Exciting matches in knockout draw

There were several interesting match up's when the draw for the knockout tournament of the MHL was conducted today.

The 16 teams competing in the Premier and Division One leagues were placed in an open draw.

The plum tie must surely be the clash between KL Hockey Club and Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

KLHC are a traditional power house while TNB were the losing finalists of the inaugural knockout tournament this year.

Another interesting match up is between two league champions, Terengganu HT who won the Premier League and TNB Thunderbolts who lifted the Division One title.

UniKL is expected to have a tough time against fellow Premier League side Uitm who have been boosted by several players who used to don the Sapura jerseys in the past.

PDRM who are making a return to the MHL will take on Bukit Jalil Sports School while another all Division One tie will see Johor squaring up against SSTMI.

RMAF will play Petaling Jaya CC in another all Division One clash while Maybank play UPM.

All matches are slated for  Friday January 6.

With the unavailability of the KLHA and KPM Stadium to play night matches due to poor lighting, matches at these two venues will be played at 1600H and 1800H.

Hockey News Updates

Have not been writing of late Nor due to any fear of anyone except God.

Rather I lost my right eye through an infection on the right cornea that caused a scar on the cornea. This was the same eye I did a cornea transplant a year ago but rejection took place only part week.

Well another visit to the operation room in 2 weeks time, pocket permitting.

Back to Hockey news that matters, so will pen some updates that matter and are factual.

1. Terengganu HT has withdrawn their team from Division zone of the MHL thus only 8 teams remain. Reasons for withdrawal unknown.

1. Team managers meeting and fixtures of MHL will be released on December 29, as will the draw for the knockout tournament.

1. Premier league matches will be played on Wednesday,Friday, Sunday's with Division One on Thursday and Saturday. Oddly Premier League on home and away but Division One will be played one round league.

1. PDRM not allowed to field their employees who are national players , but employer ruling has been in place since League started in 1987. What will happen to 2 national players if PDRM decides not to release them for any other club? They are expected to commission out in early February.

1. Will THT be fined for withdrawing after closing date? Regulations used to impose 3 year ban but no action was taken against THT women who are back this year after withdrawing lady tear after closing of entries.

1. why were UITM allowed to join premier league without submitting the list of players to show they have the required standards to compete? THT was forced to do this many years ago.

1. Tournament officials of last MHL yet to be paid their claims despite next league about to commence.

1. KLHA stadium said to he not fit to accommodate night matches for the forthcoming MHL.

1. When will national team train as World League is in March? A clarification is needed as preparation can be affected and team should be priority.

1. Will there be any increase in prize money for the MHL? That was the promise that MHL will be re-branded and seen in a different light.

1. Just how many matches of the MHL will be telecast live as Badminton has virtually all its league matches beamed live to our living rooms. There was a significant increase last season and we pray for more.

1. With KLHA Stadium being used by at least 4 teams ( KLHC, UniKL, TNB and Thunderbolts) a meeting with City Hall should be initiated to improve the facilities at this venue.

1. After 4 years the National Infoor Championships was held in Johor last weekend but there was hardly any publicity. Also missing were the two challenge trophies presented by Al Mahrum Sultan Azlan Shah named the Raja Ashman and Tengku Bainun trophy. ATM and Malacca won the event held in Ipoh in 2012 and even the outgoing FIH President was present. So where and we're the trophies not utilised?

We are all here to help the sport, to improve things, always ready to help if asked.

Unlike some who hold on to positions for fame and power yet hardly contribute.

Malaysia in to Junior World Cup

Malaysia invited to participate in the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup Men, Lucknow 2016 

Malaysia invited to participate in the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup Men, Lucknow 2016 

Malaysia invited to replace Pakistan

Pakistan’s invitation withdrawn after failure to meet deadlines

Action taken due to commitments to event partners

28 November 2016: Earlier today the International Hockey Federation (FIH) invited the Malaysian junior men’s team to take part in the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup Men, Lucknow 2016, being held in India from 8 to 18 December. The late invitation came after FIH had to officially withdraw Pakistan's invitation to the event.

Sapura out of MHL?

After 16 years of participation in the Malaysian Hockey League, Sapura has decided to stay out of the competition in 2017.

Sapura won the newly introduced knock out tournament this season and had an array of former and present internationals in their line up.

There was talk in the Hockey circles for the past week that Sapura might pull the plug on their participation in the MHL.

But it was eventually confirmed today, the day entries closed for the MHL.

" Sapura has withdrawn," was what MHC Competition Chairman and Deputy President said when contacted,

" MHC was informed of the decision of Sapura's withdrawal today," added Koshy.

The MHL had 6 teams in the Premier Division - KL Hockey Club, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Terengganu Hockey Team, Maybank , UniKKL and Sapura.

The league was to commence in the first week of January.

However with Thunderbolts moving up from Division One, at least 6 teams will see participation in the top division.

The status of SSTMI which also was promoted but appealed to remain in Division One remains unclear as it was promotions was made mandatory and known to all teams at the start of last season.

NSHA Honours Greats

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A total of 11 ex players and administrators will be inducted into the Negeri Sembilan Hockey Association Hall of Fame this Saturday.

This is the second consecutive year NSHA has honoured those who had served the state in Hockey following the inaugural event held last year.

Three Hockey stalwarts, namely Lawrence van Huizen, William Fidelis and Satwant Singh Dhaliwal were the Pioneer group that were honoured last year.

They will now be joined by 1975 World Cup players N. Palanisamy and Brian Sta Maria, the skipper of the 1977 Razak Cup winning squad Michael Yan, double international , Hockey and athletics, Savitri Ovinis, former NS Women Hockey Secretary Parkiam Lingam,  former coach Harbhajan Singh and umpire R. Subramaniam.

Also honoured  are three officials who have passed away - S. Satgunam who was the secretary of NSHA and MHF as well as double international  M. Joseph ( Hockey and Football) and  former goalkeepers coach and Olympian 

Peter van Huizen.

A match featuring ex players representing Palanisamy XI and Michael XI will be held at 4.30pm.

" This is our way or remembering and honouring those who served unselfishly towards the sport both for the country and state," said NSHA Vice President M. Gobinathan.

"We started this last year and hope to extend this further over the years to come.

" We need to revive the glory years of Negeri Hockey and what better way then to pick up pointers from these greats.

" Negri Hockey has a rich tradition and has produces players and officials that sent on to achieve great things for the sport."

Some 200 ex players and officials are expected to attend the event that will commence at 3pm at the Seremban 2 Hockey Stadium.

" It will also serve as a walk down memory lane for many and rekindle old friendships," added Gobi.

" Nothing can describe the looks on the faces of the stalwarts of Negri Hockey as they discuss their exploits on and on the Hockey pitch."

Gobi hoped that those who had served Negri would join the ceremony this Saturday to Honour those inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Those keen to join can contact NSHA Secretary P. Tamil Selvam at 019-365

Revised U14 Fixtures after Terengganu women team withdraws

National Under 14 Fixtures

Below are the fixtures of the national Under 14 that many had requested as it has yet to be made public via main stream media.