FORMER national hockey player Updesh Singh is perplexed as to why the Razak Cup and Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) were used as a yardstick to sideline S. Selvaraju who is now playing in the French League.Updesh, who played alongside national chief coach Stephen van Huizen in the Malaysian national team, is now based in France and coaching Racing Club de France, where Selvaraju is attached to.
“I read on the Internet Van Huizen had commented that Selvaraju can’t be considered for the national team because he did not play in the MHL and the Razak Cup.
“There is something really wrong with the selection pro cess if the two domestic tournaments are used instead of his progress report in the French League,” said Updesh in a telephone interview yesterday.
According to Updesh, the club has played two matches and Selvaraju scored a goal in each match.
“He is an asset to my club and scored two goals in two matches and he is also coaching the junior girls’ and boys’ teams when he is not playing.
“I believe Selvaraju is making more progress as a player in France, than if he had played in the MHL and Razak Cup,” said Updesh.
The national players checked into camp on Wednesday but the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have yet to release the name list.
“Some of the players called for training have yet to receive their letters and that is why we can’t release the training team list to the Press.
“An announcement will be made tomorrow (today) after all the players had received their notifications from the MHF. All I can say now is that Selvaraju is not on the list,” said national team manager Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema.
The trainees are in camp to prepare for the Azlan Shah Cup which will be held in Ipoh from May 6-16.
Selvaraju was equally surprised that his venture abroad is looked at with skewed eyes.
“I will be playing in France until the middle of May which means I can’t play in the Azlan Shah Cup as well. However, I hope my absence will not shut the door on me because I would like to represent the country in the Commonwealth and Asian Games if given a fair chance in selection.
“I have only played two matches here, but have caught the eye of another coach who has offered me to play in Belgium,” said Selvaraju.
And if a progress report is what the local coaches want, Updesh will provide it: “Malaysian coaches can rest assured that we will give them Selvaraju’s progress report when his stint is over, and I hope they recognise a good player, when one comes along,” said Updesh.
Updesh, who was in Malaysia to watch both the semi-finals of the MHL, said the standard of hockey in Malaysia has dropped tremendously.
“And I read that the MHF president (Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah) was also disappointed with the standard of play in the Razak Cup. This only shows that Selvaraju took the right step moving abroad to make him a better player,” said Updesh.
