfaction over the result. “It was a good game. We had a very good first half but fell away in the second. Overall, we were the better team and put in a good performance today,” she said on the takeaways from the semi-final.
“We want to improve in some areas for the final. We are confident in the way we play but we’ve won nothing. There is a game to go and no Olympic ticket as yet.”
Captain Ou Zixia who accompanied Annan at the conference acknowledged the role played by her coach. “We implemented the coach’s tactics and are excited to win the game. But the final is all important. We hope to analyze our game and win the gold medal,” she said.
As to what adjustments have been made after losing to India 0-2 in the bronze medal match at the 2022 Asia Cup? Annan explained that she took over in May last year, during which China have played 45 internationals against 12 nations, and she’s been with this team since November during which she’s been able to focus on what the team lacks.
“I have been trying to increase our circle penetrations and decrease those of our opponents,” the 50-year-old said.
Annan has a glittering medal showcase with gold medals at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics as well as the 1994 and 1998 World Cup. As a coach, she guided the Netherlands to the 2018 World Cup and 2020 Olympic titles but quit sensationally a little before the 2022 World Cup because of a difference of opinion with the Dutch hockey board.
“In training, we have tried to implement lessons learned from video footage. We have a lot of fast players in the team and I have tried to get them to get them to execute basic skills at speed,” Annan said. “One of the fast players is here (Zixia) and she plays at the back which suits us fine.”
Did she expect the result? “Yes, I expected the result,” the former star Hockeyroo and FIH Player of the Year said in matter-of-fact fashion.
“My thoughts this morning: If we play well, we could win today,” she added.
Communication is a key area in any coaching role and Annan revealed she’s been taking ‘Chinese’ (Mandarin) lessons. “I’ve been trying my best to communicate with the girls in Mandarin,” Annan, who has interpreters to assist her, said.
“The girls are practising their English but I think as a coach it’s important for me to speak the language of the team. I’m not fluent but I understand a few things that I use in training and it works well,” Annan added.
The Hockeyroo who has her guru and compatriot, the redoubtable Ric Charlesworth, on the coaching panel along with Dutch drag-flicking legend Taeke Taekema, believes there’s talent aplenty in China. However, she looks at the way forward for the team to move into the top echelon.
“China needs to play more international matches against nations such as The Netherlands, Australia, Germany and Spain. It isn’t possible to play matches weekly in China. Other top countries do so, so we must travel abroad to play matches,” she said.
“You can’t play a tactical game by just watching footage. You must use those tactics in international matches,” Annan affirmed.
China suffered a 0-2 defeat to defending champions and Asia Cup title holders Japan in the pool. Annan lamented wasted opportunities in the setback and one observed that her team was sharp in front of goal in the semi-final, much to India’s chagrin.
That doesn’t augur too well for South Korea, China’s adversaries Saturday’s final.