KUALA Lumpur HA Saturday reached a new milestone when they launched their very own Junior Development Programme where 'no child will be left behind'.
And the launch received spectacular response, as about 100 children from the ages of 18 to 8-years-old filled the KLHA artificial pitch even tough schools are currently having their inter-district hockey tournament.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Subahan Kamal launched the programme with KLHA president Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid.
Lauding the initiative, Subahan said MHC are also working with the Education Ministry and Tenaga Nasional to take hockey back to schools.
"We have had a brief talk with the Sports Minister as well as Tenaga Nasional on a proposal to take hockey back to schools. Many schools do not have a hockey programme, and so, with funding from Tenaga we hope to make hockey a mass sport," said Subahan.
Former national player I. Vickneswaran, chairman of the KLHA Junior Development Programme, said he has his mind set on giving every child a chance to excel in hockey.
"This development plan is for under-21 and is for both boys and girls. We will stick with development and not shift our focus on an elite team and then forget about the newcomers in the long run.
"And whenever there are age-group tournaments the players can represent their clubs or schools and KLHA will form a team or two out of all those who are not selected and give them a chance to play as well.
"In this way, no child will be left behind," said Vickneswaran.
Many established development coaches also attended the launch and MHC will send their high level coaches whenever there is a request from KLHA.
