India to host men's 2011 Champions Trophy

The Executive Board of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has allocated the FIH Champions Trophies for 2011. The Men’s FIH Champions Trophy will be played in India, while the women’s FIH Champions Trophy has been awarded to Netherlands.

After the success of the Hero Honda FIH World Cup in March this year, the FIH has decided to return to India in 2011. The men’s FIH Champions Trophy is scheduled for December 2011 and it will be the third time in hockey history that India will host FIH flagship event after Chennai in 2005 and Madras in 1996.

Think carefully before amending constitution

PENANG HA vice-president Ranjit Singh cautioned Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) council members to tread carefully when they deliberate to change the post of their secretary from elected to a paid staff.
The MHF council will meet next Tuesday and among the agenda is a motion to amend their constitution to enable the president to select his secretary, instead of the states by ballot.
“Penang are still 50-50 on this issue, as we feel that council members need to debate intelligently before calling for an EOGM (Extra Ordinary General Meeting).
“And from what I gather, right now, many states oppose the idea because it is open to abuse and could lead to many problems in the long run if we have a paid sectary instead of an elected official,” said Ranjit.
He feels that the system has been tried in the FA of Malaysia, and it was not a success.
“Right now we have a hard-working president in Tengku Abdullah (Sultan Ahmad Shah). He has injected many fresh ideas into the sport, and also made MHF financially sound.
“However, when there is a change in leadership in future, the new president might not be of the same caliber and then the problems will start as he will hold the reigns on the secretary.
“And once the constitution is amended, it is not easy to get back to the old ways.
“State delegates need to voice out their feelings on this matter in the council meeting and not just keep quiet and then vote against the idea in the EOGM, as this will be seen as a waste of time and effort,” said Ranjit.
According to Ranjit, the Sports Commissioner’s office was keen to promote a paid secretary and treasurer in associations, but the plan backfired when an association almost went bankrupt when both the paid staff got together and started siphoning funds on the quiet.
“And now, the Commissioner’s office does not make it mandatory to have paid secretary and treasurer after this bitter episode. I believe a healthy debate at the council meeting will solve many matters and that is what the delegates should do.”
The MHF council are also expected to suggest a few other amendments to to tighten some areas in their constitution, which has been abused by certain quarters to their benefit.

National Press Club 5km Run

THE National Press Club (NPC) will be organising a 1Malaysia NPC Media Run on Aug 1 (Sunday).
The flag-off is at 8am from the vicinity of the NPC clubhouse at 84, Jalan Tangsi, Kuala Lumpur. The event is aimed at fostering camaraderie and promoting a healthy lifestyle among members of the media and public.
The 5km run is open to all members of NPC, media and also open to public.
The run will be divided into two main events - comprising four open and four media categories.
The Open category will be divided into Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men and Women’s Veteran (age 40 and above) while the Media category will comprise men's women's Open and men's and women's veteran (age 40 and above).
Entrance fee is RM10 per person. Participants will each receive a T-shirt and a souvenir medal. They will also be able to take part in the lucky draw.
Forms can be collected from the NPC clubhouse at 84, Jalan Tangsi, KL or call Aftar Singh at 016-245 3839, Muharyani Othman at 012-285 9647 or Norul Huzanna at 017-3110187
The closing date for entries is July 30, 2010.

Malaysia win one, lose one Down Under

THE Malaysian senior side lost one and won their second match in Perth, Australia.
The seniors are in Australia to play a few friendlies in preparation for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Malaysia lost to Australian club champions West Aus tralian Thunder Stick 4-1 in the first match with Amin Rahim scoring the solitary goal.
However, in the second match against the same team, Malaysia won 3-1 with the goals coming from Izwan Firdaus, Nabil Fiqri and Razie Rahim.
After the Australian Tour, the team will head for Europe to play a few friendlies and also a Four-Nation from Aug 24-29 involving France, Ireland, Poland and Scotland.

Amendment to pay, not elect MHF secretary

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) council meeting on July 27 is expected to endorse an amendment to their constitution which may turn the post of sectary general into a paid post, instead of an elected official.
The move is being headed by MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to make administration of the association more accountable.
“The issue will be discussed in the council meeting next week, and after the council approves it, an Extra Ordinary General Meeting will be called.
“And if there is a two-thirds mandate at the EOGM, the amendment will be submitted to the Sports Commissioner’s office to be endorsed,” said a council member who declined to be named.
The MHF is also expected to tighten other areas in their constitution, which has been abused by certain quarters to their benefit.
“The special projects committee (under vice-president M. Gobinathan) will also tighten the functions and powers of the various committees and sub-committees to make daily ad ministration much simpler,” said the council member.
And with the MHF elections slated for the end of this year, the new amendments will be immediately utilised and if the plan becomes a reality, there will not be an election for the post of the secretary this year.
At present the MHF secretary is Hashim Yusoff, who was elected in the last elections.