It was injustice to leave Hockey out of the Podium Project launched in Tuesday.
The decision makers obviously do not understand the difficulties that the sport has to undergo in order to maintain its status as world level, looking only as the non performance in the past year as the yardstick to determine its omission from the multi million ringgit program.
When we decide on something, it is imperative to take a look at the past in order to learn and without history, we are nothing.
Some Athletes named in the Progran are beyond their shelf-live yet are included, with hopes is delivering gold at the Asian or CommonwealthGames.
Failure to win at Asian level does not mean that Hockey is not good enough, that is a fact that no foreign Consultants can deny, if they understand what Hockey has to endure to make it to the TOP.
Let's now state the case why Hockey should be in the program and I for one dare debate with any official of the Podium Project to justify their inclusion.
Hockey has played in the Olynpics since 1956, they made the 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1992, 1996 and 2000 editions of the Olynpics.
Hockey has featured in the 1973, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1998, 2002 and 2014 World Cups and this was done via merit and not invites or participation as the case of other sports.
At Junior level Malaysia were 4th in the 1978, 1982 and 2013 editions of the Junior World Cups.
Hockey has also delivered at Asian level, winning silver at the 2010 Asian Games, besides a host of bronze medals at the regional games.
So when it comes to deliver, Malaysia have done it, not that they are losers as the case of some sports which was developed by the country but even failed at SEA Games level.
The players of the 2013 Junior Word Cup squad form the core of the current national team and although they failed to make it to Rio, it was not because they were not good enough but we're not given the support to achieve it through a tough qualification process.
One has to remember that whe. Planning the 1998 CommonwealthGames team, the national side was give. All the support under the Jaya 98 Program and won a silver. They had played 52 international matches over sic months to prepare. And players were sent to play in overseas leagues to improve their ability.
Hockey as the 2017 Asia Cup, 2018 World Cup, Asian Games and CommonwealthGames to prepare for Abd they need the support to achieve a podium finish which I believe they are capable of.
The players need to be fiver the right motivation and that can come from setting the correct KPI for the team, and not by leaving them out.
You do not leave then out from a program and expect them to do well on their own, you have to provide them with a pathway towards aciuevibg the u possible as same may say.
Include Hockey in the program, set targets for them - a third place finish at the Azlan Shah Cup, a final spot at the Asian Chanpions Trophy, surely that is not asking too much Minister.
Give Hockey a level playing field and not punish them for the failures, help them and not leave the sport I. The lurch, only then we can claim we have sport excellence as our priority.
Let's not punish the current players for deeds or misdeeds of others, the sport has tremendous potential, so give them the support.
We have to take one step back in order to take two steps forward and let's sit down and debate this and not punish a sport just because of some characters that destroy the sport.
Hockey has and will deliver, it's a question of having faith in them.
So let's include Hockey, set then targets and help then a hive it, only the. We can safely say we have changed Malaysian sports, not by punishing then for something behind their control.
I have faith in Hockey, do I hear the same from your officials Niboster?
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
