No silver lining for women

13/05/2003

IT is no secret that women's hockey in Malaysia is at its lowest ebb at
this moment and there are very few who can call themselves national
players.
The national team, as shown by recent results, are that in name only and
the just concluded National Women's Junior league does not paint a
brighter picture for the future either.
Teams had to be forced to compete, and though Kuala Lumpur won the
title, it is not because they were a class above but simply because their
opponents were a class below.
And the prize money of RM5,000 for finishing top is not going to help
the development of the game in the city as it is a pittance compared to
the RM25,000 received by Tenaga Nasional for the Men's Junior League
overall title.
A KL official lamented that their total cost of playing in the women's
JHL was much higher than the prize money.
This, coming from a team which played all their matches at home, except
for the final where they had to `travel' to Bukit Jalil, is damning for
the women's future.
Batu Pahat, Pahang and Perlis, to name a few, not only lost several
matches but also ended up poorer.
Most coaches believe a carnival JHL is the only answer to their
financial woes.
The MHF(WS) should seriously consider this point because it looks like
they are facing an uphill battle to save the NHL, and next season, there
might not be enough teams.
MHF(WS) has hired India coach R.V. Kumar to lift the sagging standards
of women hockey but he can't be expected to pull off a miracle.
Kumar is no stranger to Malaysia as he was Sabah's coach before the last
Malaysia Games.
MHF(WS) secretary Dr S. Shamala said yesterday Kumar's paperwork has
been settled and he might arrive before the month's end.
"We have selected the national trainees from the JHL but will wait for
Kumar to have a look at them before naming the final list.
"He might have his own ideas and might want to have a look at a wider
pool before picking his trainees," said Shamala.
(END)