Muhyiddin takes a swipe at hockey boys

02/06/1998

SPORTS Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday unveiled a limited
edition RM50 polymer banknotes to commemorate the Kuala Lumpur
Commonwealth Games - and then took a swipe at the national hockey team.
"They have been a letdown. Before the World Cup, we had targetted them
to at least make the semifinals of the KL Games.
"But after their poor finishing at the World Cup in Utrecht, the team
clearly needs a serious overhaul."
Muhyiddin will request the National Sports Council (NSC) to have a
meeting with the Malaysian HF to review the debacle. He is even willing to
attend the meeting.
His call for a review came a day after German coach Paul Lissek said he
will drop `a few passengers' from the team when he takes over from Volker
Knapp on June 12.
Malaysia won one match in the World Cup - against Poland - to finish
second from the bottom.
"Lissek will have to work hand-in-hand with the local coaches to get the
team in shape for the Commonwealth Games. Canada, Australia, Pakistan and
England will be featuring in the Games and it will be embarrassing if
Malaysia are hammered at home in September," said Muhyiddin.
On ticket sales, Sukom Ninety Eight Berhad executive chairman Tan Sri
Hashim Ali said their request to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
to conduct direct overseas sales has been rejected.
"CGF feel that for now, Sukom should let the Commonwealth Games
Associations conduct the sales and if the sales are still slow, only then
will they step in," said Hashim.
It is understood that sales in Australia have been slow because the
Australian CGA are selling the tickets as a package deal, which includes
accommodation and travel.
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