For sport's sake, include ESA

13/03/2001

WHEN they should have been behind the sport and anything that wouldnurture youth development, sadly, the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF)stood by their secretary S. Satgunam and axed 1996 double championsElectrical Switchgears Automation (ESA) of Penang from the Malaysia JuniorHockey League starting on March 30. Satgunam said he will not tolerate late entries but ESA have a differentstory to tell. ESA team manager S. Sanjilatheeban yesterday agreed that he sent in hisentries late but it was not done on purpose and he was in constant touchwith Satgunam on the matter. "I personally faxed the team confirmation to participate on Feb 25 andKeevan Raj (national hockey player) paid the entrance fee to MHF. I latercalled Satgunam and he confirmed that he had received our entries. "Part of the reason we delayed submitting the entry forms until the lastday was because there was a company which was interested in sponsoring theoutfit but pulled out on the eleventh hour. However, with the interest ofhockey and our boys in mind, we confirmed our participation and proposedto raise funds later," said Sanjilatheeban. ESA posted the team list via Post Laju on Feb 27 to the address statedon the form, the MHF office at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium, but totheir dismay the letter was returned with sudah pindah (moved) stamped onit. "When I was informed that the letter was returned, I posted it back toSatgunam's residence in Seremban." After the SPM results were released, ESA found that they had lost agoalkeeper whose parents stopped him from playing hockey because he didnot do well in the examinations. "We were again in a fix bacause a goalkeeper is not easy to replace, Iagain called Satgunam and informed him about our latest problem. "As time was running out, I registered a new goalkeeper, event though hewas just picking up the game and position. We posted the team list againon March 9 (closing date Feb 23 but extended until March 9) at 8.40am viaPos Laju and caled Satgunam to say that we will definitely be taking partand told him that we have posted the letter again and are confident thatit will reach him on time. Satgunam sent ESA a telegram on March 9 to tell them that they are outof the Junior League. "I called Satgunam the next day and said that he should have receivedthe list by now and his reply was that he was travelling in his car toKuala Lumpur from Seremban and if ESA were interested, they could appealto MHF vice-president Datuk Seri P. Alagendra. "I faxed an appeal to Alagendra, with the boys in mind, with the PosLaju slips to support our claims. I then called and confirmed withAlagendra that he has received the fax and he will discuss the matter withSatgunam." And on Friday, MHF secretary Satgunam, who is also tournament committeechairman, said MHF are disappointed with ESA as they did not show anyinitiative despite being given an extended deadline. The MHF Standing Committee met on Saturday and threw ESA out in the coldfor `their lack of initiative and interest in submitting entries'. Penang are no strangers to hockey and they have sound developmentprogrammes which have seen the likes of the Raj brothers - Keevan andLogan - making a name in the international scene. ESA have been regulars in the League and did a double in 1996. The Junior League is the base of hockey in Malaysia, and by denying theESA boys a chance to take part because administrators of the sport failed,the MHF Standing Commitee did no justice to the sport and country. As it stands, Malaysian hockey took another nose-dive when they, made upof mostly national juniors preparing for the Junior World Cup in Hobart,lost to Egypt 2-4 in the ongoing Prime Minister's Gold Cup in Bangladeshon Sunday. In this case, the MHF Standing Commitee should have stood by the boysand the sport, instead of their secretary. (jugjet@nstp.com.my)