COMMENT
By Vijesh Rai
(Vijesh is the Sports Editor of the New Straits Times)
TENGKU Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah must be a relieved man.
The national team's first two outings, though they were a tad
disappointing in the Asia Cup semi-final, ended with more positives than
negatives and the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president has every
reason to feel buoyant.
The early days of his tenure indicate Tengku Abdullah may enjoy greater
success than he did as FA of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president but if that
is indeed to be the case, he must start cracking the whip now.
Though the national team finished second in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
and met the semi-final target in the Asia Cup, we will be fooling
ourselves if we believe that hockey is on the rise.
It isn't and there will only be false dawns as long as the sport's
structure isn't drastically improved.
The Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) is anything but world class and Jiwa
Mohan, lured out of international retirement for the Asia Cup, was only
being honest in his assessment when he said the national players should
ply their trade in Europe.
That should be an immediate target for Tengku Abdullah after having,
despite several valiant attempts, to do the same with the football
players.
What Tengku Abdullah has got going for him in hockey is that Malaysia
still has some players who are highly rated at world level and finding
them European clubs shouldn't be that major a problem.
A rosy picture is also being painted about the Bukit Jalil and Bandar
Penawar Sports Schools but the two are not enough to sustain the rise, if
there is to be one, of Malaysian hockey.
What hockey needs, to ensure those in the various national teams and
sports schools don't become complacent, is a structure where quality
players are just waiting to replace them.
We don't have that now and the fact that an Under-17 Bukit Jalil Sports
School team won the Under-19 Division 2 title and an even younger team
are leading the Division One standings currently is proof of that.
For this to change, Tengku Abdullah has to address the root of the
problem - the state affiliates.
Too few are actually promoting hockey but the real problem is all are
decision makers and we all know the decisions are always favourable to
them.
What Tengku Abdullah must do is, and this will be a big task, devise a
formula where the hard-working and successful are rewarded - financial
and votes-wise while those who continue to give excuses for their lack of
commitment be "punished" by a gradual withdrawal of their rights.
This could even mean losing their right to vote and if Tengku Abdullah
can do this, then the feeling of relief he is currently enjoying may well
be replaced by real success.
