MHF throws out Kerian's `malicious' protest

09/04/2003

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) Technical Committee yesterday threw
out the protest made by Kerian District regarding six Malacca Municipal
Council players.
Kerian team manager Mohamed Abdul Hadi had submitted the protest, with
the RM200 deposit, after his team lost 9-0 to Malacca MC, alleging that
Malacca MC fielded five former Anderson and one former Ipoh City Council
player even though they were not on Malacca's payroll.
"We find Kerian's protest very mischieveous. We did do our own
investigation and found Malacca MC to have fielded legitimate players
because they are members of the Malacca Municipal Council Sports Club.
"Under the JHL Eligibility Rules, a player either has to be an employee
or a club member to take part," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam, who
chaired the Technical Committee yesterday.
Satgunam also questioned the sincerity of the protest.
"Why protest after over seventy (70) matches have been played. And why
didn't Kerian bring up the matter at the managers meeting held before the
Junior Hockey League started?" said a puzzled Satgunam.
If the MHF had entertained the Kerian protest, teams like Tenaga
Nasional Bhd, Telekom Pahang and Malay Mail would also have been dragged
into the controversy, because most, and in Malay Mail's case, all their
players are not employees.
"We are very grateful to the corporate bodies for putting up teams via
their sports clubs. If not the JHL will die off," said Satgnam.
Tenaga had also sent in a request to bring forward the Malaysia Sports
School-Johor Sports Council match from April 20 to April 13.
Tenaga, in their letter to the MHF, said that since Malaysia Sports
School, Tenaga Nasional and Telekom Pahang are involved in a keen tussle
for the Division One title - which could boil down to goals scored to
decide the champions - they feel that it is an unfair advantage for the
Sports School to have their last match against Johor SC.
Johor SC are in fact the Bandar Penawar Sports School in disguise.
"The Technical Commitee decided not to entertain the request because the
draw was made during the managers meeting and it will be wrong to alter it
now. It was not premeditated, and it is just a coincidence that Malaysia
SS will be playing their last match against Johor SC," said Satgunam.
The Technical Committe also suspended Shaffrizan Affendi of Perlis
Schools Sports Council for one match (against Kerian on April 11) for a
red card offence during the match against Sports School Juniors.
(END)