FIH SEAT: Tengku Abdullah wants to help further elevate hockey
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president also serves football as the deputy president of the FA of Malaysia, and is a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
So why would he want to wear an FIH hat?
"It is all about serving hockey better, and the best way to do so is to move up the ranks and become a serving member of the parent body," said Tengku Abdullah yesterday.
Malaysia is hosting the 43rd FIH Congress where 91 delegates will vote for two EB members, while president Leandro Negre is running unopposed.
Tengku Abdullah will be up against Russia's Sergey Chechenkov and incumbents Stephen Abel of Germany and Jan Albers of the Netherlands.
While he became president of the now defunct Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) not by choice in 2008, Tengku Abdullah is now in love with the sport.
"I was a football man a few years back, but right now, if you ask me personally, I feel that hockey is a more interesting sport."
He has changed the face of Malaysian hockey since taking over, as not only is there added focus on the various national teams but efforts are also being undertaken to improve administration -- at the national and state levels -- and hosting of local tournaments.
"The MHC has given everything that the coaches and players have needed, as nothing has been spared to prepare the senior and junior teams for international tournaments.
"Sadly, the players could not deliver gold at the World Cup Qualifier (in Invercargill) and also the Asian Games, as well as the Olympic Qualifier in Dublin.
"We came close in all three tournaments but there is still hope, as the juniors delivered in the Junior Asia Cup and now they are our future."
Malaysia won the Junior Asia Cup title to qualify for the World Cup in New Delhi next year.
And if the FIH delegates -- who went on a sight-seeing trip of Kuala Lumpur yesterday -- choose Tengku Abdullah, he will be another voice for Asia in the parent body.
"Asia needs another voice in the parent body, as hockey is a fast moving sport not only on the pitch, but also in hosting tournaments as well as a growing television sport.
"I know I can contribute towards its global growth, and that's why I am offering myself as a candidate," said Tengku Abdullah.
And the vibe on the ground is good, as many of the delegates approached by Timesport had only positive things to say about Tengku Abdullah.
