Saved from being a side-show..

THE RAZAK Cup hocky tournament was saved from being just another side-show, when the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) agreed to release national players to play for their respective states in the Qualifying zones, which will begin on May 27.
MHF deputy president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said chief coach Tai Beng Hai has agreed to allow 25 national players to play in the qualifying zones of the Razak Cup.
“However, the national players will be only released on weekends to play for their respective states in the qualifying zones. But on week days they will train with the national team,” said Nur Azmi.
The national team, who finished last in the seven-nation Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, will start their second phase of training for the Olympic Qualifiers today.
Their next assignment is a Four-nation in Moscow on June 20-26 which involves Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa.
For the Razak Cup, the East zone will only have Kelantan and Pahang in the qualifying rounds as Terengganu and Police withdrew.
“Even though there are only two teams in East zone but both Kelantan and Pahang will still feature in the qualifying round,” said Nur Azmi.
This year’s tournament enters a new era with introduction of five new qualifying zones where 17 teams will play in a qualifier which ends on July 3.
The top two teams from five zones will qualify for Division One while the bottom two will play in Division Two.
The final round of the tournament will be held at the Bukit Serendit Hockey Stadium in Malacca on July 20-30.
The teams in Northern zone are Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Armed Forces while Division One defending champions Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Selangor and National Under-16 team will feature in the Central zone.
Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor will compete in Southern zone while Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and Brunei will lay in the West zone.