MSSSC FOR MJHL?

The Malaysia-Singapore Sikhs Sports Council (MSSSC) 1Malaysia Youth Under-16 hockey camp was held at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh recently.

At hand to officiate the four-day national camp was Raja Ashman Shah Sultan Azlan Shah.

"The camp will see 100 youth of all races from every state undergoing basic hockey training with the objective to not only groom our youth with hockey skills, but also moral values, psychological and motivational skills as well," said MSSSC president Datuk Sohan Singh.

The other objective of the camp was to select players for the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League which starts on Jan 9.

The Sikhs have always produced sterling hockey players for the country with the likes of former skippers DSP Mohinder Singh and Sarjit Singh.

Currently, Kevinder Singh and Baljit Singh are in the national training side.

CHANGES IN MJHL

The MHF Competitions Committee or rather Org Committee for the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League met briefly today and amongst what the decided was :

- that the format will not be changed to zonal and will retain its previous format of competition with two divisions.

- new teams will automatically play in the lower division.

- a subsidy of RM3,000 provided by Milo be given to the participating teams.

- increase in prize money.

- only top 4 teams in Division One will be seeded for knockout and an open draw be conducted.

- that the closing date is January 6 and league to commence by January 19.

- league to end by March so as to give the National Juniors a month to prepare for the Asia Junior Cup which has now been brought forward to 3-13 May.

More updates later.

RAMALINGAM TROPHY

The Selangor Veterans Open Carnival (SVOC) as an indoor hockey tournament, will be held on January 28th, 2012 at the Real Sport Arena, Klang.  The chosen venue features a full spec indoor court with sideboards available and a taraflex surface which makes it easier and safer to play on.

The teams taking part in the SVOC will be battling it out for the K.Ramalingam Challenge Trophy. The late K.Ramalingam held various positions in Selangor Hockey Association (SHA) & Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) and  his last undertaking was the Honorary Secretary of SHA. He directly contributed to and helped sustain the hockey growth in Malaysian hockey especially for the state of Selangor. His skills and distinct ability on and off the field, coupled with his great personality made him a friend to all, especially in the hockey circle. The K.Ramalingam Trophy is SHA’s way of honoring him for his contributions to Hockey.

Teams interested in participating can contact Kuganeson Poologasingam, Vice President SHA 016-5517100, or visit the SHA official website (www.sha.com.my) for more information

WHY ARE WE SILENT?

Having read the todayonline.com, a Singapore news website, I am particularly disturbed to find out the following:

Financing is also a key issue which Annabel Pennefather, president of the Singapore Hockey Federation (SHF), hopes the MCYS and the SSC can help address.

"2012 could be a big year for us as we have been approached by the FIH (hockey's governing body) to host the launch event for their new initiative, the World Hockey League, which is set to be their new qualifying route for future World Cups and Olympics," said Pennefather.

According to Pennefather, the SHF are unable to commit to hosting the 12-team event (six each from men and women) scheduled for next August due to uncertainty in funding.

"We did ask the SSC for assistance and were told to expect the answer in February," she said.

"In the meantime, we have agreed to hold the Asian Hockey Federation Cup for women next year which will cost at least S$100,000, with the cost of hiring the Sengkang Hockey Stadium from the SSC taking up the bulk of the cost."

It is indeed shocking that MHF or now MHC did not bid for the event which would have been held right after the Olympics. And here we are fighting for a change in qualifying format when we could have been on the forefront for change besides repairing our image in the eyes of FIH, especially three months before the FIH Congress in Malaysia in October next year.

INDIA MATCHES OFF, FRENCH INSTEAD

Well, for a particular journalist of a Malays daily that always looks at this blog and then carries stories from the MHF perspective and labeling this blog as "kritik", here is some news for you as all you seem to do is pick up my stories and do not do work.

Apparently the national team matches against India scheduled for this February are off and instead the team will play matches against France instead from the 20 - 27 of January.

These matches will be played after the Malaysia v China series that are scheduled from January 12 onwards.

Since the Azlan Shah matches have been called off, the national team was facing a dearth of matches to prepare for the Olympic Qualifiers from March 10.

And with India unable to accommodate the matches in February, there is a possibility that Poland could well save the day as they have indicated that they will be able to play a couple of matches before they go for the India leg of the Olympic Qualifiers.

Now back to this journalist, it is fine for you to pick up info from this blog, but to keep on implying that this blog is a critic speaks the volumes of your inability to generate stories on your own accord. That belittles your newspapers as it indicates that it is now a mouthpiece of certain officials within MHF who are not able to maintain their own website hence take the liberty to blow their own trumpet.

SOON KOOI TAKES OVER PENANG HA

Former Olympian and World Cupper Ow Soon Kooi is now the President of the Penang Hockey Association.

His appointment into the position was ratified at the AGM of Penang HA on December 17, the same day that saw the demise of the Malaysian Hockey Federation.

Soon Kooi who is also an appointed independent member of the MHF, takes over the mantle of President from Dato Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad who stepped down in July following his work commitments as the Malaysian Ambassador to Philippines.

"I will likely decline the position of independent member should I be appointed for the MHC council," said Soon Kooi.

"This is to prevent others from perceiving that I may have vested or peculiar interest and wish to concentrate solely on Penang hockey.

" I have myself a term to improve hockey in Penang both in terms of performance and finances and hope that all involved will work alongside me."

Soon Kooi was a product of Penang Free School and while is soft spoken he never holds back from stating his opinion on issues that affect Malaysian hockey, especially during MHF Management Committee meetings.

While it will be a loss for MHF, the fact that Soon Kooi is now President of an affiliate will give him more voice to raise issues as opposed to him being told by an MHF official that his "appointed" position was just that, and could not raise the well being of hockey at meetings.

EXCITED ABOUT DUBLIN

There is so much at stake in Dublin come March 2012 and it's not solely the fortunes of the national team that is the topic of discussion here.

It is the Olympic Qualifiers and while the players in the training squad are justifying their place in the final 18, another big battle is shaping up outside the pitch.

For Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is contemplating taking some hockey officials on a junket for the qualifiers and already it is the talk of town, for the jostling for places has commenced.

To be honest, anyone worth their salt in saying that they love hockey and want to contribute towards hockey should pay out their own pocket to support the national team.

I have done so numerous times at my own expense, right from being at Invercargil for the World Cup qualifiers to the recent SEA Cup in Myanmar, not depending on the generosity of anyone to support my national side, and to report it from my perspective and not to please any quarters.

Coming back to this junket, before Tuanku gets the wrong idea, it is well within your right to take them to Dublin but in reality who should go seems to be the question.

Do you send deadwood who have not contributed and turn up for meetings just to agree with whatever is presented?

Do you send your office bearers who have obviously not delivered, some of whom who cannot even come for local competitions?

Do you send one person from every affiliate, meaning the likes of Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, Malacca, NS, Perak get two spots since some office bearers are from these states?

And what about the officials that are jostling to land that lucrative package to provide ticket and ground arrangements for the trip, making a quick buck or two from your coffers Tuanku?

And we claim that Malaysian hockey has improved, I agree totally, it has improved from the greed perspective.

There is this former Malaysian official Arul Selvaraj who coaches Ireland and maybe it's best Tuanku get someone to get in touch with him to sort out accommodation at a cost effective manner for the trip.

After all Arul is one of the few Malaysians who are supportive of the work I do in promoting and providing ideas for the betterment of hockey. And he was kind enough to offer me a place to stay in his humble home in Dublin for the qualifiers.

The same goes for George Brink in Johannesburg who offered me accommodation for the Champions Challenge II but I could ill afford the fare.

So while the battle rages on for a place on the place to Dublin, all I can say is Tuanku you have a big heart but let's hope it's not taken advantage of.

Merry Xmas everyone...