National defender Baljit Singh Charun Singh has quit Tenaga Nasional Berhad and will don the coours of rivals UniKL in the forthcoming Malaysian Hockey League that is expected to commence on December 3.
Baljit, touted as one off the best penalty corner first runners, is expected to sign on the dotted line today together with another TNB player, S. Selvarajoo. Though the exit of Selvarajoo, who has been at odds with some officials in TNB was expected, the departure of Baljit will be felt by the defending overall champions.
The movement of players is expected to continue but most surprising was the omission of UniKL coach I. Vikneswaran who is said to have been replaced by a coach from New Zealand. Also making their way into the UniKL team will be two Kiwi players, said to be in KL at the moment with the NZ squad that is playing matches with the Malaysian side.
In addition to those two players, UniKL has been on a recruitment drive of late and a German player is also reportedly on their payroll together with some current internationals. Thus the whole objective of UniKL as a platform to develop the future of Malaysian hockey seems to have been thrown out of the window.
Vikneswaran is now coaching Sapura. whose initial target was Bala from Malacca but has been denied the opportunity to coach Sapura due to his involvement with the 1 Mas Program.
And Negri Sembilan, who have yet to finalise their composition of team, are said to have lured some KLHC players as well as are in the process of signing six players from India. NSHA Vice President M. Gobinathan was evasive when asked who the players were, opting to name just the goalkeeper, Adrian, and despite promising he will revert with the other names has yet to do so when this article is being written.
Expect the musical chairs scenario to continue over the next month or so when the teams will have to submit the registration of players.
