I will take the rap
Defender Amin shoulders responsibility for failure in Dublin
SEPANG: National defender and penalty corner specialist Mohd Amin Rahim is ready to assume responsibility for the national team’s failure to qualify for the London Olympics, even if others, particularly the officials, don’t.
The 32-year-old father of two, said his failure to deliver the goals from penalty corner setpieces had cost the team dear.
A clearly dejected Amin said this was the most disappointing moment of his hockey career and that he was retiring from the national team.
I didn’t deliver the goals from penalty corner flicks when it mattered the most. —MOHD AMIN RAHIM
Amin had featured in all three failed olympic qualifiers– Madrid (2004), Kakamigahara, Japan (2008) and Dublin.
“I didn’t deliver the goals from penalty corner flicks when it mattered the most,” he said.
“I have been playing for the national team since 1999 and I have never featured in the Olympics or the World Cup.
“Every player dreams of playing in the Olympics and World Cup but I am one of the few who will never play in those two tournaments,” added Amin, who has 222 caps to his credit.
The players and officials looked disillusioned and dispirited on arrival at the KL International Airport (KLIA) yesterday.
They seemed eager to return to the comforts of their homes instead of hanging around to answer questions posed by the throng of waiting reporters.
Amin said Malaysia’s continued failure to qualify for the Olympics will lead to fans losing faith in the team and the game.
He revealed that he had informed national coach Tai Beng Hai of his decision to quit, although the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) want him to stay on until the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in May.
Defender Mohd Madzli Ikmar and veteran goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin have also informed the MHC of their intention to retire.
With the team’s failure, the focus will now be on the Project 2013 squad when they compete in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca from May 3-13 in a bid to qualify for the Junior World Cup in New Delhi next year.