Major shake-up?

First it was the resignation shocker by Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) secretary Maninderjit Singh, now national coach Tai Beng Hai and other national set-up coaches Nor Saiful Zaini and Stephen van Huizen are likely to be shown the door.

However, legality questions have been raised whether Coaching Committee's 'discussion' later today (Thursday) can carry any weight.

First of all there is no committee, despite having an appointed chairman in Majid Manjit Abdullah, as it has yet to be endorsed by the MHC council. The previous committee of the now-defunct MHF can't merely assume role.

Manjit, who was very accommodating, was quick to clear the air that only a 'discussion' can take place and not a meeting, They will forward findings to MHC President Tengku Abdullah Shah.

But even, if there was a committee already in place all it can do is forward a recommendation to the President and it is up to the council to decide. Hence, it is a meaningless meeting as appears in today's Mailsport.

incoming (L) Chiow Chuan and outgoing Beng Hai

pic taken from www.fieldhockey.com

Anyway speculation is rife that Beng Hai, Saiful, and van Huizen will be told find new jobs with Under-16 coach and 1Mas programme director Lim Chiow Chuan coming in as interim coach.

No doubt Beng Hai has to go - he doesn't even was to speak to the press as seen here after the national team failed in their last bid to qualify for Olympics.

Beng Hai had offered his resignation after the failure.

But to replace him with Chiow Chuan? Putting aside credentials, how would he juggle between junior development and senior team? Surely seeing juniors should be his priority.

Perhaps, MHC should stick with the current coaches until Olympics end and scout for a coach then. Some foreign coaches might be looking for jobs. 

pic taken from www.malaysianhockey.blogspot.com

Mike oh Mike! when will you answer your phone or even return a call or text?

News of his resignation was first flashed in Malaysian Hockey and unsurprisingly Mike was unobtainable to comment - since covering hockey September last year never have I been able to speak to him over the phone. It's either voice mail or just no answer.

I have nothing personal but a secretary of any body, association or federation should return calls at least. How else would an association disseminate news and comment on matters?

Schools not relied on anymore

Soon we all may have to say "Rest in Peace" to school sports.

It's no longer taken serious and conducted for the sake of it. It used to be the breeding grown for future national athletes but not anymore. 

National Sports Associations cannot rely on schools anymore and will have to produce their talent on their own.

"The school meets do not work. They have defeated the purpose of producing talent because too many compromises have been made," said  Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) secretary Maninderjit Singh.

He was referring to the on-going national schools hockey meet.

Not only is the quality of play pathetic, KL has not has their zone and State level yet.

Read Schools are a bane in today's Mailsport.

Hockey doomed!

Yes, that's right!

If the current format of the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) and Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is continued then the sport's following will just dwindle down - not that it hasn't yet.

Currently both leagues are decided over just a single round of matches instead of the 'home' and 'away' format that it used to be.

Consequences are that it finishes too soon and players do not get to play over a prolonged period of time.

Mailsport features a wrap-up to the just concluded MJHL season - barely 2 months since it kicked off.

Extra play time is needed to make us where we once were - among the big guns of hockey.

Granted, that this was done to allow the National team enough time to prepare for their challenges but what about the players who do not make it into the national set-up? - well they will just have to sit around and wait for a chance to shine.

It should be like football where there are breaks in between the league to cater for the national team.

Former captain to call it quits?

by Vijhay Vick

H: HOCKEY:

KUALA LUMPUR
SAPURA coach I.Vikneswaran wants S.Kuhan to remain in the game for atleast another year despite not being at the top of his game during the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) couple of months backs.

It is believed the Sapura skipper is toying with the idea of retiring to pave way for the younger generation to lead Sapura's future challenges.

"He still has so much to offer to the game. Of course he is not the player he used to be but he cannot be judged on last season's performance.

"But he will have to work harder than he played last year, that's for sure," said Vikneswaran.

Last season, Sapura started their campaign with an ill-prepared Kuhan. The 34-year-old had only joined their training session two days before the league kick-off as he was working offshore.

Understandably Vikneswaran attribute this to Kuhan's performance and hopes the former national player will not have work commitments offshore again come next season.

"This is the reason I don't think it's fair to judge him. Besides, he can be a good role model for the younger players. His experience can them progress as players," he added.

Kuhan, a penalty corner specialist during his heydays, donned the national colours from 1995 - 2006.

According to Vikneswaran Sapura is ready to blend youth and senoir players come next year - Hence Kuhan is needed.They target to become a top team in the next two to three years, by which of course surely Kuhan would have hung his stick.

As part of this long term goal Sapura, for the first time, will enter a team into the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL). The junior league kicks off on Jan 19.

Approximately hundred over players, as young as 13 underwent initial selections to play for Sapura. That figure has been trimmed down to 22 since.