Foul!

These pictures taken at the MBPJ hockey stadium say it all. The mini 'speed bumps' could pose a serious problem as the venue hosts the TNB Malaysian Hockey League. According to the fixtures , Selangor will play RMAF Rajawali in a league match at the stadium at 5pm tomorrow. Players and team managers believe the air pockets are caused by the recent downpour. As the stadium is located on lower ground, water from the surrounding area tends to flood the venue. Perhaps a well thought drainage system inside and outside the venue can help ensure the newly laid turf will be in perfect playing condition. Even the lighting at the stadium could be upgraded to ensure they meet the international body's requirements. The condition of the turf here reminded me of how the Ministry of Education turf at Pantai once looked like. By the way, here are some of my previous articles regarding hockey turfs in the country: April 1, 2016: Come on Selangor, reward your ...

Muhammad Raziq Rahman Nasir, Aizat Aiman Hakimi Khairul Anuar, Muhammad Hilmi Zulkepli, Muhammad Rusyaidi Zainal, Muhammad Faisol Rohizan, Muhammad Zainul Fahmi Zainal, Iqbal Mursaputra Saiful Bahri, Ahmad Lutfi Mohd Sam, Muhammad Haziq Effarizal, Muhammad Fahmi Zaharman, Muhammad Halif Fadzly, Muhammad Fikri Amer Runnizar, Muhammad Zafri Afiq Nor Azlan, Umar Hiakim Ahmad Robangi, Muhammad Nurasyraf Rosli, Muhammad Eikmal Hakime Shafri, Faiqrazin Zariq Idris, Muhammad Syazwan Md Zulkafli. These are the names of Selangor’s Under-16 boys hockey team. Most often, the names of players are buried within an article or the team list is carried separately at the very end of an article. Exceptions are made for those with an interesting tale to tell. But this group of hockey players deserved to be mentioned at the very top of this column. Why? This is a team that hails from a state with no proper turf. Their plight has been highlighted numerous times only to fal...

Remember my  exposé on the condition of sporting facilities at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) as published here ? During my visit to the school, I noticed the bowling alley was not in working order, the hockey turf was in bad condition (pic) and there was a table-tennis table in the squash court, among others. Well it looks like some good came out from it after all. I received a pleasant phone call on Friday informing me that apparently a letter has been issued by the Education Ministry and that officials from the Ministry and a company met on the same day at 3pm in Putrajaya to ensure the bowling alley at the sports school in Bandar Penawar will begin to function again. "All things are in order but the witch-hunt continues as some folks in the Ministry are still eager to find out who spoke to the Press about the conditions in the school," said a source from the Ministry. Better late than never and this is certainly a good start. HD says: Hope a...

It is the first astroturf hockey stadium in the country. It is named after our second Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein - the father of our current Prime Minister Najib Razak. Yet, the current state at the Tun Razak hockey stadium does not reflect its name or history. It is shameful, pathetic to a certain extent. The stadium serves as a training and competition venue for all levels - from schools to local leagues. Nevertheless, the turf - mainly near the 'D' of both ends - is not in a playable condition and poses a great danger to those playing on it due to the uneven surface. Such were also seen at the KL Education Ministry turf in Pantai and Bandar Penawar Sports School - as exposed by the author - in the past. The author visited the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday only to see three workers literally sewing the turf with pieces of turf cut just outside the playing area. "This is a temporary measure," said one of the worker. When asked if such a mea...