Foul!

Is it right for the national team to don the colours of another even for a one-off friendly match? That seems to be the question raised by many after watching Frenz United FC Under-16 team play Liverpool Under-17 at the Selayang Stadium on Saturday. Liverpool won 2-1 as Najumuddin Samad scored the solitary goal for Frenz United. The match, aired live on TV1 and by regional broadcasters Fox Sports, saw a bulk of the national youth players donning Frenz United colours. Even national Under-16 coach S. Balachandran wore a Frenz United jersey. Many, including those within the FA of Malaysia (FAM), were unable to comprehend the arrangement while the Education Ministry’s sports unit held discussions about the matter. Any programmes involving school children must obtain the approval of the ministry. Insiders claimed the ministry were unaware the team would play as Frenz United. “I’m liaising with FAM to sort this matter out as we only deal with the national body,” said sports unit head Ee Hon...

The Education Ministry has urged national sports associations (NSAs) to plan ahead to ensure the education of their student athletes is not compromised. The ministry’s sports department director Ee Hong ( pic ) said NSAs should be mindful of the examination period and to ensure their athletes apply for the Agrotat System and meet the criteria. “Education is important and it is paramount they fulfil the regulations set by the Agrotat System if they are to compete in major tournaments abroad,” said Ee Hong. “NSAs should plan ahead instead of doing things on an ad hoc basis.” National hockey junior team manager Mirnawan Nawawi called the Agrotat System “illogical”, as published in Mailsport yesterday . Read the full report here . HD says: Through my conversation and meetings with various parties, only one name came popping up. Sigh!

Education Ministry sports unit head Ee Hong ( pic ) replied to Mailsport's query about a form six student not being allowed to play in the on-going KL schools under-18 inter-zone hockey meet - as highlighted here . Dear Haresh, You are right regarding students aged 18-21 can participate in zone and state level tournaments. MSSM rule 3.1.1.4, it states that, “ Murid yang berumur lebih daripada 18 tahun tetapi kurang daripada 21 tahun boleh mengambil bahagian di peringkat sekolah, daerah, dan negeri sahaja”. We have contacted our counterpart in MSSKL and informed them about this rule. The folks in the KL schools sports council (MSSKL) will have some explaining to do. Here's a comment by a reader KCNR; "The MOE has their own sports policy . They feel they are the "experts" in sports development and what they are doing is the best for development. Mind you, there are more sports qualified non-teachers outside MOE and still MOE boast th...

The KL schools under-18 hockey inter state competition starts today. However, it is already marred with problems as SMK Maxwell are not allowed to field their only Form Six player. The question is neither about the school nor the player. It is to why a sixth former is deprived from playing in a school tournament. After all, it is clearly stated in the 'peraturan am' of the national schools council's (MSSM) regulation that a Form Six student is able to play in the zone and inter-zone meets but not the national level competition. What about the supposed 10 per cent merit a sixth former is supposed to obtain from co-curricular activities for his possible entry to a local varsity? Does this mean that a student need to only play a handful matches for the school at the zone level and thus he or she automatically obtains the 10 per cent? Why the differing rules? Shouldn't the MSSM rule stand? Doesn't this go against the Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's...

Schools sports have always been close to my heart. I started my career in journalism by covering school-level tournaments before graduating to the senior level - a luxury not many journalists have today as most seem to immediately cover the major stuff. I remember writing about Kevinder Singh during his days with Royal Military College. Some made it beyond the schools level. Most simply disappeared from the scene. I also remember doing my Basic Sports Administration Course under the International Olympic Council together with Education Ministry sports unit head Ee Hong. She was just placed into the hot seat then and wanted to educate herself further in sports. Such an attitude ought to be applauded. Then we have Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin trying to leave a legacy by introducing the 1Student 1Sport programme. Noble as it may sound, the reality is that students in the 80s and 90s grew up with the requirement of having to take up at least 1 sport, 1 uniformed body and 1 club / so...