HIT FOR NINE

In the second game in Day 4 at this BDO World Cup Qualifier we saw mighty Australia determine to win over Malaysia who was playing their third game in this tournament.

It only took Australia  minutes of the first half to earn their first couple Penalty Corner and with a fantastic option off the top of the circle to Ashleigh NELSON allowed Australia to open the score.



The Australian attacking wave continued without slowing down.  However Malaysia challenged them in defense following the lead of Malaysia’s Siti Noor Amarina RUHANI



An excellent effort by Teneal ATTARD allowed Australia to create a new scoring opportunity that Madonna BLYTH utilized to score Australia’s second goal.

The wave continued, and Madonna BLYTH scores again after a great build up attack from the left side of the field. The last goal of Australia in the first half was of a Penalty Corner option with Kate HOLLYWOOD.



1st Half AUS v MAS

(4:0)



Australia pressured Malaysia’s defense zone with great passes and generating greater numerical advantage on the ball at all times.  Malaysia, in their third game of this tournament started to show signs of their challenges arriving late to the tournament and perhaps fatigue was becoming a factor trying to keep up with the fast and determinant Australian team.

The five goals scored in the second half were result of a disciplined team that continue to work together, moving the ball very effectively along with efficient movement by all players.

Ashleigh NELSON scored their fifth goal, then a Penalty Stroke,

second for Malaysia in this tournament, was called by umpired Amy HASSICK from USA. Malaysia’s goalkeeper Farah Ayuni YAHYA had not chance against Australian’s striker Nicole ARROLD who scored with a fast high flick to the right corner of the net.

In the second last Penalty Corner of this game, Ashleigh NELSON scores in a rebound and then again her fourth goal of this game.  Only seconds left in the game and Australia was looking for more, they score their last and ninth goal of this match with an impressive attack that Madonna BLYTH utilized to score her third goal in this game

Pakistan drop seven seniors

Pakistan Wednesday dropped seven senior players responsible for an abysmal World Cup hockey campaign, hoping to regain the glory from scratch with next month's tournament in Malaysia.


Indian field hockey player Gurwinder Singh Chandi fights for the ball with Pakistani player Sohail Abbas (left) during their World Cup 2010 match at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi, February 2010. Pakistan dropped seven senior players responsible for an abysmal World Cup hockey campaign, hoping to regain the glory from scratch with next month's tournament in Malaysia.

Pakistan, three-time Olympic gold medalists and four-time world champions, finished last in the India World Cup earlier this year in what was described as their lowest ebb.

Captain Zeeshan Ashraf, Akhtar Ali and Mohammad Waseem requested a rest while world record goal-scorer Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi were not selected.

Goalkeeper Salman Akbar, also played in World Cup, did not attend the trials.

Chief selector Hanif Khan said three senior players requested rest, while others were rested by the selection committee as they had failed to impress in the trials in Karachi on Wednesday.

"We have rested senior players Abbas, Butt and Abbasi as they looked mentally stressed in the trials, so we have selected new players in a hope that it starts a new beginning for Pakistan hockey," Khan told reporters.

Abbas, tipped to lead the side for the Malaysia event, is the only man to score over 300 goals in the history of international hockey.

The 18-man team will be led by 30-year-old full-back Mohammad Imran. Pakistan will feature in the 6-16 May Azlan Shah tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia.

The other competing teams are world champions Australia, Asian champions South Korea, hosts Malaysia, India, China and Egypt.

Khan hoped untested players would usher in a new era in Pakistan hockey.

"We have the Commonwealth Games in India and then the Asian Games later in the year, so we hope that this new team settles soon. Don't expect medals from this team soon but, once it settles, it will win laurels, "said Khan.

Pakistan will also have a new coach in Khawaja Junaid after Shahid Ali Khan was sacked last month.

Team: Mohammad Imran (captain), Imran Shah, Imran Butt, Aamir Shahzad, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Fareed Ahmed, Mohammad Rashid, Zeeshan Ali, Mohammad Tauseeq, Waqas Sharif, Shafqat Rasool, Abdul Haseem Khan, Mohammad Zubair, Mohammad Rizwan, Andul Qayyum, Kashif Ali, Umar Bhutta.

CHILE DEFEAT MALAYSIA

After losing the opening match of the BDO World Cup Qualifier to Australia (5-0), host Chile stroke back with an important 1-0 victory over Malaysia here in Santiago, Chile.

The game was played in a much colder weather than on the opening day of the BDO World Cup Qualifier. Malaysia who is just recovering from jet lag displayed great determination right from the start of the game.  However, the local team Chile supported by many school age children and Hockey enthusiasts responded well to the task.

In the first half Malaysia was stronger than Chile, beating Chilean players to the ball and covering the field more efficiently. They earned the only Penalty Corner of the first half and had more circle entries and shots on goals than Chile. Malaysia had two clear opportunities to score in the first half, one after an excellent  pass by Siti Noor Amarina Ruhaini who from the right side of the field gave a long pass into the circle to Nor Hidayah Ahmad who deflected the ball to her teammate Norazlin Sumantruwho just missed the pass.  The Chilean National Head Coach Diego Amoroso was losing his temper and his players displayed similar behavior, Malaysia tried to used this to their advantage by imposing stronger attacking pace that did not capitalized in any success.

In the 2nd half, a much better organized Chilean team enter the field of play. It seems that Chilean National Head Coach Diego Amoroso modified the team's strategy to counter the Malaysians long drive attacks. 

The “Diablitas” (Chileans) started pressuring high forcing Malaysia to hurry their passes creating turn overs.  The 17 years old, Manuela Urroz, found herself alone with goalkeeper Farah Ayuni Yahya after Catherine Lambor had lost possession of the ball when pressured by Chilean forwards, but her shot brushed off the left post. The Chilean kept the Malaysian on their heels with long drives of their own.  Fifteen minutes into the second half,  Chile had 3 penalty corners in a row all 3 were well defended by Malaysia's defense unit, it was only last one that Chile had a direct shot on net with Fernanda Rodriguez trying a reverse shot from the left side of the circle.

With 13 minutes to go, from a side-in deep in her zone, Chilean Andrea Sanchez went for a long drive into the offensive zone where Carolina Varas awaited, she moved pass to Malaysia's last defender Norfaraha Hashim, and when aggressively challenged by goalkeeper Farah Ayuni Yahya, umpire Wendy STEWART called a Penalty Stroke in favor to Chile. Javiera VIillagra captain of Chilean Team was responsible to give Chile their first goal of the tournament and the lead in this match.

Malaysia perhaps feeling the impact of the long 30 hours traveling and not much time to familiarize themselves to Santiago,  showed great willingness to counter attack.  The game could have being for any team as a strong play by right wing Norbaini Hashim just missed an excellent opportunity to score only minutes to the end of the game.

With 7 minutes left in the game, Javiera Villagra went for a back tackle on Siti Noor Amarina Ruhaini and was sent off leaving her team short-handed for 5 minutes.  With less than 2 minutes on the clock, Siti Rahmah Othman went one on one against Claudia Schuler, Chilean goalkeeper, only to hit the left post with a drive from inside the area.

SELECTION HEADACHE

The national team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be named after the friendly match against Egypt on May 3 in Ipoh. A day later the team will be up against Australia, in another friendly before the tournament proper gets underway on May 6 against Pakistan.

Recently appointed chief coach Stephen van Huizen will no doubt be having a selection headache, not from the goalkeeping perspective though where he has five keepers and of late had to fend questions as to why he named five keepers. But no one makes an issue when Pakistan names ten keepers in their training squad.

Well in a way Stephen does not have the full team to pick from as Kelvinder Singh, Harvinder Singh, Jiwan Mohan, Baljit Singh Sarab are on the crock list while Shahrun Nabil is admitted in Damansara Specialist due to a condition where he has a very high protein count and could well miss out the tournament as well. IN addition Jiwa Mohan has not joined training yet as he is based in Perth.

Taking away these six players, and the fact that three goalkeepers will be excluded, that leaves another five players from the list of 32 to be dropped for the Azlan Shah Cup challenge.

PAKISTAN YET TO DECIDE ON CAPTAIN

Chief selector Hanif Khan said that selecting seniors does not mean that they must be a part of the team. Who ever is fully fit at the camp would be included in the team.

Talking with media at the Hockey Club of Pakistan stadium, the chief selector said that no hasty decision would be taken in announcing the appointment of captain of the hockey team.

Hanif Khan said that if a captain is important in the cricket team then coach have more powers than captain in the hockey team.

He said that if he would be asked for a new captain then he would advise him and it is the job of the Pakistan Hockey Federation to announce the name of the captain.

Hanif said that there was very little time for preparations for the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament due to which enough experiments of training cannot be made.

He said that it is not necessary to include those players in the team who requested for leave from the camp to take rest.

The chief selector said that this message is also for other seniors at the camp that if they do not pass fitness test then it is not mandatory for them to be selected.

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS LOOMS

There seems to be a constitutional crisis of sorts looming in the Malaysian Hockey Federation. And this has to do with the decision of the last MHF Council meeting where the President of MHF in his opening remarks mentioned the need to make changes to the constitution, the most significant of which is that in future both the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer will be appointed by the President rather then be elected by the affiliates.

While I will not discuss the merits and disadvantages of making such amendments here, it is shocking to learn that a Vice President of MHF is guilty of a whisper campaign amongst affiliates to vote against such an amendment when the changes are tabled at the next Council meeting.

Such a conduct is unbecoming of the said official and the President should take note of the enemy within. And talking of a new constitution, I have already completed a draft copy for MHF in line with the provisions of FIH as well as the Sports Development Act 1997 as well as the guidelines advocated by the Sports Commissioners Office.

DOPED MHL

A player from Sapura has been tested positive for recreational drug use during the Malaysian Hockey League that ended in February.

While the identity of the player cannot be revealed, it is learnt that the player has yet to respond to the findings as he has not given any indication if he wanted the B sample to be tested.

And should he decide not to challenge the initial findings, the player could face a minimum two year ban.

That is not all as it is believed players from a team participating in the ongoing MJHL are also suspected of using drugs and drug testing will soon be conducted.

DOMO FOR NATIONAL STADIUMS

The Stadium Board has opted to use the above artificial pitch for the two national hockey stadiums, the venues which are world renowned and have played host to the World Cup as well not to mention the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

The decision is being talked about in the hockey circles as the MHF were consulted, gave their recommendations but was not accepted. If cost was a factor, then surely those on the Board have made a major error if reading the costs submitted below.

The turfs that were proposed and the cost was as follows:

DOMO : RM4,471,624.20
POLYGRASS: RM4,505,795.30
POLYTAN: RM4,533.342.60
EDEL: RM4,956,428.70
GREENFIELDS: RM4,272,400.00
XTREME TURF: RM4,253.084.20
TEAM AQUATURF: RM4,377,402.70

Over the years, Domo® has built up a significant list of references for hockey pitches.But looking at the list below, just how many world class tournaments were held as one can read from these listings as picked up from thewebsite.

Maybe NSC Director General Dato Zolkples Embong, who is a member of the Stadium Board, and has traveled extensively to hockey events, could shed some light as to why this brand was picked over others who have been n Malaysia for the last 3 decades.

•    Bedum, Netherlands, 2008 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    Ronse, Belgium, 2008 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    HC Victory, Edegem, Belgium, 2008 / DOMOlympics 
•    Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2008 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    Elsene, Belgium, 2007 / DOMOlympics
•    HC Alecto Leiderdorp, Netherlands, 2007 / DOMOlympics 
•    Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2007 / DOMOlympics 
•    Waterloo Ducks, Belgium, 2007 - FIH recommended / DOMOlympics
•    HC Jahn, Germany, 2006 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    Intermol, Belgium, 2006 / DOMO® STROKE
•    Kazan Hockey, Russia, 2006 / DOMOlympics 
•    Lambertsart, France, 2006 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    Leidse en Oegstgeestse HC, Netherlands, 2006 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    Phoenix Hockey Club, Netherlands, 2006 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    Royal Uccle Sport, Belgium, 2006 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    HC Hisalis, Netherlands, 2005 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    HOD – Valkenswaard, Netherlands, 2005 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    HC Spire (Hoogwoud, Opmeer), Netherlands, 2005 / DOMO® DRIBBEL
•    Hong Kong Hockey Stadium, Hong Kong, 2005 / DOMOlympics
•    KHC Leuven, Belgium, 2004 - FIH recommended / DOMOlympics
•    Nigeria National Stadium Complex, Nigeria, 2004 / DOMOlympics 
•    Royal Uccle Sport, Belgium, 2004 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    Royal Oree THB, Belgium, 2003 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME
•    VMHC Spitsbergen, Netherlands, 2005 / DOMO® DRIBBEL
•    HK Orient Lyngby, Denmark, 2004 / DOMO® HOCKEY XTREME

BOON HUAT IN BANGLADESH CONTROVERSY

Mohammedan Sporting Club lifted the Dhaka Bank Club Cup Hockey tournament trophy after they beat Usha Krira Chakra 4-2 in darkness, confusion and farce at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday. The match started some 80 minutes after schedule due to a huge disagreement between the two teams regarding a foreign player recruited by Mohammedan without having him properly registered.

The match was only the tip of the iceberg as the events preceding it only added to the sense of farce surrounding it.

The chaos started when Mohammedan brought Malaysian forward Chua Boon Huat for the Club Cup final.

He arrived in the capital early on Friday morning, though the Black and Whites' team management did not officially inform the tournament committee. Usha officials verbally let the tournament committee know that they had serious objections if Mohammedan fielded an unregistered foreign player in the final.

It all boiled over half-an-hour before the start of the scheduled match at 4:00pm when Mohammedan attempted to play the Malaysian in the final citing the tournament committee's verbal assurance. They claimed that the committee had no problem to allow their foreign recruit to play the game.

But, tournament and league committee secretary Anvir Adel had declined to let Mohammedan's foreign player play as the Usha officials asked the committee to follow the by-laws which states that each team will be able to field five foreign players in a match but they must be registered by 8:00pm the day before the match along with Tk 500 as registration fee.

The Motijheel giants then argued that they were not given the by-laws, which was not even approved by the tournament committee, and they looked determined to play with their Malaysian recruit.

"As an experienced organiser, I have brought the Malaysian player knowing the rules of the tournament and would not bring him if I was not aware of the rules," Mohammedan hockey committee secretary Sajed AA Adel said.

"By-laws of the tournament was not even approved," added Adel, also a former general secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF).

Tournament committee secretary Anvir Adel having denied Sajed's demand said that the representatives of the participating clubs had signed the by-laws and later he showed it to the reporters. He also raised the question of how a tournament can go up to the final without the by-laws being approved.

Anvir also declined to give Mohammedan verbal assurance saying: "I told them that they could field the foreign players if the by-laws permitted them."

However the statement was over when BHF president Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman came down to the field to request Sajed to start the game within a few minutes as the chief guest Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith was on his way to the stadium.

The game got underway at 5:20pm with both captains taking part in the toss and moments later, Usha Krira Chakra protested fielding the Malaysian player.

Usha general secretary Abdur Rashid Shikdar convinced his boys to play under protest.

"We have already filed a complaint against Mohammedan for fielding an unregistered foreigner and the league committee will decide it," said Shikdar adding that they had played the final for the greater interest of the game and did not want to disappoint a 2000-strong crowd.

The match was an entertaining one for the 55 minutes of play when bad light brought an early finish to the game, that had a frantic pace about it from the very beginning. Usha started the match brightly and made a potent attack in the first minute while on the counter Mohammedan earned a penalty corner.

Those early attacks suggested it would be a game full of goals and it turned out to be so.

It took nine minutes for Usha to take the lead, with skipper Maksud Alam Habul deflecting a goal-ward shot from Krishna Kumar.

However it didn't take the Motijheel giants long to equalise. From Musa Mia's penalty corner, Mamunur Rahman Chayan slotted the ball at the back of the net. A few minutes later, Mohammedan took the lead through an opportunistic goal from Ariful Haque Prince. As Rajon's original shot was half-saved by the goalkeeper Mahbubullah, Prince pounced on it and pushed the ball home to make it 2-1.

But Usha were not to give in so easily as they came back in the game in the twentieth minute, courtesy of a penalty corner taken by Sheikh Mohammad Nannu, and converted by Mostafizur Rahman.

The see-saw nature of the game then took a vital turn as Mohammedan restored their lead with virtually the last shot of the half, ironically from their Malaysian recruit Chua Boon Huat who had been at the centre of controversy that surrounded the game. It was a beautiful field goal, as the Malaysian took a powerful reverse hit from inside the box after being set up by Sabbir Hossain.

After the breather, Usha stepped up the pace in search of another equaliser and they came close to scoring on two occasions. But against the tempo of the game, it was Mohammedan who scored on the 47th minute through Rahul Kanti Roy. It was probably the best goal of the match as Rahul deflected a fierce shot from outside the box from Chayan into the empty net. 

At 4-2, Mohammedan held the match and slowed the pace while the Usha players did all the running in fading light for the rest of the game, that was brought to an premature end 15 minutes from time. Mohammedan players ran into muted celebrations while the Usha players showed their sportsmanship to come out and take their fans' plaudits.

But it was hardly an ideal end to the beginning of a new season which was supposed to give local hockey a headstart after two lean seasons when clubs found very little activities on the field.

JUNAID TO COACH PAKISTAN

Former Olympian and coach Khwaja Junaid has been appointed as head coach of Pakistan team for the forthcoming Azlan Shah Cup in place of Shahid Ali Khan.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Executive Board has taken the decision in this connection when they met here today.

Though the PHF was struggling to find a foreign coach for the national team due to security problems in the region, it has decided to appoint Junaid for the time being since the Azlan Shah Cup is just round the corner.

The Executive Board has also decided on the other members of the national team management and on the management of national women’s team.

Shahid, in whose tenure Pakistan reached three finals of international tournaments in one year including the one played in France through which Pakistan qualified for the World Cup, was relieved from his post after Zeeshan Ashraf’s men finished last in the mega event in New Delhi.

The entire national team also resigned from the international hockey following the World Cup debacle. However, later they withdrew their resignations on the advise of PHF President Qasim Zia.

Captain Zeeshan Ashraf, however, is still sticking to his decision of retirement from international hockey but sources said that PHF secretary Asif Bajwa will try to convince Zeeshan to change his mind in a meeting in Karachi during the ongoing National Championship.

DISCARDS TO PLAY IN AUSTRIA, KUHAN IRKED AT SELECTION

The national coaches, have for some unknown reasons, opted to leave them out of the list of trainees for the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

But life goes on for Chua Boon Huat, Mohd Sallehin Abd Ghani and Mohd Rodhanizam Mat Radzi as they will depart to play in the Austrian league. Ironically another discard, S. Selvarajoo is plying his trade in the French League. However Sallehin's participation will only be confirmed should he get a release from his employers TNB.

So while these players are not appreciated here, clubs in Europe, though those who are not top hockey playing nations, have offered these players a chance to gain more experience and in the process improve their hockey in the next one month.

While the prerogative on selecting players for the national team is left to the coaches, looking at the list of players in the national team has raised several questions. To be fair to the coaches, I have not sought any clarification from them as I will be given the standard answer, talk to the MHF, who in turn will tell me to talk to the Manager, and fail to tell me which Manager to talk to, there you have it, the maze confuses you and me alike.

So coming back to the selection, if the coaches felt that they are building a team for the future, then how come the likes of Roslan Jamaluddin, Tajul Rosli,  Mohd Amin Rahim and Mohd Madzli Ikmar are still in the squad. And this is where former national skipper S. Kuhan is amused.

"If they wanted experienced players, then they should have re-called me as well. And players like Chua can still contribute towards our quest in making it to the London Olympics," said Kuhan.

"So really I cannot understand the rationale as the process of building a team to play in the Olympics should start now, and that means giving some youngsters more exposure over the next two years.

"We are know that automatic qualification via the Asian Games will be difficult so why not build a team over the next 20 months or so for the Olympic Qualifiers.

"If the senior players are being earmarked to play in the Commonwealth Games, then why not bring in Chua, Suhaimi (Ibrahim) and me as well so we can guide the younger players."

Another baffaling issue is the non consideration of Mohd Salehin who did not play the closing stages of the MHL due to injury and also skipped the Tun Razak Cup. If selection was based on the Razak Cup, then Jiwa Mohan too should have been left out. The fact that two injured players, Baljit Singh and Kelvinder Singh were considered leaves questions unanswered.

It is learnt that Tajol has yet to join the team in training due to an issue of los in income. Tajol falls under the category of players that did not win medals hance he will only receive RM500 as his monthly allowance while other players get RM1,5000 a month. This is  policy set by NSC and MHF has opted to follow it, but rightfully MHF should have their own scheme as exerienced players tend to lose out.

Other players that played well in the Razak Cup, in the likes of Imail Abu and Megat Azrafiq have also been given the cold shoulder by the coaches. No doubt there are factors attributing to why some players have been left out, but if it the match fixing allegation, then one of the players in the current team also should not be there. Unless its two different set of rules used, and that will not come as a surprise.

VAISAKHI GREETINGS

ROUND THE GARDEN

Remember the childs hymn, round and round the garden like a Teddy bear, one step two step.... and so it goes on.

Well that is the similiar case in trying to get an answer from the MHF, the national team manager and the chief coach when this blog asked yesterday on just who are the five players being called up to the national squad after the completion of the Tun Razak Cup.

I was told that a meeting was taking place and that the names will be released after that but nothing was revealed. The manager and coach said that the MHF will release the names.

And today when I sought the names from MHF, the answer I received was please ask the team manager.

So is it such a big secret that releasing the names could lead to a ruckus or may lead to them losing their posts?

I was told earlier that it was being professional not to release names before MHF was informed, guess it might need a visit to Tun Razak to see for yourself who was named, that is if the training venue is not a guarded secret as well.

POLITICIANS WITHIN MHF

Regardless of what business you are in - you are really in the business of satisfying customers. Overall satisfaction is a complex metric. Inside the mind of every consumer, there is interplay between the “rational”—or left side of the brain —and the “emotional”—or right side of the brain.

That also applies in sports, as the administrators have to satisfy their stakeholders and fans.

Not only do the players have to perform week in and week out, the management has to come up with ways to spur the players on. Hockey is no different like show business for those on the field are the actors while the managers and boardroom people are the directors or chirographers.

And the pitch is the stage while the fans, be it at the stadiums or on television is the audience. So the acronym, there is no business like show business is indeed applicable to hockey as well.

Sadly the actor syndrome in the Malaysian Hockey Federation is getting from bad to worse. The very fact that the Director General of the National Sports Council and his officers being taken for a ride by key personnel within MHF is a cause of conern.

MHF President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, rightfully said that it was not MHF who made the statement that Roelant Oltmans was hired to chart the fortunes of our hockey team was correct, at least that is what we are being led to believe.

Ampun Tuanku, it was your officials that attended the MHF-NSC Joint Committee Meeting that led the NSC DG and his men to believe that hiring of Oltmans was a foregone conclusion. And some were there when the NSC DG made the press statement, and none interjected to say that negotiations were still in progress.

So the NSC are being made to look like fools, by some officials from MHF who even went to the extent of trying to get Presidents of the affiliates to attend the last Council meeting instead of the normal bunch of personalities that are involved in the day to day running of the sport.

The reason being, they wanted to ensure that the decision of the Management Committee to appoint the coaches was endorsed and that the recommendations put forward by the Coaching Committee be defeated.

One state President told me of a phone call made by a key person within MHF to him asking him to attend the meeting and vote for the Management Committee. Another MHF official stands accused of a whispering campaign prior to the council meeting to endorse the decision of the Management Committee.

The very fact that it was a close call (8-7) shows that MHF is divided in the middle and that there are more actors within MHF then those actually doing work. Yes some may argue that the affiliates are deadwood, well if indeed they were then why lobby in the first place?

Now that Oltmans is not coming, will the MHF let us know what was the cost in trying to entice the Dutchman, including the cost of a delegation that went to New Delhi and the cost of flying the Dutchman to Malaysia last November?

In keeping up with the transparency slogan, an someone tell us, not the officials who were at the NSC/MHF meeting though as they stand accused of taking the NSC DG for a ride, what are the targets for Stephen van Huizen who was named as the Chief Coach by the MHF President as it was not discussed in the Council meeting?

Results matters in hockey, the same as in show business as when the turnstiles keep turning, money will keep coming in and with that the business enterprise grows. Ultimately, be it in business or in hockey it is the customer satisfaction that is important.

NO OLTMANS

The MHF Council was informed that Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans will not join Malaysia until 2012.

And his place as Chief Coach has now gone to Stephen van Huizen.

Also the issue of the Project 2013 coaching team was put to vote and K. Dharmaraj and team were voted in 8-7 over the recommendation of the Coaching Committee.

More updates on Monday.

NO JOKE

It was April Fools day yesterday but the info I gathered was no joking matter. Since MHF Council meets Saturday, let's look through what has been happening.

One official was said to have pocketed rental from shophouses owned by MHF and would have got away with six months rental had it not been for some alert officials .

Then there was a case of a manager pocketing money meant as allowances for the players.

Next is the story about two players who argued in a match when one of them scored a goal and was scolded by the other. And coaching staff aware of incident but never reported it in writing.

Also MHF will only employ Roelant Oltmans in January 2011 thus the plan to have him train the team for Asian Games scrapped for time being.

As an afterthought, MHF introduces the third/fourth placing for Division Two, a week after tournament commenced.

Talking about a week late, Razak Cup organisors chased out the only journalist from Secretariat room and told him to occupy another room which had poor Internet facility. And mind you the other room was used by coaches attending Level 3 course.

And finally Paul Lissek to embark on nationwide schools coaching clinics. While Ministry of Education is involved, they did not contribute a dime, all is the effort of MHF and NSC , yet expect a former NSC DG to take all the credit lah.

Mismanagent, abuse of power, fraud, and above all match fixing allegations rule the day.

Some are mere allegations but there is no smoke without a fire right?

WILL THE REAL CHIEF COACH PLEASE STAND UP?

The saga of Roelant Oltmans taking up the post as the Coach of the National Team will hopefully be answered this Saturday by the MHF President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

And it is no April Fools joke as I heard that there is a change of mid both from Oltmans and MHF and this deal wil probably not materialise. Well we shall leave that to MHF to decide as after all it is the MHF President who is sourcing for funds and to pay the Dutchman, not the public's money, as was the argument put forward by another association lately. So there you are, do what you think is best MHF.

But while all that is going on, we have the question of just who is the current Chief Coach of the National Hockey Team? We have two contrasting personalities, Stephen van Huizen and Tai Beng Hai.

While the MHF Coaching Committee and the MHF/NSC Joint Committee named Stephen as the Chief Coach, no formal announcement was made after the MHF Management Committee met and thus just who will lead the team in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup this May is debatable.

Some warlords do not want either of the two in the hot seat, opting to wait for Oltmans to turn up at KLIA and assume the position. Before I forget though, Oltmans is scheduled to come for the Azlan Shah Cup and evaluate ( funny the word keeps appearing frequently of late).

Beng Hai was the Chief Coach until the World Cup Qualifiers last November and was reportedly paid RM8,000. This figure was reviewed in January and is said to be receiving RM6,000. So that puts a question mark itself if Beng Hai is the Chief Coach.

As for Stephen, he shuttles between work and training as the release from CIMB has yet to be sorted out. Though his employers have released Stephen, there is the question of allowances and salary, something that MHF Deputy President Nur Azmi Ahmad was to sort out according to MHF sources. But true to form, Azmi has yet to do it as he was bus courting Oltmans in New Delhi.

So life goes on in MHF. 

All we want to know is who is the Chief Coach? So will the real chief coach please stand up (professionally).