Please wait ... it's coming soon!

04/01/2002

WITH 51 days left to the Kuala Lumpur World Cup, `coming soon' ... seems
to be the key word.
But the Malaysia Hockey Federation (MHF) should not be blamed because
they might have been lulled into complacency as they honestly believe that
there is no urgency to market the World Cup, yet.
Somebody seems to be sleeping on the job as far as promotions for
hockey's most prestigious event is concerned because the World Cup
commemorative stamps were launched on Wednesday morning but a check at the
official website www.hockeyworldcup2002.com 30 hours later under the
`launch of commemorative stamps' icon, greeted the internet surfer with
`coming soon'.
While Malaysia are striving to become the hub of the multimedia centre,
information on the World Cup is being held back for reasons only known to
MHF.
Posters of the World Cup are up on the website but not a single one is
on display at the National Hockey Stadium or along the roads leading to
the official hotel where all the teams will be staying for the duration of
the World Cup.
Kuala Lumpur has yet to be enveloped by the World Cup fever because not
a single sign has been placed along the roadside to indicate that the
World Cup is just 51 days away.
Renovations to increase the seating capacity of both the pitches at the
National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil are also yet to begin.
Initially, MHF disclosed that the main stadium, which has a fully-
covered seating capacity of 15,000, will be fitted with an additional
3,000 temporary seats while the second stadium will accommodate 5,800
spectators with an additional 2,800 temporary seats.
"I have no idea when work to increase the seating capacity at both the
stadiums will begin because it is under the Sports Ministry," said MHF
secretary S. Satgunam yesterday.
Ticket sales also seems to be a highly guarded secret because when the
company entrusted to sell the World Cup tickets, Axcess Tickets, were
contacted yesterday, they decline to reveal the number of tickets sold
after more than a month going on sale.
"We will not reveal any information on the sale of tickets because that
is the job of the MHF. Please call them if you need more information,"
said Axcess director Alan Johnson.
When Timesport contacted Satgunam, he was surprised with the response.
"We (MHF) do not have the figures because the sales are being done by
Axcess Tickets. I don't understand why they are refusing to reveal how
many tickets have been sold so far because MHF has no objections on making
the matter public," said Satgunam.
Since the tickets went on sale, the 40 per cent discount offered to
Malaysians has been extended because of lukewarm response from the local
fans as the first deadline of Dec 31 approached.
The 40 per cent discount was also extended until Jan 5 because the
public complained that they had difficulty getting through the ticket
hotline managed by Axcess Tickets. jugjet@nstp.com.my
(END)