MHF to pick up tab on lodging

15/03/1999

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) will bear the cost of housing the 16 teams for the 2002 World Cup, a factor which probably won Kuala Lupur the bid in Brussels last week.
MHF deputy president Datuk Seri P. Alagendra said yesterday that in
addition to the excellent facilities, fan support and organisational
skills of Malaysia, free accommodation was an item
mentioned in the 125-page bid paper.
"The offer must have impressed the International Hockey Federation
(FIH). It is an extension of Malaysian hospitality," said Alagendra.
Come 2002, Kuala Lumpur would be the only city to have hosted the
tournament twice. The first was in 1975 when Malaysia finished fourth
behind champions India, Pakistan and Germany.
"I am confident we will be able to stage a smooth, well-coordinated and
attractive tournament. We will make the 2002 World Cup the best and most
memorable ever," said Alagendra.
To accommodate the expected huge fan support, MHF plan to add another
3,000 fully covered seats at the National Hockey Stadium and additional
1,000 to the second stadium.
"This will increase the capacity at the main stadium to 15,000 and to
3,000 at the second stadium. At last year's Commonwealth Games, more than
15,000 people packed the main stadium whenever Malaysia played."
Spivs also did brisk business outside the National Hockey Stadium, where
RM10 tickets were sold at six times the price due to overwhelming demand.
On team preparations, Alagendra said the current method of utilising a
pool of coaches will remain until the 2002 World Cup. Foreign expertise
would only be sought if necessary.
"We have capable managers and coaches like Ho Koh Chye, R. Yogeswaran,
Poon Fook Loke, Yahya Atan, Colin sta Maria, Steven van Huizen and Wallace
Tan. They are doing a fine job training the pool of 45 national trainees,"
he said.
"We will only evaluate the system after the Olympic qualifiers in Osaka
in March.
"If there is no need for foreign help, the pool of coaches will manage
the 2002 attempt as well."
MHF, who will form the 2002 organising committee after the Azlan Shah
Cup in April, will promote the World Cup via a regular bulletin, a
tournament website and a roadshow.
"We hope to hold a first-ever tournament draw similar to that of the
soccer World Cup. This gala affair will be held three to six months before
the 2002 World Cup."
Today, the national team will play their third friendly against the
visiting Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) team at the National Hockey
Stadium at 8.0pm.
After a 5-0 hammering in the first friendly, the Malaysian side won 2-0
in a rain shortened match on Saturday.
It would be interesting to see what Minarwan Nawawi can inject into the
team. Minarwan, who just completed his university examinations, might
feature prominently in team manager Yogeswaran's plans.
However, Sports Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in a contradictory
statement yesterday, said they were prepared to hire a foreign coach to
prepare the national team for 2002.
(END)