PENNY WISE POUND FOOLISH

That will be the correct phrase to describe the antics of national hockkey coach Tai beng hai and his merry men in the coaching and administrative set up.

For his decision not to let Faisal saari and Firhan Ashaari play for the Project 2013 side in the forthcoming inaugural Sultan of Johor Cup is downright silly and aimed at protecting his own interest rather then the nation.

Let us just flashback to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year. The coach then was Stephen van Huizen ( who is current the National Team Coaching Co-ordinator). Almost the first team was sent to compete at the Commonwealth Games and some two weeks later left to play in the Asian Games where they finished with a silver medal.

And forward to the situation today that Beng Hai is in. He contends that the players will not be prepared to play in the Champions Challenge in South Africa that commences on November 26. And for the record the national team leaves on November 20 for Johannesburg and will play two friendly matches against South Africa and India leading up to the tournament.

So the argument of conditioning and state of preparedness Mr. Tai is thrown out of the window.

In a meeting held on September 26 at the NSC, the Project 2013 squads request to have Faisal play at least three matches in the tournament was flatly denied by Beng Hai. And the situation is getting abd as now Firhan is also denied a release to play.

Now while Beng Hai has been given a top 5 target, the Project 2013 squad have been given a top two target by the MHF or rather MHC President.

But does the President or was he made to be aware that the best players will not be at Johor Baru representing the juniors? So how is it that you set a top four finish at the Asian Champions Trophy when we were ranked second at the Asian Games but now chose to set a much higher target for a team taht is being handicapped by none other then Beng Hai?

Are the two teams supposed to work alongside and not sabotage the attempts of the other? Is that not what it is supposed to be.

On top of that some have claimed that they "Found", "discovered" Faisal Saari. But records show otherwise.

KIWIS OPT FOR YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE

NZ: YOUTH PLUS EXPERIENCE

(Alex Shaw)

New Zealand will be sending a team of experience and youth for the inaugural Sultan Johor cup Six Nation Tournament that gets underway on the 5th of November at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru.

In sharing his thoughts about the team with this website, Darren Smith, the assistant coach of the New Zealand senior side, who was the coach of the UniKL side in the 2010 MHL, paid tribute to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation for their foresight in hosting such an event.

 

Read more..www.sultanjohorcup.com.my

SEA CUP

While there have been media reports on the participation of the Project 2013 Squad for the SEA Cup in Myanmar this December, MHF Deputy President Dato Nur Azmi Ahmad seems to be perplexed as to who made that decision.

This is because Azmi , who chairs the National Team Management Committee, said they have never discussed anything pertaining to the participation of the Project 2013 Squad for the Sea Cup.

" Who decided on this? I do not remember it being discussed at the National Team Management Committee nor at the MHF Management Committee or Council," said Azmi.

" Really I am in no position to answer anything on the Sea Cup as it was never brought up for discussion."

With that curt reply, it gives rise to who actually makes decisions in MHF as the participation of a team for international tournaments is no laughing matter.

The Project 2013 Squad will be participating in the Sultan Johor Cup Six Nation Invitational from November 5 to 12 and have had their fair share of tournaments and exposure this year with playing tours of Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain and England as well as a 4 Nation Tournament in Russia.

And MHF ought to form a B team and send them for the SEA Cup rather then just utilize the Project Squad as a stop gap measure as the team has an important task - the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca next May that serves as a qualifier for the Junior World Cup in India in 2013.

KLHC ARE CHAMPS

KLHC FIGHTBACK TO LIFT TROPHY

It lived up to the billing of an epic final as KL Hockey Club cameback from the dead to defeat Tenaga Nasional Berhad 3-2 in a titanic clash at the National Hockey Stadium.

It looked as if KLHC were dead and buried after being down 0-2 in the opening ten minutes but it was the last ten minutes turned the tide for the defending champions.

 

Read more..www.tnbmhl.com.my

SAPURA FINISH THIRD

SAPURA TAKE THIRD SPOT

Sapura finished third in the TNB Cup when they defeated Maybank 3-0 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The win not only gave them third spot but also RM30,000 in prize money while Maybank pocketed RM20,000.

 

Read more..www.tnbmhl.com.my

KLHC,TNB FINAL

KLHC, TNB FINAL

Defending champions KL Hockey Club will take on Tenaga Nasional Berhad in the TNB Cup final this Sunday at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

While KLHC defeated Maybank 5-2 for an overall aggregate win of 11-3, TNB edged Sapura 4-3 in the second leg for a 9-6 aggregate win. Sapura and Maybank will square off against each other in the match to decide 3rd placing.

 

Read more...www.tnbmhl.com.my

KLHC, TNB HOLD THE EDGE

TNB HOLD THE EDGE

Tenaga Nasional Berhad defeated Sapura 5-3 in the first leg semi final of the TNB Cup at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. And they really should have sewn up the tie after having taken a 4-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the match.

 

Read more..www.tnbmhl.com.my

KLHC HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE FINAL

Defending champions KL Hockey Club virtually have one foot in the final of the TNB Cup when they defeated Maybank 6-1 in the first leg of the semifinals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil this evening.

It was a commanding performance by KLHC who scored two goals in the first half before unleashing their fury by finding the back of the net four times in the second half.

 

Read more..www.tnbmhl.com.my