Doors re-open on indoor meet

20/12/2001


THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) has a packed calendar for next year,
but they did not forget to include an indoor hockey tournament for
grassroots development.
The idea was mooted by chief coach Paul Lissek while he was in Hobart
for the Junior World Cup in October after he spoke to FIH president Els
van Breda Vriesman.
"We have added an indoor carnival into next year's calendar so that
Malaysia will be able to play in the first indoor championship organised
by the FIH in Germany in 2003," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam yesterday.
Els had said that to be eligible for the 2003 indoor championship, a
country must have an active indoor league or at least organise one indoor
tournament.
Back in the 80s, there was an active indoor league where a number of
clubs used to take part over the weekends at the Stadium Negara. But it
died off after Stadium Negara became too difficult to book.
"Now that Stadium Negara is no longer on the list to be demolished, we
will utilise it over a weekend in September for the indoor tournament,"
said Satgunam.
About 10 clubs are likely to take part in the tournament to be played on
a carnival basis.
"But we would also like to include schools into the tournament so that
they will be more familiar with the rules and regulations of indoor
hockey. The MHF Standing Committee will have a discussion with Lissek on
the matter and it is highly likely that schools will play a major part in
the tournament," said Satgunam.
Lissek has always believed that indoor hockey is the only way to teach
schoolchildren the basics in hockey.
"I believe we need to have an active indoor league so that more people
will be able to play hockey on a carnival basis to make the sport more
popular in Malaysia.
"I feel that indoor hockey should also be taught in schools because it
will increase the base of skillful hockey players in the country and the
selection for national duty will also be more challenging," said Lissek
recently.
MHF has also slated the Malaysia Hockey League before the Asian Games in
September to be followed by the Junior League.
"Although the main priority is the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup, we will
still continue with the senior and Junior Leagues so that the players will
be kept busy with hockey the whole year around," said Satgunam.
For indoor hockey, a team will need at least 12 players although only
six players can play at a time. Running substitution is allowed and teams
can make use of all 12 players as many times as they want in the 20
minutes of play in each half.
There might be an initial problem with finding enough clubs to take part
in the tournament but Satgunam is optimistic that it will grow.
"We have to start somewhere, and right now our target is at least 10
clubsides. But I believe we will have a good response once we send out the
invitations and then we can make it a regular tournament in the MHF
calendar," said Satgunam.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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