# ‘We need to work on our mental strength’ – Kathleen
 
# ‘Huge defeats are a ‘gift’ to us in our learning process – Kathleen
 
 
The Americans have been bashed in every aspect of the game on the field but the United States of America team – making their debut in the prestigious annual Sultan of Johor Cup Under-21 Invitational tournament – the experience is best described as “priceless” and one that will stand in good stead for the future of game in the country.
 
USA team manager Kathleen Schiller, whose son Dean Schiller, is in the team, revealed that the big defeats in Johor Bahru has also received “not too nice comments” back home but the team is taking everything in its stride.
 
“It has been a very steep learning curve for us with excellent competitive opportunities that are not available back home,” said Kathleen.
 
The USA team made the trip from Virginia with the help of parents who provided the financial assistance for men’s hockey does not get any financial support from any quarters in the country.
 
The United States women’s hockey team is ranked No 4 in the world while the men’s team is a distant 26. 
 
Even then the colleges in the United States play a vital role in sports in the United States with basketball and American football and to a certain extent golf taking a big chunk of the financial assistance which comes in the form of scholarships.
 
“Our journey to the Sultan of Johor Cup began when a board member of the USA Hockey Federation met Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) president HRH Prince Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Johor Hockey Association (JHA) deputy president Dato Majid Manjit Abdullah in Dubai, during the FIH Congress last year.
 
One thing led to another and the USA team arrived in Johor Bahru for the six-nation tournament that has become the pride of Johor – the fastest developing state in Malaysia – plus the pride of Bangsa Johor as His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar calls his people.
 
“We are not ashamed that we have conceded double digit scores in all our matches so far…and neither has the scorelines shattered us,” says Kathleen.
In the opening match the Americans fell to an 19-0 defeat to defending champions Australia. This was followed by a an 11-0 defeat to Great Britain, 22-0 to India and 18-0 to Malaysia.
The defeat to Australia was not the sort of birthday present Puneet Singh wanted. Puneet turned 15 on match day.
“Each match was a ‘gift’ to us in many many ways in our learning process. The Australians were very physical, India, very technical and quick with well executed shots inside the D and the Malaysians are very fast…their speed is an asset,” said Kathleen.
“I am very optimistic that we will return home richer in experience and exposure that will benefit the team. We hope to score a goal or possibly get a point in this tournament…but if we don’t it will dishearten us.
“We have lined up ‘test’ matches against Canada in November and Chile in March. There are several other plans to expose the young players to strong hockey playing nations to build the team.
“We are humble but proud,” Kathleen added.  – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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