By Ajitpal Singh
ALARMED by the drastic decline of Malaysia's hockey fortunes, 102 former internationals have submitted a petition to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak seeking urgent measures to check the rot.
In stressing that they are not blaming anyone for the state of the game, spokesman K. Enbaraj (pic) said all the former internationals are interested in is saving the game.
In stressing that they are not blaming anyone for the state of the game, spokesman K. Enbaraj (pic) said all the former internationals are interested in is saving the game.
"The senior team's failure to qualify for the Olympics is bad but what makes the situation worse is that we are also struggling at the junior ranks," said former national skipper Enbaraj yesterday.
A copy of the petition, which was submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister's Office last Thursday, was made available to Timesport.
Among the 102 former players, consisting 37 Olympians, 29 World Cuppers, nine former national coaches, two former national team managers, 10 former captains, one former World XI player and 10 former Asian All-Stars players, who signed the petition were Datuk Ho Koh Chye, the Malaysian Chef-de-Mission to the Beijing Olympics.
Others include Datuk K. Yogeswaran, Mirnawan Nawawi, Nor Saiful Zaini and S. Kuhan.Copies of the petition were also handed to, among others, Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Sports Advisory Panel chairman Datuk Mazlan Ahmad, Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, National Sports Council director general Datuk Zolkples Embong and Malaysian Hockey Federation president Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor.
Among the 102 former players, consisting 37 Olympians, 29 World Cuppers, nine former national coaches, two former national team managers, 10 former captains, one former World XI player and 10 former Asian All-Stars players, who signed the petition were Datuk Ho Koh Chye, the Malaysian Chef-de-Mission to the Beijing Olympics.
Others include Datuk K. Yogeswaran, Mirnawan Nawawi, Nor Saiful Zaini and S. Kuhan.Copies of the petition were also handed to, among others, Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Sports Advisory Panel chairman Datuk Mazlan Ahmad, Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, National Sports Council director general Datuk Zolkples Embong and Malaysian Hockey Federation president Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor.
"While we agree that Malaysia has, in the past, failed to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup, the situation wasn't that severe as we always had good junior ranks."This goes back to the 1950s and 60s.
However, this is no longer the case as seen by the junior team struggling to hold Singapore to a draw (2-2 in the recent Junior Asia Cup).
"Even at the Under-16 level, we are struggling against the likes of Austria. Our fear is that if left unchecked, we could soon be struggling to win the Sea Games gold.
"Enbaraj said the major reason for this is that the grassroots have been neglected.In the two-page open letter submitted to Najib, the former internationals said this has been made worse by MHF's decision to abdicate its responsibilities in age group tournaments and the Champion Schools to the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM).
"We are willing to help revive the game and we appeal to the authorities to act quickly as while the damage is severe, it is not irreparable."
