MHF: We called Police to probe

By JJ Shah

THE police have been called in by the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) to investigate allegations of match-fixing by national players to settle gambling debts as the federation wants no stone unturned to get to the bottom of this ugly disease.

MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said: "Let the police do their investigations first" before MHF takes the next step.

"That is why I have called in the police. Let the police do their investigations. They are free to call in the players and officials.

" I am serious about the allegations and don't want Malaysia's hockey image to be tarnished by alleged match fixing," Tengku Abdullah said during a press conference on the sidelines of the Asian-Australasian-African Polo Championships in Pekan yesterday.

"No stone will be left unturned in this matter. I have heard of such allegations before but I have no evidence to bring the culprits to book. It has all been hearsay so far.

"So, let the police take over and probe the allegations further.

"Here, we are seriously preparing for the London Olympics (Qualifier) and now you have allegations of match-fixing.

"No doubt we have lost international matches in the dying minutes of a match, but there could be other reasons like lack of match fitness and so on.

"Those guilty will pay the price. We want a clean squad to prepare for the Olympic Qualifier," he warned.

Tengku Abdullah was referring to Timesport's report yesterday that Malaysian hockey has been rocked by allegations of corruption after it emerged that four, and possibly more, national players have allegedly been fixing matches to settle gambling debts.

The players are apparently heavy punters of the much-followed English Premier League (EPL). Some have reported to have lost as much as RM30,000 each and have allegedly fixed international hockey matches by laying heavy bets.

The matter was also discussed during its management committee meeting last week.

The report, quoting a source, said match-fixing has reached an alarming level and national hockey players are reportedly placing bets on certain gambling websites.

It is also said that matches were allegedly fixed during the recent Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh where Malaysia were beaten in four consecutive matches - 3-1 to Britain, 2-1 to Australia, India (5-2) and 3-2 to New Zealand. Malaysia's only win was a 3-1 victory against South Korea.

NST reporter Jugjet Singh, who broke the match-fixing story, received a call from an "ASP Loy" of the police's Gaming and Vice division, to help in the probe.

Match-fixing shocker

Jugjet Singh

HOCKEY has been rocked by allegations of corruption after it emerged that four, and possiblymore, national players have been fixing matches to settle gambling debts.

The players are apparently heavy punters of English Premier League (EPL) matches and after losing as much as RM30,000 each, have allegedly fixed Malaysian international matches and made killings on them by betting.

The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) suspected something amiss during the recent Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh where the national team, despite dominating play, lost two matches in the last fiveminutes on each occasion.

The MHF has already called in the police and it is learnt an officer from the Anti- Gambling and Vice unit recently met officials from the federation for further information.

The MHF also discussed the matter during its management committee meeting last week.

A source said it was a well-known fact that certain players bet heavily on the EPL and other sports.

“It has, however, reached disturbing levels as the players are getting deeper into debt and when forced to pay, have opted to fix matches involving them and then betting on Malaysia to lose,” said the source.

Odds on international hockey matches are also offered on certain gambling websites and this could be where the players are placing their bets.

An even more alarming situation could be that these players are “forced” to play below par by the syndicates to whom they owe money to.

Thiswon’t only help settle the players’gambling debts but the bookies could make a bigger killing by taking bets from other punters.

The source added that team officials had received information thatmatches were fixed in theAzlan Shah Cup.

Malaysia fell to four consecutive defeats — 3-1 to Britain, 2-1 to Australia, 5-2 to India and 3-2 to New Zealand.

The information was that certain players were playing below par on purpose and team officials issued a warning in the stadium’s changing room just before the match against South Korea.The players responded by beating Korea 3-1.

It is learnt the players have not been dropped yet as MHF is still investigating but it has been made known to all that action will be swift and harsh as MHF is determined to ensure that Malaysia is represented by a clean squad for the 2012 London Olympics Qualifier.

New Straits Times

National Under-21 action starts..

FOR Information/report on the National Under-21 hockey tournament which will start 14/06/2011 please go to... http://u21hockey.blogspot.com/

DEFENDING champions Malacca will lead seven other teams in the National Under-21 hockey tournament starting on Tuesday at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) decided to hold the Under-21 this year, also known as the Tan Sri Anwar Mohamed Nor Cup, as the sport was not included in the Malaysia Games fixtures.
However, only eight states showed interest, and this has baffled MHF.
“We decided to host the tournament after states made a request for it, as the Malaysia Games this year did not have hockey on its fixture.
“But the response was cold, as only eight teams registered even though we are offering RM5,000 to compete,” said MHF secretary Maninderjit Singh.
In Group A are Johor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Se langor; while in Group B are Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Penang, and Perak.
The Project 2013 players, some of whom will head for Moscow for a Four-Nation on June, 20 could be the main fixtures for the states that they represent.
Selangor’s trump card could turn out to be Mohamed Nor Faez, who scored eight goals in eight matches in Project 2013’s recent playing Tour of Australia and New Zealand.
TUESDAY -- Group A: Johor v Pahang (5pm), Negri v Selangor (7pm); Group B: Kuala Lumpur v Penang (5pm), Malacca v Perak (7pm).
WEDNESDAY: Group A: Pahang v Selangor (5pm), Negri v Johor (7pm); Group B: Penang v Perak (5pm), Malacca v Kuala Lumpur (7pm).
NOTE: All matches at Taman Daya Stadium, Johor Baru.

NST Journalist Ajitpal blogs about Tennis..

http://malaysiantennis.blogspot.com/

NEW STRAITS TIMES Sports Journalist Ajitpal Singh writes about his passion, Tennis at his blog.

INFO on AJITPAL ...Sports journo since 2006. Attached with NST. Byline has appeared in The Sun, Harian Metro and NST. Done a bit of politics and general news during my stint in Terengganu between 2003 and 2005. 2005- second place winner for news category in Terengganu (Kawat), 2010 - Sportswriters Association of Malaysia contest column winner, Best Sports article (NST) and ATP Malaysian Open best tennis article (won an all expense paid trip to Hong Kong). I've covered the Sea Games and Asian Games.

Mixed team for Moscow

THE national seniors team has withdrawn from playing in a Moscow Four-Nation, after the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) found out that their targeted opponents have also withdrawn.
Now, a mixed team made up of Project 2013 players and three senior players will head for Moscow on June 20 to play against Russia, Belarus and Uzbekistan.
“I have just been informed that since South Africa and Argentina could not make it to the tournament and have been replaced with Belarus and Uzbekistan, the MHF decided to send a mixed team to the tournament.
“I will be fielding 16 players, some of who played in the recent Australia and New Zealand Tours, and three senior players who will be dropped form the European Tour,” said Project 2013 coach K. Dharmaraj.
Project 2013 played four matches against Australia and lost their first match 9-1, second match 2-1, then drew 5-5 before being whipped again 7-2 in the final friendly.
In New Zealand the Project boys lost 8-0, drew 2-2, lost 4- 2 and won 2-1.
“I am releasing half the Australia-New Zealand Tour side for the Under-18 tournament in Singapore, and the re maining boys as well as other Project Boys in training will travel to Russia for the Four-Nation.
“In the Australia-New Zealand Tours, there were plenty of ups and down because of two main reasons. One was that we had more chances than the opponents in all the matches played, but muffed sitters while the opponents rarely missed their chances when in the semi-circle.
“The second reason is that we do not have good goal keepers, and both of them kept letting in soft goals which placed the team under undue pressure during the Tour,” said Dharmaraj.
And for the Russian tournament, Dharmaraj will work to improve these two areas.
“It is good to get more matches against matured sides, and while Russia should be the favourites, we will play to beat Belarus and Uzbekistan so that we can have another shot at Russia in the final. This time, we will work on the finishing and hopefully the goalkeepers’ will be more confident and not let in easy goals,” said Dharmaraj.