Umpires flash red card to MHC

UMPIRES and match officials yesterday blew the whistle and flashed a red card to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) who still owe them money from last year.
  Joining the chorus were four Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) semi-finalists, as they too have yet to receive their TNB Cup winnings -- even though the finals were held in December last year.
  And Faizal Saari is also said to have jumped ship after the Singapore World League Round Two, as he and his team-mates have been promised cash incentives since qualifying for the World Cup, but have yet to see the money.
  "We have been waiting for a long time as we have only received empty promises when ever we called to inquire about our allowances for the MHL. Each umpire and official are waiting for at least RM3,000 and there are 50 of us on the empty promises list," said an official who declined to be named.
  Terengganu Hockey Team, who won the TNB Cup, are still awaiting for their RM70,000. The same goes for runners-up Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (RM50,000), bronze medallists Tenaga Nasional (RM40,000) and fourth placed Maybank (RM30,000).
  The TNB CUP roll of honour is also still not honoured, as THT players Fitri Saari (best player of the final), Faizal Saari (top-scored, 17 goals) and Hafizuddin Othman (best goalkeeper) were supposed to receive RM2,000 each.
  Tenaga are the title sponsors for MHL and other domestic tournaments, to the tune of RM2 million per-year.
  Faizal, after scoring 12 goals and being named the Best Player in the Singapore World League, refused to attend training since because promises made by certain MHC officials were never realised.
  An official who is close to Fazial said: "He is a very good player, but has been disillusioned since promises were broken after the World League Semi-finals in Johor Baru. Some quarters promised the team the sky if they qualified for the World Cup, but were no where to be seen or heard after Malaysia finished fifth and qualified for the Netherlands World Cup.
  "Players, umpires and even officials are in a quandary as they have not received their match bonuses and allowances for a long time," lamented an official.
  The financial situation of the MHC is really in dire states, as even state affiliates have not received participation subsidy of RM3,000 each for the Raja Noora Ashikin Cup in November.
  Faizal has agreed to turn up for training on Wednesday to join his mates as they get ready for the Azlan Shah Cup in April, but if money still does not reach their pockets, more players might just turn their backs on Malaysia.