With FIH not agreeing to the joint administration of hockey in India, by Indian Hockey Federation and Hockey India, it opens up an opportunity for Malaysia to host the Olympic Qualifiers next February.
This comes about after FIH made a statement yesterday with regards to the joint administration and one para of the press release should send pulses racing within the MHF, that is if they can seize the moment.
" The FIH Executive Board is obliged to uphold the Olympic Charter and the FIH Statutes. The FIH President has therefore written to the Indian Sports Minister, calling for an urgent meeting, involving the Presidents of HI and the IOA, to discuss the FIH’s concerns and the ramifications of the current proposal for India’s role in world hockey. In the meantime, the FIH Executive Board has decided that it is neither possible nor appropriate to continue with the discussions with HI to host tournaments in India over the next 4 year cycle, particularly the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy (December 2011), and the FIH Men’s & Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (February 2012)."
Simply put, it means that FIH may take away the hosting rights for the two tournaments - Champions Trophy and Olympic Qualifiers.
Hence MHF should play it's cards right by stepping up to offer to play hosts for the Qualifiers.
But then again we too have issues with FIH that have to be resolved. The fact that our own merger has been delayed, or rather MHF sought a delay from September to December this year will not help our cause.
But more of that later as MHC has been issued a letter by FIH which they have yet to make public.
And by this December I will have to change the headings - no more MHF and MWHA but just MHC.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
CONTRASTING COSTS
The MHF and it's 1MAS program both have websites that are hardly updated.
But that is not the issue here as from the copy of audited accounts for last year handed to me, the MHF website cost RM4,500 to develop and design while the 1MAS website cost RM12,000.
So why the vast difference in cost? Care to answer that Chairman of 1 MAS Task Force or MHF Development Committee.
Also minutes of the 1 MAS Task Force meeting presented at the MHF Management Committee in June stated that a person was being paid to maintain or in other words provide content for the website. But all we see is one article of the Under 16 and nothing from the camp held in Seremban where select media were invited.
But then again who cares right as it's government money.
Stay tuned on the medical plight of a national player that had to pay his hospital bills on his own and wait months to be reimbursed while MHF staff get reimbursed the same month.
But that is not the issue here as from the copy of audited accounts for last year handed to me, the MHF website cost RM4,500 to develop and design while the 1MAS website cost RM12,000.
So why the vast difference in cost? Care to answer that Chairman of 1 MAS Task Force or MHF Development Committee.
Also minutes of the 1 MAS Task Force meeting presented at the MHF Management Committee in June stated that a person was being paid to maintain or in other words provide content for the website. But all we see is one article of the Under 16 and nothing from the camp held in Seremban where select media were invited.
But then again who cares right as it's government money.
Stay tuned on the medical plight of a national player that had to pay his hospital bills on his own and wait months to be reimbursed while MHF staff get reimbursed the same month.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
PAHANG, KL MAKE RAZAK CUP FINAL
National player Mohd Amin Rahim atoned for his penalty stroke miss to score the winning goal to steer Kuala Lumpur into the final of the Division One when they edged Terengganu 2-1 in the semis played at the MPMBB Stadium in Bukit Serindit this evening.
And joining them in the final are Pahang who showed clinical finishing to defeat Armed Forces 3-1 in the other semifinal.
The two teams last played in a final in 1997 where KL defeated Pahang. And in between the posts at that time was Izwan Suhardi Selamat who is the coach of the Pahang team.
For KL, their last defeat in the final was against Perak in 1998 and this will be their 22nd time playing in the final. And they only lost three out of the 21 finals.
And joining them in the final are Pahang who showed clinical finishing to defeat Armed Forces 3-1 in the other semifinal.
The two teams last played in a final in 1997 where KL defeated Pahang. And in between the posts at that time was Izwan Suhardi Selamat who is the coach of the Pahang team.
For KL, their last defeat in the final was against Perak in 1998 and this will be their 22nd time playing in the final. And they only lost three out of the 21 finals.
KL were awarded a penalty stroke in the 28th minute, at a timr when Terengganu were already 1-0 up, thanks to a goal by Mohd Faisal Saari who scored from a penalty corner.
But Amin's attempt was weak and easily saved by Terengganu custodian Mohd Hafizuddin.
It was Amin's first penalty stroke miss since 2006 where he missed the stroke in the penalty shootout of the MHL final against E&Y.
It was Amin's first penalty stroke miss since 2006 where he missed the stroke in the penalty shootout of the MHL final against E&Y.
But that did not dampen the spirit of the defending champions as they were on level terms in the 32nd minute through Nabil Fiqri Mohd Nor, who broke through on the right and set a reverse stick attempt sailing into goal.
But KL were already safely through as Terengganu failed to trouble the city defence where Baljit Singh, Amin and Mohd Razie Andul Rahim were rock steady.
For Pahang, their experienced players in the likes of Ismail Abu, Mohd Sallehin Abdul Ghani, and Ahmad Kazamirul Nasaruddin made the difference against a hard working Forces side that lack technical skills.
Pahang opened scoring in the 9th minute through Kazamirul who converted a penalty corner. They doubled their advantage in the 17th minute through Mohd Hafiz Zainol. But Hafiz will sit out of the final after picking up a green card late in the game and has now collected eight demerit points thus being suspended for one match.
Armed Forces reduced the deficit in the 28th minute through Ahmad Ridzwan Zainal Abidin off a penalty corner.
But Pahang sealed their place with a goal in the 58th minute Mohd Aminuddin Abu.
For Pahang, their experienced players in the likes of Ismail Abu, Mohd Sallehin Abdul Ghani, and Ahmad Kazamirul Nasaruddin made the difference against a hard working Forces side that lack technical skills.
Pahang opened scoring in the 9th minute through Kazamirul who converted a penalty corner. They doubled their advantage in the 17th minute through Mohd Hafiz Zainol. But Hafiz will sit out of the final after picking up a green card late in the game and has now collected eight demerit points thus being suspended for one match.
Armed Forces reduced the deficit in the 28th minute through Ahmad Ridzwan Zainal Abidin off a penalty corner.
But Pahang sealed their place with a goal in the 58th minute Mohd Aminuddin Abu.
SELANGOR, NS QUALIFY FOR DIVISION TWO FINAL
Selangor qualified for the final of the Division Two for the Tun Razak Cup when they defeated Kedah at the MPMBB Stadium in Bukit Serindit.
And they will be up against Negeri Sembilan who edged Perlis 3-2 in the other semi final.
And they will be up against Negeri Sembilan who edged Perlis 3-2 in the other semi final.
Mohd Redza Maadun opened scoring for Selangor in the 4th minute and he doubled their lead in the 43rd minute.
Kedah pulled a goal back in the 55th minute through Mohd Zakaria Kamaruzaman but a potential fightback was snuffed when Faridzul Afiq Mohamad scored the third goal in the 68th minute to take Selangor into the final.
Perlis went ahead in the 8th minute when Mohd Izzat Ghazali converted a penalty corner. But Negeri were on level terms in the 17th minute when M. Rageshwaran scored.
It was Perlis that went 2-1 ahead in the 46th minute, again through a penalty corner when Mohamad Najmi Farizal Jazlan.
But Negri hit a purple match midway through the second half as they scored two goals within two minutes.
First it was Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam who drew Negeri level when he scored from a penalty corner in the 54th minute. And hardly had the cheers settled down when Azraie Mohd Azizan scored. And NS held on to make it to the final.
Perlis went ahead in the 8th minute when Mohd Izzat Ghazali converted a penalty corner. But Negeri were on level terms in the 17th minute when M. Rageshwaran scored.
It was Perlis that went 2-1 ahead in the 46th minute, again through a penalty corner when Mohamad Najmi Farizal Jazlan.
But Negri hit a purple match midway through the second half as they scored two goals within two minutes.
First it was Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam who drew Negeri level when he scored from a penalty corner in the 54th minute. And hardly had the cheers settled down when Azraie Mohd Azizan scored. And NS held on to make it to the final.
MALACCA WOODEN SPOONISTS IN DIVISION ONE
Hosts Malacca ended up last in the First Division of the Razak Cup being held at the MPMBB Stadium in Bukit Serindit.
From being touted as potential champions, to finish last must surely be a bitter pill for the state HA, especially so when Malacca finished as southern zone champions.
Malacca took the lead in the 12th minute through Dedy Ariyadi Jumaidi but Johor were on level terms in the 47th minute through Faez Hilmi Jali.
Johor took the lead in the 64th minute via Baljit Singh who converted a penalty corner but Malacca were awarded a penalty stroke two minute later which Dedy duly converted.
Just when the match was headed towards extra time, Baljit struck through another penalty corner in the 68th minute to give Johor a 3-2 win.
In the match to decide 5/6th placing, Perak went on a rampage to inflict a 11-3 trashing.
Hafifihafiz Hanafi scored four goals ( 41st, 44th, 65, 70th minutes), with Amir Farid Ahmad Puzi netting a brace (4th & 18th minutes) as did Mohd Haziq Samsul (7th & 22nd minutes). The other goalscorers were Mohd Sabri Mohamed (33rd minute),Mohd Rasyid Mohd Hazar (38th minute) and Shazul Imran Nazli (55th minute).
Penang got their goals through Muhammad Redzhawan Jaafar (21st minute) and Azli Misron (45th & 63rd minutes).
In the second division, Sarawak finished at the bottom when they lost 1-0 to Projek 2017 while Sabah ended in the sixth spot after defeating Kelantan 6-1.
CLASSIFICATION RESULTS
DIVISION ONE
7th & 8th Placing
Johor 3 Malacca 2
5 & 6th Placing
Perak 11 Penang 3
DIVISION TWO
7th & 8th Placing
Projek 2017 1 Sarawak 0
5th & 6th Placing
Sabah 6 Kelantan 1
Monday, July 25, 2011
AN ENCOUNTER WITH TBH IN MALACCA
It was an interesting debate with Tai Beng Hai when our paths crossed in Malacca and stay tuned today as I will share it with followers of this blog. Things were pretty heated at one stage and one thing is certain though, the pressure of delivering an Olympic berth is getting to TBH.
Suffice to say that while he is entitled to his opinion, I stand by mine, that is the squad of the current 25 national players does not comprise of the best hockey talent in the country, there is no such thing as meritocracy be in careers, studies or sports in the country.
Engaging with media has never been TBH strong points as evident in the encounter at Bukit Serindit. But I have given him the benefit of doubt before he tries to reason when our paths cross.
But in this case you got it wrong TBH.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
PERAK OUTCLASS HOSTS MALACCA
Perak put themselves back in the running for a place in the semi finals of the Division One when they defeated hosts Malacca 4-1 at the MPMBB Stadium Bukit Serindit in Malacca.
Still smarting from their 4-2 defeat at the hands of Terengganu the previous day, Perak turned on their power to score three goals in the second half to out a dent the aspirations of Malacca, who now have to defeat Terengganu in their final preliminary round match on Tuesday.
Perak have three points while Malacca have one point, courtesy of their 2-2 draw against Pahang on Saturday night.
And all eyes will be on the final match of the day where Pahang take on Terengganu in the east coast derby. A win for Terengganu will assure them of a spot with Perak, Malacca and Pahang battling it out for the final berth.
Perak opened scoring in the 3rd minute through Hafifihafiz Hanafi and held on to the lead until the 44th minute when Khairul Nizam Mohd Rani equalised.
But that goal awoke Perak from their slumber and in the 53rd minute Hafifihafiz was on target once again to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Two goals by Mohammad Sabri Mohamed in the 62nd and 68th minutes, both via penalty corners gave Perak all three points and made the task of Malacca to qualify almost impossible.
"We played much better then we did against Pahang but I suppose that late match took the toll on the players as we collapsed in the final stages of the match," said Malacca coach K. Balakrishnan.
"It will be difficult to make the semis looking at our current position but so as long as we have a chance we will give it our best shot.
"Perak played well today and deserve the three points but we created enough chances midway through the match but failed to capitalise.
Perak opened scoring in the 3rd minute through Hafifihafiz Hanafi and held on to the lead until the 44th minute when Khairul Nizam Mohd Rani equalised.
But that goal awoke Perak from their slumber and in the 53rd minute Hafifihafiz was on target once again to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Two goals by Mohammad Sabri Mohamed in the 62nd and 68th minutes, both via penalty corners gave Perak all three points and made the task of Malacca to qualify almost impossible.
"We played much better then we did against Pahang but I suppose that late match took the toll on the players as we collapsed in the final stages of the match," said Malacca coach K. Balakrishnan.
"It will be difficult to make the semis looking at our current position but so as long as we have a chance we will give it our best shot.
"Perak played well today and deserve the three points but we created enough chances midway through the match but failed to capitalise.
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