MHC confirm indoor hockey pitch is damaged

By Jugjet Singh

July 24, 2018 @ 10:10pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have confirmed that six pieces of indoor hockey mat, ripped by unskilled foreign workers after last year’s Kuala Lumpur Sea Games, have been damaged.

  This was disclosed by MHC deputy president Datuk Dr S. Shamala today.

  However, MHC's hands are tied in this matter as they are still discussing with the KL Sea Games organisers (MASOC) regarding the indoor pitch handover.

  Because of ongoing auditing and uncompleted accounts, the artificial pitch is still locked up in a store in Balakong, Selangor.

  "Yes, six pieces of the indoor pitch are damaged but the rest of the surface is still playable,” said Shamala.

  "We have been in communication with MASOC regarding the issue but they informed MHC that several auditing measures have yet to be resolved and they can't hand it over to us," said Shamala.

  When asked if the nearly one-year delay in handover could further damage the mat (due to heat and rats), Shamala said: ‘We hope nothing happens to it during storage, but when we get it, we will probably lay it at a university hall or somewhere to promote the indoor sport.

  After the pitch was laid as a temporary measure to host the 2017 KL Sea Games at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre, it was thoughtlessly ripped off the floor.

  Contractor Kuckreja & Co spokesperson Allan Netto had said the RM250,000 pitch was damaged, and is no longer in playable condition, as chairs and tables were also placed on it during a chess tournament.

  Allan said MASOC still owe them more than RM40,000 for additional work done leading up to the Sea Games.

  The contractors spokesperson also had said: “Initially we were told to rush the job because a VIP wanted to visit MITEC, and we had to cut corners to get it ready. And after the visit, the pitch did not meet specifications because it was bumpy.

  MASOC Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong did not respond to calls and messages earlier today.

Damaged Indoor mats at the MITEC

 RIPPED OFF AFTER MALAYSIA WON MEN'S GOLD AND WOMEN'S BRONZE AT KL 2017 SEA GAMES.. RM250, 000 UP IN SMOKE...

Sea Games Indoor hockey pitch ruined...

By Jugjet Singh

July 24, 2018 @ 7:53am

THE indoor hockey artificial pitch used for the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games last year is now lying in a store somewhere in Balakong, Selangor, damaged and abandoned.

After the pitch was laid as a temporary measure to host the 2017 KL Sea Games at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC), it was thoughtlessly ripped off.

     Contractor Kuckreja & Co spokesperson Allan Netto said yesterday the pitch was damaged, and is no longer in playable condition.

On top of it, the Sea Games organisers still owe the contractor more than RM40,000, almost a year after the Malaysian men’s team won gold while the women’s team took bronze on the artificial pitch.

“Initially we were told to rush the job because a VIP wanted to visit MITEC, and we had to cut corners to get it ready. And after the visit, the pitch did not meet specifications because it was bumpy.

“We laid it again and finished the job just days before the Games started. It was in good condition and nobody complained.

“However, after the Games we asked for the balance of the money owed to us before removing it professionally. But instead of paying us, they hired unprofessional foreign workers who ripped it off and sent the pitch to a store in Balakong.

“This is a delicate surface and needs skilled workers to remove and lay it at another venue, but sadly, unprofessional hands have made it unplayable now,” said Allan.

The total cost to lay the indoor pitch was RM250,000 with the additional cost of hasty laying and re-laying for the VIP’s visit.

Kuckreja & Co has till now, yet to receive the RM40,000 owed.

“After the Sea Games, the venue was used for the Paralympics followed by a chess tournament where tables and chairs were arranged on the mat.

“This, itself, destroyed some parts of the mat, and with unprofessional removal and storage, it has just sadly gone to waste,” said Allan.

Right after the indoor Sea Games prize giving ceremony, NST Sports had asked National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail what they planned to do with the indoor court, and he could not provide an answer.

Shapawi had said then: “This artificial pitch needs to be moved to another hall because MITEC was just a temporary venue. But I can’t think of any place that is available right now.

“All our (NSC) halls are fully utilised for other sports. We will have to think of something fast.”

When contacted, Malaysian Hockey Confederation Deputy President Datuk S. Shamala said she needs more time to investigate before making a statement.

Rodhanizam: Need more commitment from MHC for indoor game

By Jugjet Singh

July 23, 2018 @ 4:53pm

MATADOR HOCKEY CLUB players with former national juniors coach Balbir Singh. 

MATADOR HOCKEY CLUB players with former national juniors coach Balbir Singh and Olympian Maninderjit Singh. The team only had one practice session on the indoor surface but held three teams to a 0-0 draw and only lost one match 1-0 in Group C in the inaugural C. Sivasubramaniam Cup .


KUALA LUMPUR: KLANG Crows HC hosted the inaugural C. Sivasubramaniam Cup Under-12 indoor hockey tournament on Sunday where 180 boys in 20 teams had fun as well as underwent a learning curve which can't be explained in a classroom.
  Indoor hockey rules and surface are different from field hockey, and many of the youngsters had trouble adapting to the surface, shoes as well as indoor hockey sticks.
  But once they mastered it after a few games, it was a joy watching them making deft short passes as well as using the 'side iron bars' as a team-mate in one-two situations.
  Former national field hockey player Rodhanizam Mat Radzi was at the Real Sports Arena in Klang to witness the tournament as well as play an exhibition match between veterans to show the youngsters how the indoor game is played.
   But he was an unhappy man after the match.
  "I believe there is great potential in this indoor game which has yet to be fully tapped in Malaysia. Just look at the players present today, they adapted to the rules and surface within an hour of playing.
  "But to make it big like field hockey, the indoor game needs more commitment from the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC). We hosted it at the KL Sea Games and played in the Asia Cup last year, but after that indoor hockey is no longer active," lamented the former national player.
  Malaysia had hosted three consecutive Indoor Asia Cup tournaments in Ipoh in 2008, 2009 and 2010 where the men won three silver medals -- lost all three finals to Iran.
  However, Malaysian women were champions in 2008 and bronze medallists in the next two years.
  Rodhanizam felt Malaysia could do well in the indoor World Cup: "I believe is we start with the under-12 like today, and have serious backing from the MHC, Malaysia can excel in the indoor World Cup."
  For the record, in the last Indoor Asia Cup in 2017 Doha, even though the men were not impressive, Malaysian women only lost 2-0 to Kazakhstan in the final.
  And at the Under-12 tournament in Klang Sunday, Kuala Lumpur Boys A lifted the inaugural C. Sivasubramaniam Cup, which was wholly managed by amateur officials who made many blunders, but all was forgoten in the spirit of learning  .

■Champion
KL BOYS 'A'
■Finalist
TRIGGER HT
■Joint 3rd
ULTIMATE HOCKEY TEAM
HIGHLANDER HC
■Joint 5th
STAR HC 'A'
LA SALLE PANDA
KL BOYS 'B'
MPS HOCKEY KIDS SEREMBAN

■Best Goalkeeper
Mohamad Farham Idan
■Man of the match
Fahmi- KL Boys A
■Best player of the tournament
Haziq- La Salle Panda
■Top Scorer

Mohamad Hakim - Trigger HT

New Razak Cup dates clash with ACT -- so no national players

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) competitions committee yesterday said it was an oversight, and have brought forward the Razak Cup one week before Deepavali,
  But now, the new dates of Oct 26-Nov 3 clash with the Oman Asian Champions Trophy and so, 26 national players will not play in the Cup.
  The ACT will be held in Oman on Oct 18-28.
  "When we sent out letters to states, stating that the Razak Cup would be held on Nov 3-11 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, it was an oversight as Deepavali is on Nov 6," said competitions committee manager Brian Fernandez.
  And when pointed out that the new dates clash with the ACT: "We are aware of that, but a decision was made earlier this year that national players will not play in local tournaments because of a hectic international schedule."
  But when Brian was asked when and who made the decision, he could not remember.
  After the MHC competitions committee sent out the invitation which clashed with Deepavali, Negri Sembilan HA were he first so reply that they will withdraw if the dates are not changed.
  And when Brian was asked about a code-of-conduct letter which the new committee members had to sigh, he said it was a normal procedure to make sure statements come from one source and do not conflict.
  The new committee, eight in all, are now not allowed to make statements to the Press.