HAVE A GOOD LAUGH

Since the MHC does not bother providing results and is not too concerned that all but only one paper has carried any news on the Razak Cup, let us provide you with the results today but you need to put on your thinking caps to crack the riddle.

The team of the ex deputy president, despite having 13 players only and registered 15 did enough though to inflict defeat in the law enforces 5-2.

Then the team that has a player that the MHC MHL Technical Committee suspended defeated the team of the close confidant of the MHC President 3-1.

Here is an easy one, the home state of the President defeated the team of the axed MHF treasurer 4-1.

The match between two states run by the opposition, both whom have no turfs now saw the old kingpins winning 10-0.

Oh yes here is another one, a team that has the Pasar Malam assistant manager of the SEA Cup defeated the permanent hosts of the veteran tourney 3-2.

There you go, I have provided news about Razak Cup in good faith.

PROUD TO BE MALAYSIAN

Malaysia gained independence in 1957, free from the shackles of the colonists. But when at the Razak Cup, I was told all kind of stories by team officials, that the Tournament Director insisted on following regulations of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on everything with regards to the tournament.

It is clear that enforcing the regulations seem to be a question of demanding respect rather then trying to earn it through mutual understanding and the spirit ofworking together, ironing out issues through discussions rather then enforcing regulations as if they are etched in stone.

Such is the sad state of affairs of the Razak Cup that Perak had 11 players on the pitch and only three on the reserves bench, supposedly due to convocation. But these are things that could be adjusted rather then putting states in a fix.

But before we move further, Malacca and Perlis should have been rightfully be thrown out of the Razak Cup as they had failed to submit their team lists at the managers meeting which in accordance with the domestic and FIH regulations is the last forum to submit the final team list. Perlis stated that they were not informed on the date/time of the said managers meeting, hence they only sent in their list late Saturday night. And Malacca only submitted their team list late Sunday evening, after the tournament got underway, but yet saw it fit to release national trainee Chua Boon Huat earlier vide a letter of release.

So much for FIH regulations.

Next we have the issue of advertising and the inside goal backboards. The FIH regulations state that "backboards must be of a predominantly dark colour, Advertisiong markings must not be of the same colour as the ball. Now the backboards are blue in colour, the same colour as the pitch in Kuantan and at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup last May, the Tournament Director made it very clear that the boards cannot be blue. Then there is patchwork of the sponsors logo on the backboards, making it look akin to a pasar malam stall.

So much for FIH regulations.

Next is the issue of release letters and this gets better as the Tourtnament Director is also the Deputy President of the Armed Forces Hockey Association stated at the Team Managers meeting that six players representing Kelantan had not secured release letters from the ATM to represent Kelantan. Yet the players were allowed to play.

So much for FIH regulations.

Then we come to players wearing tights as teams were not allowed the flexibility of wearing black as was the rule in the recently concluded Malaysian Hockey League. Though some officials pleadedfor exemption from the first game, being a Sunday it was not easy to get replacement tights, the Tournament Director refused to compromise.

So much for FIH regulations.

Looking at the registration forms submitted by the teams, one will be forgiven that they are at a "kampung" level tournament as many states did not submit their registration with the prescribed forms sent out by the MHC. But the fault lies more with MHC as they have two staff in Kuantan yet they did not deem it fit to key in the names into a standard type form so that it will look neat and in accordance with the FIH level advocated by the Tournament Director.

So much for FIH regulations.

The Tournament Director insists that the registration numbers ( in other words the jersey numbers) be limited to 1-18 for the Razak Cup. But in the FIH regulations it is clearly stated that registration numbers is from 1-32.

So much for FIH regulations.

There is one main sponsor for the Tun Razak Cup, who contributed RM150,000 in cash and another RM15,000 in kind. Yet another sponsor is given prominence and the beauty of it is that Pahang HA who are rightfully the organisors of the Razak Cup were not given the responsibility of putting up the advertising banners as the MHC saw it fit to give the responsibility of producing and putting up the advertising banners to a company associated with the other sponsor. And ironically the advert of MILO was removed.

So much for the ability of MHC.

Oh yes, if you were hoping for the results of the matches, as to who scored and who won, sorry but that information was not provided by the Tournament Director to the Medai Room. And why bother right since there was a Media Consultant appointed, in the words of the MHC Secretary Tuan Haji Mohd Johari Aziz and it is they that are to provide such services to the media and fans.

So much for the ability of MHC.

QUALIFY FOR OLYMPICS OR I WILL QUIT

Malaysian Hockey Confederation President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has thrown a challenge, that Malaysia makes it to the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympics or he shall vacate his position.

He made this statement when launching the seminar Five Year Strategic Plan for Pahang Hockey in Kuantan this morning.

“Compared to football, hockey has a far better chance of making it to the Olympics, hence my optimism,” said Tengku Abdullah.

“Therefore I have given myself the 2016 Olympics as the key performance index to gauge my contribution to the sport. I have faith that hockey will make it to the Olympics, hence I will vacate my post if Malaysia does not make it.

“I must emphasise that hockey will surely be back at the Olympics, maybe not during my tenure but one day Malaysia will be playing at the Olympics.”

Tengku Abdullah however remained cautious in the recall of several ex-internationals into the national team as revealed by nely appointed national coach Paul Revington.

“Personally as President, I would have preferred younger players to be included into the national team, but the decision is left to the coach,” said Tengku Abdullah.

“But the coach has his KPI and may be looking at both the short and long term targets, as we have the Asia Cup next year and will provide a spot for the 2014 World Cup.

“I hope that the players that have been given a second lease will work hard towards helping achieve the targets set.”

The one-day seminar on Pahang Hockey is earmarked to ensure that the state will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come. A total of 70 participants attended the seminar from the nine districts.

A podium finish of within 3-5 years has been earmarked with all teams, from the Under 14, 16,21, Razak Cup, Junior Hockey League and Malaysian Hockey League to win gold in 2017.

One of the key factors in the development plan is to ensure that district and state leagues are held in order to identify players that will go on to don Pahang colours in national tournaments.

“I do hope that affiliates of the MHC will also look towards holding such seminars and coming out with long term development programs,” added Tengku Abdullah.

“In Pahang I expect each district to produce at least one national player and that will ensure the continued contribution of Pahang towards the national agenda.”

WHAT A MESS

Having just got off the phone with three hockey journalists, I can only conclude that the Malaysian Hockey Confederation could not care less about the 50th Tun Abdul Razak Cup that commences in Kuantan tomorrow ( Sunday October 14).

For the journalists have not been provided with the fixtures of the tournament despite one of them even going to the extent of making a call to a top MHC official requesting for a copy.

Perhaps they are too engrossed in finding ways and means in trying to stop this blog from providing news on the Tun Razak Cup, which I believe is probably the longest lasting hockey tournament in the world.

Imagine if the MHC cannot even do simple things as providing information for media as so far as a domestic tournament is concerned, then how will they manage the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Congress that Malaysia is to host early November?

It is sad that scant respect is being paid to a Premier tourney that is held annually in honour of our second Prime Minister who is the father of the current Prime Minister.

Thousands will be spent for the MHC AGM in Kuantan on October 20, and you can bet on it that all will be there in their best clothing, in trying to impress HRH Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah the President of MHC.

But where were these personalities, the principal office bearers number a total of 22, and the breakdown is as follows: President, Deputy President , 2 Senior Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Asst Secretary and Asst Treasurer, 4 Independent Members during the Malaysian Hockey League?

The only ones that were there were the Secretary, his Assistant, Senior VP S.Shamala.

Senior Vice President Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad, Vice Presidents K.Maheswari and M. Gobinathan as well as Treasurer Dato Anarul made it for the TNB and Presidents Cup Final I must add.

Back to the Razak Cup, with the event being played in the home state of the MHC President, one would have expected better from MHC since the Tournament Director saw it fit that he be appointed in June itself.

The state of affairs is appalling and the media are rightfully slighted due to lack of information trickling out from those who hold the reins of power.

A simple piece of advice, ship out since its clear you cannot shape up.

Ha ha ha

First it was bad enough that the Tun Razak Cup fixtures were poorly drawn up. And this fact was highlighted by this blog two days ago. That obviously has riled up some people who are now going at great lengths to ensure this blog is curtailed.

Instead of trying to rectify the mistakes, the great Tournament Director is now seeking ways to ensure that this blogger does not get access to provide coverage for the Razak Cup.

Sometimes I wonder if this personality realizes that what is spoken will ultimately comeback to me, and that goes on to show his mentality towards the sport.

Firstly TD, you have to understand that we live in a country that gained independence 55 years ago and it was through sheer hard work of our forefathers, and as such there is such a thing as a freedom of speech. If you cannot accept anyone being critical, then please leave. No one held you to ransom to do this job and infact your fought tooth and nail to ensure you were appointed, that too I believe at a meeting that did not have the necessary quorum.

The Razak Cup is in its 50th edition and ask anyone, except yourself, there has never been a need for accreditation, unless of course you now OWN the Razak Cup.

Secondly if you are so good, then why is it that NO fixtures have been circulated to the media and not even one article has appeared in any print media until Friday, 11th October?

Thirdly, it takes a coward to try attempt the truth from being told and your attempt to introduce accreditation, or at least attempting to do so speaks volumes of ignorance to the fact that hockey is losing out to other sports and your vain attempt will make no difference to me.

My challenge is simple, go ahead and stop me from entering the stadium when I am in Kuantan this Sunday. You have just stirred a hornets nest and be prepared to face the consequences.

Ha ha ha

First it was bad enough that the Tun Razak Cup fixtures were poorly drawn up. And this fact was highlighted by this blog two days ago. That obviously has riled up some people who are now going at great lengths to ensure this blog is curtailed.

Instead of trying to rectify the mistakes, the great Tournament Director is now seeking ways to ensure that this blogger does not get access to provide coverage for the Razak Cup.

Sometimes I wonder if this personality realizes that what is spoken will ultimately comeback to me, and that goes on to show his mentality towards the sport.

Firstly TD, you have to understand that we live in a country that gained independence 55 years ago and it was through sheer hard work of our forefathers, and as such there is such a thing as a freedom of speech. If you cannot accept anyone being critical, then please leave. No one held you to ransom to do this job and infact your fought tooth and nail to ensure you were appointed, that too I believe at a meeting that did not have the necessary quorum.

The Razak Cup is in its 50th edition and ask anyone, except yourself, there has never been a need for accreditation, unless of course you now OWN the Razak Cup.

Secondly if you are so good, then why is it that NO fixtures have been circulated to the media and not even one article has appeared in any print media until Friday, 11th October?

Thirdly, it takes a coward to try attempt the truth from being told and your attempt to introduce accreditation, or at least attempting to do so speaks volumes of ignorance to the fact that hockey is losing out to other sports and your vain attempt will make no difference to me.

My challenge is simple, go ahead and stop me from entering the stadium when I am in Kuantan this Sunday. You have just stirred a hornets nest and be prepared to face the consequences.

STOP HARASSING JOURNALISTS

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) calls on the National Sports Council and national sports associations to stop intimidating sports writers by sending legal notice for publishing unfavourable
reports about them.

The reporters, just like journalists operating in other beats, are carrying out their public duties to serve their audience, be it readers, viewers or listeners.

They carry public interest stories as the development of sports are closely followed by the young and old.

The government allocates funds to develop and promote sports events and journalists have the right to expose wrong doings and mismanagement.

The NUJ believe sports writers and their media organisations subscribe to fair reporting which includes giving aggrieved parties the right to reply.

The practice of sending notice of demand to critical sports writers tantamount to intimidating them from pursuing investigative reporting.

We assure sports writers that the NUJ will spring into action, including defend their right to carry out their duties free from harassment.

Our call is in response to two former Malay Mail reporters who have been issued letters of demand by the NSC for stories published last year and this year.

One of the reports is a subject matter in court now.

We have also received feedbacks that reporters occasionally received legal notices but the aggrieved parties did not pursue further like filing legal suits.

Thank you.

V. Anbalagan
Secretary
National Union of Journalists