Foul!

Roelant Oltmans is Malaysia's new hockey coach Here's a message I received today: With Roelant Oltmans in and Terry Walsh still retained, how much is it costing us? Oltmans, 64, signed a two-year contract with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) recently. He replaced Stephen Van Huizen, who is now the national assistant coach. The other coaching line-ups have not changed, including technical director Terry Walsh. The Malaysian government has, since May 9, repeatedly said it lacks funds. With the recent (debatable and questionable) revealtion of Lim Teong Kim's RM175,000 per month salary and claims that sports associations have not received funding, it is only natural for certain quarters to question the financial impact of Oltmans and Walsh's positions. Oltmans was Pakistan's head coach prior his Malaysian stint. In a letter addressed to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) the Dutchman said: “I’m responsible for the performance ...

As published in Mailsport today By Nicolas Anil      nicolas@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — A senior official has lambasted a fellow Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) top official over his “ridiculous” comments against the International Hockey Federation (FIH). MHC deputy president Raja Puan Sri Noor Ashikin Raja Abdullah was unimpressed with senior vice president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad who was quoted telling FIH “not to meddle with (MHC’s) internal matters” following a disagreement over the national body’s amended constitution. He was also quoted saying he was unperturbed over the possible problems that may arise if MHC did not obtain FIH’s approval on the amendments. Noor Ashikin, who is also Malaysia Women’s Hockey Association president, urged MHC members to adhere to the requirements drawn up by the world body in order for Malaysian hockey to move forward. “Azmi’s comments are outright blatant and has to be in his personal capacity ... not o...

As published in Mailsport today By Vijhay Vick vijhayvick@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA - Stop playing the blame game and get back to the basics. Former coach C. Paramalingam believes the way to revive Malaysian hockey, which has been in a slide, must start from the bottom instead of going for short term successes. Yesterday, he told Mailsport the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) should stop insisting on hiring a foreign coach when more could be done at improving coaches at all levels locally. With internal bickering in the national body and finger pointing, he insisted while MHC could be doing more, other stakeholders have to play their role too. "Why do we keep blaming MHC for the failures of our hockey? We must stop that. Everyone has a role to play but many aren't doing it ... or at least as effective as it was in the past," said Paramalingam. "Many ex-players could get themselves back in the game in a more serious manner. They do not need to ...

As published in Mailsport today By Vijhay Vick vijhay@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — Sports Commissioner Ahmad Shapawi Ismail is wondering what is taking the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) so long to submit its minutes from the Oct 13 extraordinary general meeting (EGM). The EGM was held to make changes to the constitution and the 30-day deadline to submit the minutes has lapsed. The minutes are crucial for the Sports Commissioner’s Office decide if it will approve the newly adopted constitution. MHC was supposed to hold its AGM by May 31 but Shapawi agreed to postpone it till year end to accommodate the changes to the constitution. “The national body informed us they were in the midst of sorting out a new constitution so they needed more time to conduct the AGM. We extended it until the end of the year,” he said. “ As things stand, it must be conducted this year or we will issue them a reminder. “The onus is on them to submit the necessary paperwork fo...

As published in Mailsport today PETALING JAYA — Former national coach C. Paramalingam believes the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) needs to stop hiring foreign coaches. This comes after it was learnt MHC senior vice president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad and secretary general Datuk Johari Abdul Aziz will meet Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today regarding the appointment of Australian Neil Hawgood as national coach. “Foreign coaches have taken us for a ride in the past. Have we not learnt our lessons?” asked Paramalingam, who was the first Malaysian coach to record victories over Pakistan and India. “MHC needs to be careful in appointing a foreigner. It is best for them to be consultants and they must be calibre coaches who have made a name for themselves. “It is not like we do not have the talent here. Tai Beng Hai, Lim Chiow Chuan, Stephen van Huizen, Colin Sta Maria and Wallace Tan all have FIH qualifications. “Why not send as many local coaches as possi...

As published in Mailsport today. By Vijhay Vick vijhayvick@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — Selangor HA (SHA) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal (pic) is the front runner to be the next Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president. Former MHC general manager Maninderjit Singh is tipped to make a return as chief executive officer. According to sources within the national body, out-going MHC president Tengku Abdullah Shah has earmarked the Subahan as his replacement. Subahan’s first task would be to improved MHC’s financial standing as the association is believed to be RM2 million in debt. “Subahan will be the next president. Tengku Abdullah has already spoken to Subahan, who has agreed to come on aboard,” said a senior MHC official. “They even went to the Asian Games together and Tengku Abdullah was introducing him as the next president.” In August, Tengku Abdullah revealed he would not seek re-election as he was going for the Asian Hockey Federation’s top post. He then ...

As pubslihed in Mailsport today.     Former national skipper Sarjit Singh (pic) could assume his previous role as national coach as efforts to rid K. Dharmaraj continues.    Sarjit was the national coach from January 2007 to December 2008. Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice president Manjit Majid Abdullah was quoted as saying Dharmaraj “should be sacked” as he was not good enough to lead the team ahead of the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea next month.    The national team is also in a disarray as the team management, MHC and the National Sports Council (NSC) do not see eye-to-eye. The MHC World Cup review panel submits its report to the body’s president Tengku Abdullah Shah today, and it could well decide Dharmaraj’s fate.    Datuk R. Yogesweran heads the panel which also comprises National Sports Institute CEO Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz, NSC director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong, Datuk Poon Fook Loke, Dat...

 The national hockey team were whacked 8-1 by the English national team before they were given a 4-2 lesson by Trinidad and Tobago in the on-going Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Naturally, fingers are being pointed at the players and coaches. Some alleged the poor performance could be a form of "protest". Do read '5 euro sehari '. Others have, typically, demanded for a total revamp. Here's a question though, why not seek for a total revamp within the Malaysian Hockey Confederation as well? After all, there are plenty of officials there who CLAIM they are part of the national body but are often no where to be seen and responsibilities remain dubious. Don't just say the national hockey team has produced a humiliating episode. The officials too are party to this national embarrasment. By the way, Trinidad and Togabo is famous for its calypso, carnivals and goat-racing (picture). HD says: Instead of making up excuses and justifying the results on...

My heart goes out to the family members of those on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.    Haresh Says, as published in Mailsports today. Images of team officials and players arguing on the sidelines followed by claims of assault in the tunnel at Larkin Stadium on February 1 have been grabbing the headlines recently. There was hesitance by certain quarters to name those involved during half-time of the Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) against T-Team after several players and officials claimed Johor FA president Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, who is also the Crown Prince of Johor, was in the tunnel. In a Super League match on February 7, Pahang’s Jamaican player Damion Stewart claimed he was subjected to abuse by JDT Argentinean imports Luciano Figuero and Pablo Aimar. It is now the final week of March, almost two months since both incidents took place. Yet, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) disciplinary board have yet to discuss these incidents. Why the delay? ...

●  Where are the fields? While the city team have been struggling in the M-League and several players charged for match-fixing, KLFA have sustained a well-organised league over the years. Some 71 teams have signed up for the KLFA League this year — 10 teams in the KLFA Super League, 28 teams in Division 1 and 33 teams in Division 2.  The league has managed to attract teams from other states including Syarikat Air Melaka Bhd and Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas, Johor. Sadly, the lack of playing fields in the city have forced KLFA to organise matches at the KL Hospital field. The other venues in the city include Batu Cantonment field (Jalan Ipoh), Institute Pendidikan Ilmu Khas in Cheras, University Malaya and the National Sports Council field in Bukit Jalil. Some matches are played at the Maybank field in Bangi while there are on-going efforts to get Pulapol to lease their field at Jalan Semarak. Since there are not many fields in the heart of the city, it would be wise if KLFA sta...

Having made the World Cup after a 12-year hiatus, Malaysia have set a lowly target of finishing in the top 12 in the tournament to be held in The Hague, Holland from May 31 to June 15 next year. The target was announced by Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah after a meeting between principle office-bearers of the MHC and coaches of the various national teams on Monday. The target does not make sense despite the fact that Malaysia will be the lowest ranked team at the World Cup. Read more here . HD says : One would expect more from a team who spend almost every day of their lives playing the game.

This appeared in the column 'Haresh Says' in The Malay Mail today Can we equate the national football team and the national hockey team? The debate has been making its rounds as some justify the logic of drawing comparisons to both sports. Let's look at the similarities. Both teams tend to start off well only to fumble in the later stages. The football lads are guilty of such an attitude many a times while the national hockey team wasted a 4-1 lead against Pakistan on to settle for a 4-4 draw during the curtain raiser of the World Hockey League on Saturday. Then we have the poor dissemination of information by both national bodies. The FA of Malaysia and Malaysian Hockey Confederation have websites with minimal news. One is able to obtain better updates through social media or betting websites! Both associations enjoy a huge number of officials, committees and subcommittees - some never heard or seen before. There is also a new trend among football and hockey f...

Former international K.Logan Raj ( pic: second from right ) has revealed he is interested to take on the role as the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) chief executive officer. Logan, who played for the country in two Commonwealth Games (1998 and 2006) and was the project director for a telecommunications company, is expected to submit his resume to MHC today. But will Logan be able to withstand the pressure working in MHC? Will Logan suffer the same fate as another former international Maninderjit Singh? Read Logan's thoughts in Mailsport today . Also read about supposed talks that a well known figure in the sports scene has been in talks with certain quarters to take over the MHC general-secretary role. Apparently the current MHC general-secretary Johari Aziz is set to quit citing "health reasons". But Johari rubbished such talks by saying "I'm sihat walafiat, Insya Allah!" Meanwhile, Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) - the one-stop cen...

It was a company set up to be a one-stop centre for foreign students. The company - Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) - is to market and promote Malaysia as an education hub. Yet, foreign students are crying foul over the delays in visa application since the company was set up in February. Players in the industry claim loss of business while others question the monopoly practiced by the company which was set up by the then Higher Education Ministry. Read the special report in The Malay Mail today . Also read Tired of waiting, considering study elsewhere , I'm being forced to leave the country, Fresh allegations haunt one-stop centre and Institutions file injunction suit. Meanwhile, senior officials in the Malaysian Hockey Confederation are unaware of certain matters pertaining Paul Revington's decision to quit as national team coach. Read more here . As for football, the FA of Malaysia's (FAM) decision to reward RM1,000 to fans who nab other fans that...

UPDATE May 22 : MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah says; "I will sort this out", as published in Mailsport. ------- There seems to be an "issue" between national coach Paul Revington and 1Mas development coach Lim Chiow Chuan. Revington had apparently sent Chiow Chuan an email which saw the latter reply in what has been interpreted as a "threatening email". Revington then sends a lawyer letter demanding for an apology and retraction and Chiow Chuan adheres. The Malaysian Hockey Condeferation is well aware of the episode and considers the matter as "settled". Really? Word has it that not many people want to get involved in the episode. What is certain is that Malaysian hockey is bigger than individuals. Read more in today's Mailsport . HD says: Everyone should just focus on their tasks.

Don't the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have 50-odd officials sitting in the executive board, council to the various committees? Why only two showed up at the TNB Cup return leg semifinal between TNB and Maybank? MHC isn’t all about meetings and blueprints or mixing with the “right crowd”. It is about knowing the players, watching them in action and providing solutions to the problems faced on the ground. If the officials don’t care about Malaysian hockey and the league, what more the masses? The officials can start becoming useful by helping the national hockey team book flight tickets online — having spent an excess of RM30,000 for the Under-16 national team’s flight tickets to Mannheim, Germany as exposed by the writer on Monday. Those who have read law would know that not only must justice be done but it must also be seen to be done. In the same context, here’s one for MHC officials — not only must you claim to occupy the seat, you should also come...

The national hockey Under-16 team's departure to Germany early this morning has courted a new controversy after the Malaysian Hockey Confederation had apparently spent an excess of RM30,000 on flight tickets the team of 20. The national juniors will participate in the Four Nation tournament together with Belgium, Germany and Holland from May 18-20. An invoice, issued by a travel agency dated May 9, quoted MHC RM88,900 for flight tickets via Emirates. A check on the airlines' website revealed the total sum including taxes for 20 individuals flying to Frankfurt is RM68,620. Malaysian Airlines's online booking quotes the direct flight from KL to the German city at RM2,945 per person. That totals up to RM58,900 for a group - RM30,000 cheaper than what MHC paid. MHC secretary Johari Aziz confirmed the booking was done but later added he will check the invoice and with the agency. Read more in today's Mailsport. HD says: It's all about the economics...