THE Selangor HA (SHA) will hold its Biennial General Meeting tomorrow with affiliates looking for a change in management to boost hockey in the state.
Council member Joseph de Silva, who claims he is representing several affiliates afraid to publicly voice their intentions, wants SHA president Datuk Salamon Selamat to step down honourably.
The elections are by way of on-the-spot nominations.
"I am sad to say that the SHA has not done any development or organised a league for the past four years, and the president is holding on to power for no purpose," alleged de Silva.
"I represent many affiliates who feel it is time Salamon steps down and make way for someone who has the time for hockey."
When contacted, Salamon said: "Yes, I will be seeking re-election. I do not want to comment in the press on why we did not have any league, or answer any other questions. I will answer the affiliates if they ask me during the BGM."
Salamon has been at the helm since 2002.
De Silva, who was banned three years by the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) and returned early this year to once again take charge of Old La Sallians Association of Klang in the Malaysia Hockey League, is not afraid of facing the consequences of his outburst.
"I am not afraid because I am speaking the truth. Hockey in Selangor is dead, and the 10 affiliates are now relying on the Kuala Lumpur HA for matches. Many Klang-based teams are now playing in the KLHA League and this is embarrassing.
"I urge the president, and all those who know they have no time for hockey, to make way for new blood," said De Silva.
The Selangor HA deputy president is Abu Bakar Zin, vice-presidents Zulkepli Ahmad, Dr Kerpal Singh, Mohammad Mahud Osman and Taram Singh.
Zainal Abidin Ismail is secretary while the treasurer is N. Ganswaran with the 10 clubs as its affiliates.
Selangor, once a hockey powerhouse, also had to resort to drafting two Malacca and one Sarawak player for their National Under-16 campaign due to lack of talent.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Asian Hockey Federation website
THE Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) released its new website: www.ahfhockey.com on the occasion of the Azlan Shah tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. It was launched at a special function presided over by the President of the Asian Hockey Federation, Sultan Azlan Shah.
Also present on the occasion were the President of FIH, Leandro Negre, President of the African Federation, Saif Ahmed, and the MHF President, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. The website has several important features including facilities for uploading videos, photos and for blogging.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Fitness needs more attention
By Ajitpal Singh
FITNESS will be the priority when preparing the national players for the Asia Cup in Kuantan on May 9-16.
Malaysian Hockey Federation president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah believes the national players need to improve on their fitness in order to make impression in the Asia Cup.
"I'm very happy with the team's performance at the recent Azlan Shah Cup and I feel they have the ability to do well in the Asia Cup. The deciding factor will be fitness and I want them to put extra effort in training," said Tengku Abdullah yesterday.
Malaysia turned in a superb performance in the Azlan Shah Cup, only to lose 3-1 to India in Sunday's final in Ipoh.
"I want the players to be fully focused and physically and mentally fit for the Asia Cup. I will meet them soon," he added. The Asia Cup champions will earn an automatic ticket to next year's World Cup in India. The other top three finishers will compete in the qualifiers in November.
Tengku Abdullah is also pleased with national caretaker coach Tai Beng Hai's effort in preparing the players for tournaments.
"Beng Hai will be considered for the full-time job as national coach if the team do well in the Asia Cup. My personal target is to see them finish in the top-four bracket.
"But if the players show determination and grit then winning the Asia Cup will not be an impossible thing to achieve. The team's morale is high after the Azlan Cup and they should build on it for the tournament."
FITNESS will be the priority when preparing the national players for the Asia Cup in Kuantan on May 9-16.
Malaysian Hockey Federation president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah believes the national players need to improve on their fitness in order to make impression in the Asia Cup.
"I'm very happy with the team's performance at the recent Azlan Shah Cup and I feel they have the ability to do well in the Asia Cup. The deciding factor will be fitness and I want them to put extra effort in training," said Tengku Abdullah yesterday.
Malaysia turned in a superb performance in the Azlan Shah Cup, only to lose 3-1 to India in Sunday's final in Ipoh.
"I want the players to be fully focused and physically and mentally fit for the Asia Cup. I will meet them soon," he added. The Asia Cup champions will earn an automatic ticket to next year's World Cup in India. The other top three finishers will compete in the qualifiers in November.
Tengku Abdullah is also pleased with national caretaker coach Tai Beng Hai's effort in preparing the players for tournaments.
"Beng Hai will be considered for the full-time job as national coach if the team do well in the Asia Cup. My personal target is to see them finish in the top-four bracket.
"But if the players show determination and grit then winning the Asia Cup will not be an impossible thing to achieve. The team's morale is high after the Azlan Cup and they should build on it for the tournament."
Monday, April 13, 2009
FIH commited to help Asia
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has taken offense to our house style of 'ghost writing' where we interview personalities every Sunday and credit the byline to them.
The article never misquoted Leandro Negre in any paragraph. The interview was done during the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh and the same facts appeared in the www.theStar.com.my and in the Hindu by A. Thiagarajan.
By Jugjet Singh as told to him by Leandro Negre
(Leandro Negre is the president of the International Hockey Federation)
Asia is a valuable partner of the sport, as it is widely played in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, China and other countries.
That is why, more emphasis will be placed on this continent, and if giving hockey sticks and balls can start the sport in smaller playing nations, so be it.
The FIH will start with helping India prepare a strong team for the 2010 New Delhi World Cup. It will serve no purpose if India are only good hosts, but do not even qualify for the semi-finals.
I, personally, would be the happiest person if at the end of the World Cup, I end up presenting the trophy to India. It will be a big boost to Asian hockey if that happens.
I was in India before coming to Malaysia, and after a discussion with the Indian Olympic Association (which is running hockey on an ad-hoc basis in India), we came to an agreement that for six months, the Indian team will be based in England, and their players turn out for various clubs in the local league.
And during breaks, the India players will re-group and play against top clubs, from England, Spain, Netherlands or Germany.
There is a tremendous fan-base in England for the India team, and I believe the players will benefit from this exercise when they play in the World Cup.
Our partners in global hockey must be allowed to run their own houses. So, in future there will not be meddling from the FIH as continental federations know best on how to handle their programmes.
Money will also be channeled straight into the continental federations, and they will decide how to utilise it.
Another change which is being looked into is the qualifying system, which has placed many countries in a dilemma, and is too costly, and also takes up the greater part of FIH's time.
Having qualifiers all around the world and only promoting the gold medallists not only deprives some teams, but is also a waste of time and efforts which could be channeled into better work.
It was tragic when in the Beijing Olympic Qualifiers, teams were placed with Germany in Japan, with Argentina in Auckland and India in Chile.
Many teams gave up right after they knew that it was next to impossible to qualify.
I envision that soon, we will revert to the one-qualifier where 12 teams compete in two groups, and six are selected for the main event.
This way, even the placing matches will be keenly fought, and the tournament does not become a side-show once the chance to play in the final is out of sight.
Hockey is also feeling the pinch of the global economic slowdown, and having too many qualifiers for the women and the men is no longer realistic.
Lastly, my visit to India reaffirmed that they are capable hosts, with only one pressing matter which they must sort out.
India must have a democratic election to replace the ad-hoc committee, if not, we have Malaysia on standby as Plan B.
It is our responsibility to have a backup plan in case we are left with no option.
The article never misquoted Leandro Negre in any paragraph. The interview was done during the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh and the same facts appeared in the www.theStar.com.my and in the Hindu by A. Thiagarajan.
By Jugjet Singh as told to him by Leandro Negre
(Leandro Negre is the president of the International Hockey Federation)
THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) is well aware that Asia, once a powerhouse in hockey, is fast slipping behind Europe and other continents, and it needs urgent help.
That is why, more emphasis will be placed on this continent, and if giving hockey sticks and balls can start the sport in smaller playing nations, so be it.
The FIH will start with helping India prepare a strong team for the 2010 New Delhi World Cup. It will serve no purpose if India are only good hosts, but do not even qualify for the semi-finals.
I, personally, would be the happiest person if at the end of the World Cup, I end up presenting the trophy to India. It will be a big boost to Asian hockey if that happens.
And during breaks, the India players will re-group and play against top clubs, from England, Spain, Netherlands or Germany.
There is a tremendous fan-base in England for the India team, and I believe the players will benefit from this exercise when they play in the World Cup.
Our partners in global hockey must be allowed to run their own houses. So, in future there will not be meddling from the FIH as continental federations know best on how to handle their programmes.
Money will also be channeled straight into the continental federations, and they will decide how to utilise it.
Another change which is being looked into is the qualifying system, which has placed many countries in a dilemma, and is too costly, and also takes up the greater part of FIH's time.
Having qualifiers all around the world and only promoting the gold medallists not only deprives some teams, but is also a waste of time and efforts which could be channeled into better work.
It was tragic when in the Beijing Olympic Qualifiers, teams were placed with Germany in Japan, with Argentina in Auckland and India in Chile.
Many teams gave up right after they knew that it was next to impossible to qualify.
I envision that soon, we will revert to the one-qualifier where 12 teams compete in two groups, and six are selected for the main event.
This way, even the placing matches will be keenly fought, and the tournament does not become a side-show once the chance to play in the final is out of sight.
Hockey is also feeling the pinch of the global economic slowdown, and having too many qualifiers for the women and the men is no longer realistic.
Lastly, my visit to India reaffirmed that they are capable hosts, with only one pressing matter which they must sort out.
India must have a democratic election to replace the ad-hoc committee, if not, we have Malaysia on standby as Plan B.
It is our responsibility to have a backup plan in case we are left with no option.
Third silver for Malaysia
The victorious India team with the Azlan Shah Cup after beating Malaysia 3-1 in the final yesterday. — Pic: MUHAIZAN YAHYA MALAYSIA were resigned to their third silver medal in the Azlan Shah Cup when India beat them 3-1 in Ipoh yesterday.
The Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh was filled to the brim with a crowd of at least 12,000 who braved the rain to watch Malaysia give their best but India were in no mood to do them any favours.
Malaysia played as a team with a vision to convert their two silver into gold, but were dealt an early blow when India scored a freak goal in the eighth minute.
Arjun Halappa ran along the sideline of the Malaysian goal and made a pass to the centre. The ball met Malaysian defender Baljit Singh Charun's stick and was deflected into goal.
And it was no surprise that the equaliser came in the 11th minute from a goalmouth melee with Azlan Misron giving the hosts a life-line.
India were reduced to a defensive side, and only made occasional attacks after Malaysia had equalised, but nonetheless regained the lead.
This time, Prabhjot Singh took advantage of a 20th minute confusion in the Malaysian circle to push the ball in.
The score remained 2-1 in India's favour until the breather, but with a promise of more action after the break.
And the pace in the second half never slowed down with both sides looking to kill the game early. Malaysia came the closest in the 39th minute when Azlan had a one-on-one with India goalkeeper Baljit Singh, but failed.
India increased their lead to 3-1 in the 41st minute when the umpire Deon Nel of South Africa blew for a penalty corner and the Malaysian players stopped playing, but Shivendra Singh took a reverse stick shot and the umpire reversed his decision and blew for goal leaving the hosts stunned.
That goal killed the game's passion and, not surprisingly, Malaysia found the India goal sealed shut for the remainder of the match.
In the match for third placing, New Zealand beat Pakistan 2-1.
The Kiwis took a 2-0 lead through skipper Blair Hopping (12th) and Joel Baker (13th) but Pakistan pulled one back in the 35th minute off Shakeel Abbasi.
RESULTS -- Final: India 3 Malaysia 1; Third-Fourth: New Zealand 2 Pakistan 1.
ROLL-OF-HONOUR: 1 India, 2 Malaysia, 3 New Zealand, 4 Pakistan, 5 Egypt.
Man-of-the-Match: Arjun Halappa (India)
Top Scorer: Sandip Singh (India, 7 goals)
Best Goalkeeper: S. Kumar (Malaysia)
Player of the Tournament: Sandip Singh (India)
Fairplay: New Zealand.
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