SOJC NETS RM1.7M SPONSORSHIP

The Sultan Of Johor Cup is one of the most sought after tournaments at junior level and it has received international acclaim since its inception in 2011.

 

With it gaining reputation the 4th edition of the tournament, which will run from Oct 12-19, has received RM 1,710,000 in sponsorship to date

 

The sponsorship pledges were handed over today to the Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim together in the presence of Malaysian Hockey Confederation President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Johor Menteri Besar Dato Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin at its official launch.

 

Johor Hockey Association Deputy President, Manjit Majid Abdullah said “The status of the tournament has been increasing yearly and many teams are eager to participate in this tournament, but we have limited the entry to only six teams as we want the tournament to be played at the highest possible standard,”

 

India will be back to defend their title, alongside debutants Great Britain, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and Malaysia.

 

The SOJC stands as the platform for the under 21 teams around the globe to showcase their talent once a year and most of the teams use the tournament as part of their preparation for the coming Junior World Cup.

 

As for the Asian countries, the SOJC will play an important part in their road towards preparing for the 2015 Junior Asia Cup which will be held in Kuantan next year as it serves as a qualifier for the 2016 Junior World Cup in India.

 

“This tournament was developed to help the junior squad and as part ofpreparation heading towards a big event such as the Junior Asia Cup and Junior World Cup, as they need to have quality matches to see where they stand and this is the best place for the youngsters to showcase their talent and prove their worth,”.

 

Without a doubt the first three years of tournament proved to be fruitful for the Malaysian junior squad as they went on to finish fourth at last year Junior World Cup in India.

 

With most teams looking forward to the 2016 Junior World Cup, the 4thedition of the SOJC will be their first real test to see where they stand.

 

Sponsors:

 

Kerajaan Negeri Johor : RM 500,000,00

Astaka Padu: RM 200,000,00

JBB Builder: RM 100,000,00

Astro: 50,000,00

UniKL: RM 40,000,00

DRB Hicom: RM 50,000,00

Majlis Sukan Negara: RM 100,000,00

Angkatan Tentera Malaysia: RM 10,000,00

Genting Berhad: 50,000,00

UM Land: 100,000,00

Khazanah Nasional Berhad: RM 100,000,00

Iskandar Waterfront Sdn Bhd: RM 100,000,00

Atlan Holdings Berhad: RM 50,000,00

Tenaga Nasional Berhad: RM 100,000,00

SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd: RM 50,000,00

BCB Berhad: RM 10,000,00

Johor Corporation: RM 100,000,00

JUNIORS BELFAST BOUND

Seven games in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 14 – 27 September will prove to be the first test for our national junior squad before they go up against the big guns in the 4th edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup in October.

 

National Juniors team manager Mirnawan Nawawi said that the matches in Ireland will be the platform for the players to perform and prove themselves and from there they will narrow the team down to 18 players which will go on to do battle in the SOJC.

 

“We don’t have enough time on out hands to prepare the squad for the SOJC as the boys were busy with the Division One of he Malaysian Hockey League early this year and the recent Razak Cup. As such the seven games that we have arranged in Belfast will be vital for the coaches and players,”

 

The seven matches scheduled in Belfast are against teams that feature in their local national league and the final 18 players who will represent Malaysia at the SOJC will then be named on September 27.

 

However, Mirnawan made it clear that there is no specific target set for the team this time around as the squad was only formed last April.

 

“We do not want to place any pressure on the players for this tournament as it will only be their first tournament together as a team.

 

“The main aim is to go out there and do their best in each and every matchand from there we can work our way up,” said Mirnawan.

 

Since the inception of the SOJC in 2011, Malaysia emerged as champions at the inaugural edition, but in 2012 they finished at the bottom of the pack before finishing as runners up last year.

 

Mirnawan expects three of his experienced players Meor Azuan Muhamad Hasan (19), Muhammad Shahril Saabah (19), and Muhammad Haziq Samsul (20) who were in the 2013 Junior World Cup squad to help steer the team to success.

 

“I am sure their presence will play an important role,”

 

‘Currently, Meor and Shahril is with the national squad who are preparing for the Asian Games while Haziq will return to the Junior squad after being axed from the Asian team squad.

 

The junior squad will resume full training in September.

 

CONGRATS KEVINDER

Former Internationql Kevinder Singh was " handcuffed" for life after the Travers Policestation Inspector tied the knot in Sqturday. And on Sunday at a grand dinner many from the hockey fraternity were at hand at the gala finer hosted by Kevinder.

TM PAHANG DECLINES RENOMINATION FOR MHC PRESIDENCY

Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah dropped a bombshell when he announced that he will not seek re-election as MHC President after his term expires this October.

But he will still seek election into the post of AHF President on August 31, citing moving to a bigger ship instead of abandoning a sinking ship.

He also dispelled suggestions that approaches have been made tp a Johor royalty to tale his place in MHC.

See the video to decide for yourself...

AMBITIOUS MALAYSIANS

Ambitious. That is the best way to describe the efforts of a large number of Malaysian Hockey Confederation officials who are vying for positions in the Asian Hockey Confederation.

The AHF elections are scheduled for August 31 in Kuala Lumpur.

The MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah will be vying for the post of President. He is expected to be challenged by Pakistan"s Qasim Zia who is also on the FIH Executive Board.

Dato Nur Azmi Ahmad will contest the Vice President position. There are four posts up for grabs but one is reserved for a lady.

The front runners for the VP position is Berikzay Seksembav of Kazakhstan and Thailand's Chaiyapak Siriwat. But it is learnt that India's Narinder Bhatra will not seek re-election and neither will Japan's M.Ueda due to the age regulation of 70 being imposed.

While another strong contender will come from the East Asian region comprising of Japan, China and South Korea .

A total of five Vice Presidents will be elected.

Prof Dr.S. Shamala, Manjit Majid and Dato Abd Rahim Md Arif are three candidates who are eying a seat on the AHF council. Shamsla and Rahim are incumbents in the 12 member elected council.

The irony is that most of the Malaysian candidates hardly have done anything for the betterment of hockey in the country but that has not stopped them from trying to eye a bigger role in Asian Hockey.

Perak has not held their AGM for the past four years and thus Rahim should spend time sorting out the mess in his state rather then going for another term.

Azmi should have opted for a council seat as there is a pact between some of the incumbents and thus Shamala would be a better candidate as she could win easily the women's vice presidents eat.

KOSHY QUITS AS KLHA PRESIDENT

Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association were dealt a bitter blow as their president George Koshy resigned yesterday.

Having served the association for six years as President, the decision by Koshy comes in wake of the MHC Council decision to replace him as the team manager to the Asian Games in September.

Koshy when contacted confirmed the fact that he has decided to step down as the KLHA president.

"My work commitments has been increasing and I cannot find enough time to devote to my duties as President of KLHA," said Koshy.

"I had already informed the KLHA numerous times that I do not intend to seek re-election in the forthcoming AGM which is scheduled for early next year.

"This will give KLHA time to find someone else to take over the mantle."

When asked if his decision had anything to do with the MHC decision to replace him as the national team manager, Koshy had this to say.

"Not at all for they have taken a load of my shoulder by naming another manager.

"I had my up's and downs with the national team which I managed since 2009, enjoyed every moment and am  so damn happy we finally made the World Cup, which a small step to moving back to the mainstream of the hockey world but guess making  to the Olympics during my term was not meant to be .

"I wish them well in the forthcoming Asian Games."

While Koshy would not say it, the fact was obvious that the man who provided a new dimension In managing hockey teams was not even told prior to him being replaced as national team manager for the Asian Games.

The KLHA council who are expected to meet next Monday are said to be bent on rejecting the resignation.

But Koshy is adamant that he wants to leave.

"My time is up and let someone else take KL hockey to greater heights," were the parting words of Koshy.

WHAT A SHAM MHC

In what can be labelled a conspiracy made in hell, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation decided to replace their national hockey team coach just 40 days before the Asian Games.

And in an about turn, the gold medal target, so strongly advocated in the past has now been reduced to a [lace in the final of the Asian Games, something that will not make a difference as on;y the gold medal winner makes it to the 2016 Olympics.

MHC named Arul Selvaraj as the head, given powers to pick his own assistants while Tai Beng Hai was named as the manager, thus casting a doubt on the future of George Koshy as well.

Listen to the full press conference and decide if Malaysian Hockey heads for a free fall as answers are evasive.

DUTCH STINT IS ON

While crynics continue with their barrage of criticism of the national hockey team, life goes on for them in their preparation for the Asian Games.

A total of 25 players are expected to leave for Holland on August 11 for a three week training stint and will return to Malaysia on September 2.

The plan is to have these players train and play some competence matches to prepare them for the Asiad where gold is the target and a place in the 2016 Rio Olympics that cones with it.

" As of today we are still proceeding with the plan for the three week training camp in Holland," said team manager George Koshy.

"We received approval in principle last month from both the MHC and NSC and proceeded by finalizing the arrangementsfor it .

"Unless otherwise advised, we hope to name the players by the end of the week as they will be the ones fighting for a place for the final squad for the Asian Games."

The team will be based at HC ijsseloever in ijsselstein during the three weeks in Holland.

With the Razak Cup scheduled for August 15 to 24, those named will not be able to represent their respective states.

THE NATION YEARNS FOR CHUA

It was today a year  ago that fate dealt Malaysian hockey a bitter blow as Marcus Chua Boon Huat died tragically in a road accident.

His death sent shockwaves, with many still being unable to come to terms that the life of a person, loved by so many was snatched away all of a sudden.

While the family has tried to overcome the loss of their loved one, Malaysian hockey has somewhat struggled to fill the shows of the pony tailed smiling Chinese boy that hailed from Malacca.

Chua had a mission, and that was to see Malaysia play in the World Cup, and although he was not there in The Hague last May, there is no doubt that Chua played a vital role in ensuring Malaysia play their first World Cup since 1998 on merit.

Chua gave his all when on the pitch, never one to pull punches, and if only the current batch of national players can for a moment stop and reflecy on how the famous Number 3 conducted himself on the pitch, will they play their hearts out.

Chua had a tattoo “Living The Dream” inscribed on his arm but today Malaysian hockey is “Living in the dreams”.

Ask any hockey fan, player or official, they all have kind words to say about Chua, and he deserved every accolade that was showered upon him as he left the world to be with his creator.

There is an important lesson that all connected with Malaysian hockey can learn from Chua, for he was one person that never gave up or threw the towel no matter how impossible the task looked.

Chua was left out of the national team for reasons best known to some but he strived to prove critics wong, never begrudged anyone as he worked hard on the pitch doing what he did best, let his hockey do the talking.

And Chua was instrumental in the national team that finished fifth in the World League in June last year in Johor Baru that eventually paved the way for Malaysia to play in the 2014 World Cup.

Today Malaysian hockey is divided with many factions, all pulling in the opposite direction, with personalities [utting their self interest over the nations.

Chua is probably looking at all that is transpiring from God’s home, shaking his head in disbelief that what was a smooth ride a year ago has now ended tragically.

{ersonally I miss Chua, for his death coming weeks after I lost my Mum last year created a big vacuum in my life, for Chua was someone who would call and seekadvice on what to do when put in a situation.

Chua, there is one humble request from all of us to you, put in a good word to the almighty for Malaysian hockey needs divine intervention since you are notaround personally to help us be back on the right track.

Rest in peace brother, we all miss you.