Academy on hold

08/08/2003

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation's (MHF) plan to set up an academy at the
Tun Razak Stadium may have been placed on ice, but the 40 players selected
for the proposed academy have been thrown a lifeline.
The MHF Technical and Development Committee, chaired by Dr S.S. Cheema,
will call up those selected during the Malaysia Schools Sports Council
tournament in Kuantan in June for a training camp just before the Asia Cup
Kicks off in September.
"The Technical and Development Committee will meet this Sunday to iron
out the finer details of the camp, but it has been agreed that we bring
down the 40 players selected during the MSSM tournament in Kuantan to
watch the Asia Cup as well as undergo a training camp," said Dr Cheema.
The committee will also bring down all the schools coaches involved
during the MSSM to give them a refresher course.
"We also decided to bring down all the coaches involved with the MSSM
because they too need to be briefed on how to handle the selected boys
once they return to their respective States," said Dr Cheema.
The National Sports Council did not approve funding to set up an academy
at the Tun Razak Stadium because they felt that it will clash with the
Bandar Penawar and Bukit Jalil Sports Schools programmes.
"Since the academy did not get off the blueprint stage, it would be a
waste to let the 40 players, all handpicked by expert eyes, to get lost in
the abyss.
"That is why we will bring them down for the Asia Cup. By keeping in
touch with them, hockey in the country will benefit in the long run," said
Dr Cheema.
Some of the boys, who are in Form One to Three, will be sent to the
Bandar Penawar Sports School if they manage to catch the eyes of the
selectors.
The MHF, in its efforts to have a constant supply of talented players
for the national junior and senior squads, have also come up with an
ambitious development programme which will be in full bloom in three
years' time.
And the camp in September will be the starting point for the MHF dream
to have a national team for each of the Under-13, Under-14 and Under-16
age groups by 2006.
(END)