Friday, February 28, 2014

UNIKL STRUGGLE


UniKL Young Guns were stretched to the limit before carving out a crucial 3-2 win over Politeknik KPM in the first leg quarterfinal match of the Milo Cup at the National Hockey Stadium at Bukit Jalil.
In was another poor performance by the title pretenders whose chief coach Arul Selvaraj being embroiled in a player pinching controversy. (read www.jugjet.blogspot.com).
Read more at www.mjhl.com.my

OLAK CREATE UPSET



Olak-PKT and SSTMI Thunderbolts have one foot in the semis finals of the Milo Cup after convincing wins over their opponents in the first leg quarterfinals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Olak-PKT caused a major upset by sending Malacca High School to a shock 4-1 defeat while Thunderbolts who won the Division One title showed their class by hammering MS Pahang Juniors 8-0.

www.mjhl.com.my

TNBMHL - TEN FOR MEN, NINE FOR WOMEN

The new season of TNBMHL will see 10 teams in the revamped Division One with nine teams signing up for the inaugural women's hockey league.

Read: www.tnbmhl.com.my

LIFE IS SO FAIR

I am compelled to write this after certain quarters had implied that I lost out on the media jobs for the Azlan Shah Cup and the Champions Challenge 1.

For the Azlan Shah Cup it was clear that I will no longer be given the task after certain personalities had requested that I mark up the price and give them a cut last year, I refused obviously.

And matters were made worst when the Secretary of Perak HA had called me one night and in a mocking manner remarked, your mother died, ha ha ha. My mum was critical and passed away three days later.

But what hurst me the most was that a friend of 30 years stabbed me in my back and took the contract. But that's what greed does.

As for the Champions Challenge, I withdrew my proposal after the Hon Secretary of MHC, who did not sit in for the presentation by two companies, had voted against me.

It was evident that FairPlay was not being practiced hence I wrote an email to withdraw right away.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

AS ORGANISORS SLEEP ON

Hockey Australia has today announced the 18-athlete Kookaburras squad that will compete at next month’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. The announcement came on the same day that the 2014 men's national senior

Read more...wwww.azlanshahcup.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

MALA FIDE

That term, in the heading, means bad faith.

And that is how best to describe the attempt to field the Project 2016 ( formerly 2017) squad into the new look TNBMHL Division One.

A press conference has been called by the National Team Management Committee who will meet at noon Thursday to legitimize the entry of the team into the MHL Division One.

Let's make one thing VERY clear - I have no quarrel for the Juniors to play in the TNBMHL Division One. But it is the manner in which it's being done that destroys the sanctity of the sport.

On February 11 at the Royale Chulan, the coach Arul Selvaraj emphasizes fast tracking when presenting the plan of the Juniors to the MHC Executive Board.

The entire press corp present heard the plans as the microphone was on and the over excited coach was speaking on the top of his voice, often interrupted by manager Mirnawan Nawawi.

They made several requests, but let's confine ourselves to the three - that the Junior players be barred from playing in Division One, that the team play in the Tim Razak Cup and that they play as a team in the MHL Premier League.

Despite a suggestion by Competitions Chairman M. Gobinathan that the players train together but be allowed to play for the clubs, he received a mutes response from the rest and the decision stood, hence the juniors management got their wish.

But barely three days later talk started that the juniors now wanted to play in Division One itself, a league they wanted their players to be barred from.

Right from January the officials were given ample time to prepare their plan and they had even presented it to the Sports Minister in a private session with the MHC President.

And as the team manager remarks oldies in the way of progress, why are you copying and idea that was implemented in 1989, is that not old?

Since you raise as to why teams then did not object to the Juniors playing as a team in the MHL in 1989, that decision was taken in 1988, giving clubs a whole year to soften the blow, not acting in Mala Fide - if we cannot have them so can't you.

A decision made by the Executive Board cannot be overturned by a mere sub committee so stick with what has been decided, keep the juniors out, let the team management of the juniors have them.

And if the players opt for playing in the league for their employers, then so be it, as they too have to put their rice bowl ahead of everything else at times.

I must give credit to former juniors coach K.Dharmaraj and his team of coaching staff for they never once disrupted the domestic competitions and allowed their players to grow up within their natural habitat.

Dharma went on to produce a team that finished top four and he proved that players ought to be let free and not curtailed as what is being proposed.

Let's not talk national interest when personal interest needs to be set aside first.

And please respect the rules and regulations if you opt to insult elders.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

THANK YOU ANARUL

When DAto Anarul first assumed the position as the Treasurer of the then Malaysian Hockey Federation, I must admit that I was apprehensive about his ability to run hockey finances.

Not because of his qualification but rather the hockey politics that comes as part and parcel of the job.

A two hour coffee session with him at Mahkota Hotel in Malacca during the sidelines of the Junior Asia Cup showed me that this man was prepared to listen, judge people and above all do justice, a trait absent in many that come to power or positions.

Anarul has stepped down as Treasurer, sans the absence of a formal announcement by MHC, the dates are murky.

He tried his best, within the limitations, to run the finances and many affiliates probably are aggrieved as subsidies have been outstanding since October last year. But to be fair to the man he cannot be held responsible and never was he one to promise the moon as he was aware of the various limitations his position provides.

There is no doubt his sincerity will be missed, his professionalism irreplaceable and above all his friendly disposition , a key factor in maintaining the relations with the hockey fraternity stick out like a sore thumb in the coming months.

Thank you for your services sir, hope you succeed in life and above everything else thank you for being fair till the last day.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

PAKISTAN OUT, REDUCED TO B GRADE EVENT

The 23rd edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is fast becoming a sham no thanks to poor planning by the Organising Committee.

The latest low came about when Pakistan withdrew from the seven team event by notifying the Malaysian Hockey Confederation who kept the news to themselves until NewStraits Times journalist Jugjet Singh managed to get the official word from the national body late Saturday.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

FAREWELL REVS



Some 50 friends of hockey turned up at the Olympic Hotel to honour outgoing national hockey coach Paul Revington who quit the post last month.

Amongst those who were present were Olympic Council of Malaysia Secretary Dato Sieh Kok Chi, former Malaysian Hockey Federation Secretaries Dato G. Vijaynathan, T. Paramalingam and Hashim Mohd Yusof.

Also marking their presence were former internationals Dato Ow Soon Kooi, S. kuhan, Mirnawan Nawawi and I. Vikneswaran. Also present was former national coach C. Paramalingam and a host of officials from Selangor Hockey Association Secretary P. Kuganeson.

Also present were MHC senior Vice President S. Shamala and Vice President M. Gobinathan as well MNCF Deputy President Dato Naim Mohammad.

The farewell was initiated by a fan, Masidayau Mazlan who followed up a tweet by hockey website www.malaysianhockey.com.my.

" I am touched by this gesture and really it has touched me and my wife Sandy immensely. For that we are grateful. Some of those present here are total strangers and we appreciate their support," said Revington.

" It has been a memorable stay here and we will never forget this country as Sandy will deliver twins early next months. Hence it's truly amazing."

WOMENS HOCKEY LEAGUE SET TO MAKE DEBUT


The Malaysian Hockey Confederation Competitions Committee is recommending the introduction of a national women's hockey league, similar to the men's version which was introduced in 1987.

This is a step in the right direction to boost women's hockey and Competitions Committee chairman M.Gobinathan will table the proposal at the MHC Executive Board meeting this Tuesday for endorsement.

Currently the men have the Premier Division, Division One at senior level as well as the Junior hockey league to cater for the Under 19's.

Some eight to ten teams are expected to participate in the tournament with institutions of higher learning such as Uitm, UPM UPNM as well as states like Malacca and Terengganu showing early interest.

"We hope there will be a good response for the inaugural league and I call upon the states and clubs to participate," said Gobinathan.

"For the first year we will have the matches in Klang Valley and may played at selected out station venues so as to cut traveling costs.

"With Sukma round the corner, this league will be a perfect platform for states to expose their squads as well."

Gobinathan said that in order to make it a level playing field, each team will only be allowed to field five national players at any one time.

"It means if they have more then five national players in the team, only five can take the field at a given time," added Gobinathan.

The women's league will be played simultaneously with the Division One of the Malaysian Hockey League, commencing from March 16 till mid May.

While teams in the women's league will be allowed to field two foreign players, that will not be the case for the men where it is confined to local players.

In addition those in the national men's hockey squad as of 1 March will not be allowed to play in the Division One.

The Premier Division of the MHL will be held from October to December after the national teams commitments in the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games are over.

UM, UPM TAKE GOLD

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A goal by national junior skipper Mohd Fitri Saari gave University Malaysia the gold medal in the men’s hockey competition for  the Institutions of Higher Learning Games (Sukipt) at the Ministry of Education Stadium in Pantai.

University Malaya defeated Politeknik Johor Baru 1-0 in a tightly contested match.

Earlier in the match to determine the bronze, UiTM defeated UNIZA 2-0 with goals from Meor Muhammad Azuan Hassan and Ahmad Iqwan Shah Harun.

In the girl’s final, Universiti Putra Malaysia, represented by a host of national players took gold, defeating Universiti Teknoloji Malaysia 3-0 in the final.

Siti Noor Amarina Ruhani opened scoring in the 4th minute before Noo Hasliza Mohd Ali scored a brace in the 12th and 19th minutes to give them the gold.

UiTM took the bronze, defeating UPSI 2-0 with goals courtesy of Nur farah Syahira Md Yusof and Areena Abdullah.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

REVINGTONS FAREWELL ATTENDANCE LIST UPDATED

The following have confirmed their attendance at the Hi Tea Farewell Function for former national coach Paul Revington.

Please be at Olyic Hotel before 3pm this Saturday Feb 8, and please pay at the door for those who have yet to do so.

The list is officially closed as of 10pm Thursday Feb 6,

Dato Naim Mohamad MNCF Deputy President MNCF
Dato G. Vijaynathan Ex MHF Secretary
Dato Sieh Kok Chi - OCM Secretary
Dato Ow Soon Kooi - Penang HA President
Prof S Shamala - MHC Senior Vice President
M. Gobinathan - MHC Vice President
Satish Kumar - Kedah HA President
Mirnawan Nawawi - Former International
Farah Hashim -  MHC Asst Secretary
Jiwa Mohan - Nat Women Asst Coach
Ernawati - Nat Women Asst Coach
Chitra Devi - Nat Women Team Manager
Mohd Nasihin Nubli - Nat Women Team Coach
Mrs Subramanian - Hockey Fan
P. Kuganeson - SHA Secretary
Gurdip S Mann - Merican Hockey
K. Ananthavalr - Selangor HA
P. Balamuraly - Selangor HA
S.Selvakumaran - Selangor HA
Surjit Singh- Selangor HA
Alam Shah - Selangor HA
Shaiful Nizam - Selangor HA
Bala - Selangor HA
T.Paramalingam - Former MHF Secretary 
Malarwani - Former International
Ramaguru - The Star
Aftar Singh - The Star
Allan Netto - Grays
Jugjet Singh - NST
Zazali Jamian - Utusan
Nor Bazly Azmi - Astro Arena
K. Rajan - Former International
Zafrul Mokhtar - Astro Arena
Kuhan S - Former International
Rubini A - Hockey Fan
Satwant Singh
Masidayu Mazlan - Hockey Fan
Asan Ahmad - Sports Editor Kosmo
Hashim Mohd Yusof - Former MHF Secretary/MHC Competitions Exec
Tony Maridass - Sports Editor Malay Mail
Vijay Vick - Malay Mail
Azri Haidar - Team Malaysia FC
Mirza Afiq - Team Malaysia FC
Ramanieswaran - Former Int Umpire
M.Kaliswaran - Former International
C. Paramalingam - Former Nat Coach
Jusvir Singh - NSHA Asst Secretary
Saipul - TV 3 Sports
Lee Hui Seng - Chairman FAMEMAS
TV 3 Crew
TV 3 Crew
S.Chandran -NS Coach 
Zuhaily - Kosmo Sports 
Hilmie Hussain - HMetro Malacca
Nur Fatin Elissa - Hockey Fan
Mohd Faez Daud - Hockey Fan
I. Vikneswaran - Former International

MJHL MATCH CHANGES

The MHC has as usual made changes to the fixtures of the MILO Junior Hockey League:

Pertukaran Jadual Perlawanan MJHL 2014 seperti maklumat berikut :

Match No.  Tempat    Masa                   Pasukan
1)  60         NHS 2     1700                   UNIKL YOUNG GUNS VS SSTMI JRS
2)  68         NHS 2     1700                   UNIKL YOUNGGUNS  VS  SSTMI THUNDERBOLTS

Kedua-dua perlawanan tersebut akan mendapat liputan siaran langsung oleh pihak RTM.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

REVINGTONS FAREWELL


Having had several requests, and with the consent of Paul Revington, a get together to bid farewell to Revington and at the same time pay tribute to his contribution to Malaysia Hockey, a Hi-Tea will be held as follows:

Date: 8th February 2014
Time: 3pm
Venue: Olympic Hotel, Jalan Hang Jebat
Cost: RM20.00 per pax

All thise who want to attend can email me by Wednesday, 5th February (satwant_dhaliwal@yahoo.com) and places are limited. Each person attending needs to contribute towards the event and even members of the Media have committed towards paying their contribution.

Let's give Revington a memorable afternoon.