MHF Forms Probe Committee

Coach Sarjit Singh (right) waiting for his turn to be called by the committee.

Journalists waiting outside the MHF office in Bukit Jalil.Journalists waiting outside the MHF office in Bukit Jalil.

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) will set up an independent three-man committee to probe the drastic performance slide in the national team.

“The management committee will not comment on allegations of bribery and match-fixing which were highlighted in the press recently. We will also not conduct an in-house investigation on the matter because we feel the police should be allowed to do their job first.

“However, the management committee decided to form an independent three-man committee to look into the slide of performance among players,” said MHF president Tan Sri Admiral (rtd) Anwar Mohd Nor yesterday.

MHF deputy president Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar and vice-president Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema were among those who attended the management committee meeting yesterday.

The national team, after a silver in the Azlan Shah Cup and a bronze medal in the Asia Cup last year, failed perform at the Beijing Olympic Qualifier and then finished last in the Azlan Shah Cup this year.

“The committee will not be totally alien to hockey, but none will be from the present circle of administrators. This way, we can truly have people who know the game, but are currently independent of the administration to probe the slide in the sport,” said Dr Cheema.

National coach Sarjit Singh was called to the meeting and said: “I have presented a n in-depth report on the Azlan Shah Cup and also the Japan Qualifier as requested. And I have also been given the green-light by the management committee to lodge a police report tomorrow (today) so that those who have written ‘poison-pen e-mails’, and blogged about the coaching set-up will be investigated.

“We want to know who these people are, as they have tarnished the name of the MHF’s coaching set-up,” said Sarjit.

A series of e-mails, alleging that national players have been involved in bribery, match-fixing, betting in English Premier League matches and money-lending activities have been circulating after the Japan Qualifier.

“We did not act on the e-mails because they did not have the name of sender(s) so we took them as poison-pen letters. But after the e-mails were re-produced in print (newspaper) and it became ‘public domain’, we lodged a police report because there were allegations of criminal activities,” said Anwar.

The police, according to Anwar, have yet to call any official or player for questioning.

And when Anwar was asked if the three-man committee will question players and officials on the above allegations, he said: “That is up to them, but in the course of their investigation, if anything comes out, we will report it to the police as we want to get to the bottom of this matter, right or wrong.”

Argentina 2 Australia 1!

CHAMPIONS TROPHY -- DAY 2

Team-mates congratulate Matias Paredes (middle) upon scoring the equaliser against Germany.
After a 2-2 draw with World No 1 Germany, Argentina scalp Australia. Pity they did not make it to the Beijing Olympics, but that is a different strory.
Argentina also lifted the 2008 Azlan Shah crown.
Argentina 2 (L. Vila 8, Argento 15) Australia 1 (Kavanagh 24).

The two teams started off as even opponents, neither going for full press at the beginning, but Argentina soon dared the Kookaburras, winning a penalty corner that Lucas Vila made good use of with a powerful drive into the right side of the goal.

Australia responded with increasing pressure, and the match turned into a fast-paced end-to-end game. The Kookaburras found it hard to create chances however, with Argentina absorbing the pressure well and putting forward a great performance in defense.

The white-and-blue even ended up upping the ante with a second goal as Tomas Argento slapped the rebound off a Lucas Rey shot into the net.
Two down now, Australia continued to increase the pressure, and got on the scoreboard with a beautiful goal when Fergus Kavanagh deflected a great drive into the circle from Desmond Abbott, but could not get any closer.
Throughout the second half, both teams played great hockey in this match that was certainly the best in this tournament so far.

Australia was closer to scoring but Argentina played cleverly and showed world class skills, denying the Olympic champions on a couple of great opportunities, including a cracking short corner flick from Luke Doerner that hit the post.
With more than two minutes to go, Australia even took their goalkeeper off the field, opting to play with 11 field players, but it was to no avail: Argentina held the score over time, winning the match thanks to their two goals early in the match. Argentina are beginning to emerge as serious contenders in this tournament, while today's dropped points may well end up seriously hurting Australia's bid for the final. Australia will be disappointed after having the better part of possession in the second half, especially given that after scoring five in their opener, they struggled with their finishing.

Aussies break free

CHAMPIONS TROPHY DAY 1.
Eli Matheson of Australia celebrates scoring in his Champions Trophy debut
AUSTRALIA sailed past Korea, the Netherlands booked three points with a great performance against Spain, and Argentina were held by World Champions and Champions Trophy title holders Germany to a draw.

Australia 5 Korea 3 (2:1)

AUS: Eli Matheson FG 4m, David Guest PC 24m, Jamie Dwyer FG 38m, Andrew Smith FG 40m, Liam de Young FG 49m.

KOR: Woon Kon Yeo FG 28m, Jong Hyun Jang PC 47m, Nam Yong Lee FG 58m.

Germany 2 Argentina 2 (1:1)

GER: Florian Keller PC 6m, Timo Wess PC 69m.

ARG: Matias Paredes FG 25m, Rodrigo Vila FG 55m.

Netherlands 3 Spain 1 (2:0)

NED: Teun de Nooijer FG 10m, Ronald Brouwer FG 19m, Laurence Docherty FG 53m

ESP: Xavi Ribas PC 61m.

Investigate till the last drop

THE MALAYSIAN TEAM

IN lodging a police report on allegations of match-fixing, Malaysian Hockey Federation secretary Hashim Yusoff was quick to add the association didn’t suspect any foul play by the players.

Hashim’s stand is commendable but MHF should not be too quick in refuting this, and the numerous other allegations that have been made. Yes, most of the allegations came via several anonymous e-mails which were sent to, among others, the Sports Minister, National Sports Council, Olympic Council of Malaysia and the media but MHF is duty bound to investigate their worthiness.
It has no other choice for the image of the sport has been tainted as the e-mails have spread like wildfire.

Among the allegations, some of which were first made when Malaysia failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, were that some players received money to play in a tournament, are involved in betting in the English Premier League, had fixed an Azlan Shah Cup match and that a coach was involved in money-lending activities.

The last e-mail was even more personal in nature as it made derogatory comments about several officials from MHF and NSC.
MHF has made the right move by lodging the police report as any allegation of match-fixing, given football’s history, has to be investigated.

But it shouldn’t stop there for the other allegations need to be investigated by MHF.
Both players and officials have been implicated and should MHF just brush the allegations off, hockey’s name will be tarnished for good.

The belief within MHF circles is that this is merely a smear campaign due to unhappiness with the federation but even if that ultimately proves to be true, the allegations need to be thoroughly investigated.
And should there be an iota of truth in even one of the allegations, then action should be taken against those guilty.

But if they are merely allegations, MHF must also leave no stone unturned to nab the sender or senders of the e-mail.
The game demands it.

MHF lodge police report

Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary Sgt Hashim Yusoff (left) with lawyer Amrit Pal Singh in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. After consulting the lawyer, the MHF lodged a police report yesterday.
Sgt Hashim Yusoff leaving the Pudu Police Station in Kuala Lumpur after lodging the report.

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) yesterday lodged a police report on allegations by an English daily that their players are involved in match fixing, and other illegal activities.
The report was lodged by MHF secretary Sgt Hashim Yusoff after receiving instructions from MHF president Tan Sri Admiral (Rtd) Anwar Mohamed Nor and MHF deputy president Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar.
The daily yesterday quoted a player who alleged that his teammates had fixed an Azlan Shah Cup match, received money to play in a tournament, are involved in betting in the English Premier League and also alleged that a coach was involved in money-lending activities.
"We at the MHF strongly believe that the allegations are untrue, and so we lodged a police report today (yesterday).
"The report was lodged so that police can call those who have the alleged information on match fixing, bribery, illegal betting and money lending activities and investigate thoroughly," said Hashim.
The MHF has appointed lawyer Amrit Pal Singh to handle the case.
"We want those who have the alleged information, which has put the Federation in bad light, to stop writing articles, and instead co-operate with the police in their investigations.
"These are some serious allegations, and we will let the police handle them from now onwards," said Hashim.
MHF's management committee is meeting on Monday.
"We will provide further information, if any, in a press conference after the meeting," said Hashim.
Malaysian hockey officials and players have come under a series of attacks on cyberspace, after they failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics and then finished last in the Azlan Shah Cup.