A permanent base for MHF

15/11/2002

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) is working to provide assistance to its sub-committees and its target is next March.
Coaching chairman Datuk R. Yogeswaran had brought up the need to have a permanent office and funds to run the sub-committee, because the present ad hoc basis has not been providing the desired results.
"I assured the sub-committee chairmen that plans are afoot to have a
permanent base and if all goes well, it will be ready by March next year,"
said MHF deputy president Tan Sri P. Alagendra yesterday.
"And with help from the newly set-up marketing arm, we hope to provide
some assistance to the sub-committees to run their courses, seminars and development plans."
Initially, there were plans to convert the Tun Razak Stadium in Kuala
Lumpur into a hockey academy but after coaching chairman Ho Koh Chye (who was to head the academy) resigned and the MHF went into a turmoil because of poor management at sub-committee level, the National Sports Council decided to freeze the plan.
"The establishment of a hockey academy is long overdue, but we are
taking positive action to finalise the subject with NSC," said Alagendra.
In a proposal submitted to the council at its last meeting, March 2003
had been earmarked for the launch of the academy.
"A working paper is already in place, and all that is needed now is a
concerted effort with the NSC to start the academy," added Alagendra.
The three main components listed in the academy proposal are MHF-NSC and the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSC).
Once it takes off, the academy will not only concentrate on developing
hockey players but also umpires, coaches and technical officials.
"The academy can be run by volunteers but we will also have hired staff
to handle the administrative side.
"For a start, those who have received scholarships from Yayasan Hockey
Malaysia could be hired to help run the academy in the capacity as
fulltime administrators and directors.
"Emphasis on mastering basic skills and achieving a high level of
fitness could be among the main objectives of the hockey academy," said
Alagendra.
A proposal was also made to the MHF council to have a tour of the
Australian hockey academies before the implementation date.
"This is among the long-term plans that we have come up with to ensure
Malaysian hockey heads in the right direction and after winning the bronze medal at the Asian Games in Busan, we should be aiming higher."
In the 14th Asian Games, Malaysia beat Pakistan for the bronze to deny
them a medal in the Games for the first time in 56 years.
"And in the Kuala Lumpur World Cup, Malaysia finished eighth from 16
teams. On both occassions, the Malaysian team had at least six juniors on
the pitch. This showed that grassroot development should be maintained at a high level so that the country will have a pool of skilled and quality
players for the future.
"The hockey academy with solid collaboration with the MSSC, can help
achieve that," said Alagendra.
(END)