MHF to discuss academy

27/02/2003

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) will hold their council meeting on
Sunday, and top on the agenda will be the formation of a hockey academy at
the Tun Razak Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
The idea of the academy had been around for the last few years, but it
never got off because the past proposals were very costly, but the present
Technical and Development Committe has come out with novel ways to cut
costs, but still maintain high standards.
MHF secretary S. Satgunam said he has received the proposal and it is up
to the MHF Council members to debate about it on Sunday.
"The Technical and Development Committe has submitted a proposal for a
hockey academy at the Tun Razak Stadium. The matter will be discussed on
Sunday and, in my personal opinion, it will receive a favourable suport,"
said Satgunam.
The Technical and Development Committee, chaired by MHF vice president
Dr S.S. Cheema, will be out to convince the council members on the need to
have an academy to make sure Malaysia do not slip further in the hockey
world.
"There is a pressing need for a hockey academy in Malaysia because the
rest of the world is fast catching up," said Dr Cheema yesterday.
It was learnt that if the MHF Council endorses the academy plan, the
first batch of hockey players will be scouted from the Malaysian Schools
Sports Council meet in Kuantan in May.
The academy will initially house Form One students at the Jalan Duta
tennis courts as the facilities are already in place and no additional
costs will be incurred.
The idea of an academy was mooted by Terry Walsh when he was the
national coach, it failed to get off the ground. The idea was tossed
around in 2000 but it failed to gather momentum, however, the Technical
and Development Committee has taken on the arduous task of reviving the
project by the end of the year.
Once the players are selected form the Kuantan meet, the committee will
have seven months to see that everything is in order before the academy is
operational.
The proposal is to take in students each year up to a maximum of 100 in
five years and those selected will be enrolled in schools around Jalan
Duta and provided with proper hockey basics.
The Sports Schools in Bukit Jalil and Bandar Penawar offer the same
chance for hockey players to excel, but both the schools have too many
sports under its wings.
So the academy, with the support from the Education Ministry, Sports
Ministry and the National Sports Council will be the right avenue to spur
the growth of hockey in Malaysia.
(END)