Club or country?

22/03/2002

ALTHOUGH Malaysia finished only eighth in the recent 2002 Kuala Lumpur
World Cup invitations for the national team to play in a host of
tournaments worldwide have been pouring in.
To some extent this augurs well for the team's preparations to win a
medal in the Asian Games in Busan in September. But on the other hand, it
might deprive some clubs of the players they have paid good money for in
the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
The MHL team managers meet tomorrow and the routine meeting could well
be the key to resolve what might otherwise turn into a thorny issue.
The team managers have every right to voice their dissatisfaction aboutr
having to release their players for Tours and Four-Nations, but if they
are serious about the development of hockey in the country, they should
practice a give-and-take policy.
Chief coach Paul Lissek is interested in having national training twice
a week for centralised training so that the players will not "get lost in
the bush", and the Malaysian Hockey Federation can help in this case.
"We (MHF) have no problems with the proposal to allow national players
to regroup for two days a week for centralised training, but it is in the
hands of the team managers because they are the ones who have hired the
players," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam yesterday.
Malaysia are slated to play Test matches gainst Korea in Busan from May
10-15 and this clashes with MHL fixtures.
After that, it is the Four-Nation in Australia involving the hosts,
Argentina, South Korea and Malaysia. And this, too, clashes with the MHL
fixtures.
Malaysia have also been invited to play in Germany, South Africa,
Argentina, Holland and Japan after a good display in the World Cup.
Top of the list must surely be an invitation to compete in the Four-
Nation Panasonic Cup in Hamburg in June. But this five-star tournament
clashes with an earlier plan made by the MHF to play in the Australian
Four-Nation.
With so many invitations, and the final decision resting in the hands of
nine team managers, it would be wiser if they come to a compromise for the
sake of the game.
The two days requested for national training would also be more
beneficial for the clubs as Lissek will definately keep the national
players on their toes. Also, they can impart their rigorous training
experience with their clubmates when they go back to the clubs during the
weekends.
There is no need for the national players and their clubs to be at
loggerheads because in the end, if the clubs decide that they need the
players more than the country, nothing can be done.
That is why a sensible solution is sought, and if all parties are
intersted in the improvement of hockey, the managers meeting on Saturday
should end on a good note.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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