Rescheduling matches for Beng Hai's sake

THIS year's Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) islikely be brought forward from October to accommodate the national team'spreparation for the World Cup Qualifiers.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) competition committee will decideon the new dates at a meeting today.
It is learnt that the committee may reschedule the competition afterthe Champions Challenge on July 6-12 before the fasting month inmid-August.
The other option is to keep the competition dates but reschedulematches of teams with national players after the World Cup Qualifiers inNovember.
The change is necessary to allow national interim coach Tai Beng Hai toprepare his team for the qualifiers. There will be three qualifyingtournaments involving six teams each in Lille, Auckland and ayet-to-be-named venue.
The Premier Division will comprise six teams, including defendingchampions Ernst & Young and two teams from the ongoing Division Onecompetitions.
Meanwhile, Malacca City Council will be aiming to maintain theirunbeaten run in the MHL Division One competition when they face Air Forceat Sungai Petani today.
Malacca CC assistant manager Mazlan Mohd Said said his players areoptimistic of winning against the army team.
"We need to keep winning against lowly teams in order to finish in thetop two bracket of Division One.
"As for now, the players are doing very well and eager to face AirForce," said Mazlan yesterday. FIXTURES - Today: Air Force v Malacca CC (Sungai Petani Hockey Stadium,5pm), UNIMAP v UiTM (Kangar Hockey Stadium, 5pm).