MHF: Taiping HA can still play in JHL

24/07/2002

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) techical commitee has decided not to
penalise Taiping Hockey Association because they had a valid reason for
not showing up in Kuantan for a match against Telekom Pahang last
Saturday.
Taiping HA cited financial problems as the reason and they have received
a generous offer from Telekom Pahang, which will enable the Taiping-
Telekom match to be held on Tuesday.
"We (the MHF technical committee) decided that Taiping HA had a valid
reason for not showing up for their match against Telekom after having a
discussion with them in Taiping on Monday. So we will let them continue
with the Junior League fixtures and will not penalise them.
"We took into consideration that by banning Taiping, we will be denying
22 boys from playing hockey and that is against our development plans,"
said MHF secretary S. Satgunam after the MHF technical committee meeting
in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Although Rule 16 of the JHL competition guidelines states that a team
refusing to play or complete a match shall be considered as having
withdrawn from the competition, MHF decided to bend the rules to
accommodate Taiping HA.
Taiping HA secretary Zakaria Yacob said he tried his best to make the
trip to Kuantan, as the team were counting on several quarters to raise
the RM4,000 required for the trip. The transportation cost alone was
RM3,000.
"We now have enough money to travel to Ipoh on Friday to play Dato Taha,
and after that we will head for Terengganu for the match against the
Terengganu Schools Sports Council on Sunday.
"After the match, Telekom have agreed to provide board and lodging for
us and we will stay there and complete our match against Telekom Pahang on
Tuesday," said Zakaria who is also Taiping HA's team manager.
"We really appreciate the fact that MHF accommodated our request and
have not hauled us up to face the disciplinary board. We are trying hard
to source for more funds and I am confident that those who had pledged
earlier will come out with the much needed money," said Zakaria.
Meanwhile, the technical committee banned Ahmad Hasbi of Seberang Prai
Municipal Council for two matches following his expulsion during the match
against Serdang Hockey Club.
Ahmad Hasbi kicked a Serdang Hockey Club player.
However, Yayasan Negri Sembilan's Mohamed Faiz was let off despite
collecting a red card during the match against Armed Forces Apprentice
Training School.
"It was a technical red card because the player received a yellow before
that. There was no serious breach of discipline there."
(END)