Still much to fight for

08/04/2003

THE MHF-Milo-Admiral-NSC Junior Hockey League has come to its tailend, but
there are still no clear winners in Division One, while the Division Two
has remained very much a two-horse race.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Malaysia Sports School and Telekom Pahang are the
three teams still in the hunt to finish tops in Division One.
Malacca Municipal Council, at present are the virtual champions of
Division Two, as they have only bottom of the table Perak Malays to beat.
But if a miracle happens and they falter, Sports School Juniors will be
jumping for joy.
The Junior League has been incident-free so frar, but Kerian District
have sent in a protest which might make the League topsy-turvy.
Kerian, after being hammered 9-0 by Malacca MC, sent in a protest
stating that Malacca MC had six guest players where else the JHL rules
clearly state that teams are only allowed to have four guest players.
Kerian manager Mohamed Abdul Hadi said, in the protest, that he has
proof that Malacca MC have five former Anderson School boys and one Ipoh
City Council player.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation Disciplinary Board will hear Hadi's
protest today, and it will be interesting to see the outcome.
The rules of the JHL, under Eligibility of Players 5.5, states: each
team is allowed to field a maximum of four guest players.
But there is a loophole in 5.2.1: He should be an ordinary or associate
member of the club that he has chosen to play. And under 5.2.2: In the
case of employer clubs, he should be an employee of the organisation.
Malacca MC coach Eugene Lee said that all his players are members of the
Malacca Municipal Council Sports Club, which makes them legitimate
players.
"When we won the 2001 title, 11 of my players were not employed with
Malacca MC but members of the Sports Club. If the MHF decides that we are
wrong then, please, strip us of the 2001 title too," said Lee.
Teams like Tenaga Nasional, Telekom Pahang and Malay Mail, to name a
few, also have more than the allowed guest players but are eligible
because they are club members.
The MHF will have to make it clear to all participating teams in future
on the rule.
Fixtures - Wednesday: Pahang Telekom v Petaling Jaya Municipal Council
(Kuantan Stadium, 5.15).
(END)