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GEORGE Koshy (pic) will only stand for the deputy president's post, leaving Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal as a most likely unopposed president of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
Nominations close at noon Tuesday, and early indications are that Subahan, the current Selangor HA president, will replace Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah as the sixth president of the Confederation.
"Yes, Koshy has signed the nomination form for deputy president and will not stand for the president's post. Our other candidate for women's deputy president K. Maheshwary has also signed the nomination form," said Kuala Lumpur HA secretary V. Rajamanickam.
Even with just one day to go, only four states had sent in their nominations and Sabah, Sarawak and Kedah had all named Subahan as president. To be eligible to stand as president one needs three nominations and Subahan has already received his.
With the top post unopposed, stiff battle lines have been drawn for the men and women's deputy president. At this stage, Koshy is going to be challenged by incumbent vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad.
And it will be a vice-president's upgrade battle in the women's section when incumbents S. Shamala and Mahesari go for the deputy president's post.
Elections will be held on May 13, and nominees have until May 9 to withdraw from the race.
Also making an exit will be incumbent deputy president Puan Sri Raja Noora Ashikin who will not be seeking re-election.
The new MHC constitution did away with the secretary's post and replaced it with a CEO, while there will be two deputy president's to govern both genders. Seven vice-president's posts will also be contested.
During the earlier nominations which were cancelled due to a messed up constitution, Subahan won unopposed with 12 states nominating him, while Shamala had the highest nomination (men as well as women) for vice-president with 11 states backing her quest.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) was formed in 1953 and the first president was Tun Abdul Razak (1957–1976) followed by Sultan Azlan Shah (2002–2004), Raja Nazrin Shah (2004–2006), Admiral Tan Sri Mohammad Anwar Mohammad Nor (19 Dec 2006–1 Nov 2008) and
Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (1 Nov 2008-13 May 2015).
K. MAHESWARI was among the last batch of Malaysian women that won the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games bronze medal, and come May 13, she will be looking for a golden outing.
The incumbent Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice-president will be going for broke when she challengers S. Shamala for the women's deputy president post.
But Maheswari, Group Chief Regulatory Officer at Kenanga Group, made it clear that she is not in a battle with her challenger, but will go for broke in a fight to salvage women's hockey.
"I was fortunate, or you can call it unfortunate, to be in the last women's hockey team which won a medal at the Asian Games. It has been a long 33 years since we last touched a medal at that level, which portrays the state of the sport.
"And I want to make it clear that I'm not in a battle with my opponent, but in a fight to salvage the women's section," said Maheswari.
The MHC vice president also revealed that her current position in MHC was just as an endorser, after decisions are made.
"Most of the time we were just told after decisions and plans were made and so I could not actively involve myself even though I was a vice-president. The deputy president is a decision making post, and that's why I am keen to see myself at the top of the podium so that I can play a more active role," said the former international who has been nominated by Kuala Lumpur HA.
Nominations close on April 28 and the last day for withdrawals is May 9. As of today, Maheswari's challenger is Shamala, also an incumbent vice-president.
When asked if she has started her state-wide campaign: "I'm not the kind of person who would pick up the phone and call state affiliates looking for votes. The affiliates know my work-rate as I have been in the hockey circle for a long time. Yes, some states did call and ask me if I'm interested, but I'm not the kind who will go on a campaign trail."
There is a proposed line-up linking her to a certain camp, making its round on social media as the election fever heightens.
"No Im not linked to any camp. Actually I do not favour taking sides in camps or campaigns, but would rather the delegates make their own line-up on voting day."
With MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and deputy president Puan Sri Raja Noora Ashikin not seeking re-election, May 13 looks set to be a battle of many fronts for every position.
Thirty-two delegates will cast their votes, half of them women, for 10 posts -- president, two deputy presidents, and seven vice-presidents.
Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal will stand for president and KLHA have names George Koshy as his challenger. George and Subahan would need three nominations to be eligible to contest the post.
Koshy has also been nominated as the men's deputy president, and he is expected to announce his decision on which post he will stand when nominations close.
Incumbent vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad has also said he will be going for broke, for the deputy's post.
The new MHC constitution did away with the secretary's post and replaced it with a CEO, while there will be two deputy president's to govern both genders.
FORMER journalist Johnson Fernandez (pic) was given the mandate to become the new president of Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA).
KLHA is the most active association in the country, and Johnson had no challengers to the hot seat.
In fact, all the office bearers were unopposed, with V. Rajamanickam
returned as secretary.. a post he has held for the last 22 years.
Abu Huraira Yazid is still deputy president while the vice-presidents are Mej (rtd) Raj Kumar, Faithal Hassan, S. Samson and James Andrew. Daljit Singh remained as treasurer.
Founded in 1981, KLHA has many divisions in their league, as well as a handful of development programmes running simultaneously. There's never a dull moment at their field at Jalan Pantai.
Johnson, during his journalism days, was a hard-hitting columnist who had hockey closest to his heart.
"It's a honour to be the fourth president of KLHA, and I have many plans for the association, but I can't say much until I have a discussion with my council members at a later date," said Johnson.
Rajamanickam said the priority would be fund-raising as they have a full calender every season.
"We are a very active association but money is short after our president George Koshy left us. He use to fund many of our programmes, but now we will have to look for sponsors and that's our first priority now," said Rajamanickam.
The 'new' KLHA council then nominated Koshy for president and deputy president at the May 13 Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) elections.
If Koshy gets two more nominations, he will be eligible to stand for presdient and the challenger would be Selangor HA president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.
"We have nominated George for president as well as deputy president for the MHC elections, while former KLHA vice-president K. Maheswari has been nominated for the women deputy president’s post," said Rajamanickam.
S. Shamala, current MHC vice-president, will also stand for the women's deputy presdient elections. In the men's section, Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad will be challenging Koshy and any other nominees.
"KLHA feel Shamala is wearing too many hats as she is also a council member of AHF (Asian Hockey Federation), in the FIH committee as well as vice-president of the Selangor HA.
"That's why we nominated former player Maheswari as she would be more available in MHC matters," said Rajamanickam.
However, Koshy and Maheswari were not consulted on their nominations, which close on April 28. They have until May 9 to withdraw from the race.
Kooshy has repeatedly said that he does not want to stand for the MHC president's post and efforts to contact him were not returned.
THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will see winds of change on May 13, with royalty bowing out while intellectuals taking over the top echelon.
For at the moment of writing, Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal still has no challengers for the president's post, while S. Shamala will be gunning for the women's deputy president's post.
The men's deputy president front-runner is Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad.
Incumbent president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and incumbent deputy president is Puan Sri Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah will not seek re-election.
Subahan is a chartered accountant by profession, while Shamala is a computer whiz at Universiti Putra Malaysia, and her full title is professor Dr Shamala, a PhD holder in Computer Science.
"I have decided to stand for the deputy president's post (women) after receiving good feedback from state affiliates, and there is no turning back, as I am willing to challenge anybody who is also keen on the post," said Shamala yesterday.
However, with recent amendments to the MHC constitution, there will be two deputy president's with one for each gender.
"After the amendment, the deputy president's post is no longer ceremonial but a working post. So, at the end of the last council meeting, Puan Sri (Raja Noora) told me to go for it and that's why I have decided to stand for election at a higher post," said Shamala.
Raja Noora Ashikin said she will call it a day: "Yes I will not be seeking re-election, and have even asked my home state Perak not to nominate me. I am backing Shamala to take over the chair."
Shamala started as secretary to the now defunct Malaysian Women's Hockey Federation (MWHF) and then moved on to become a vice-president in the MHC.
She is also a council member in the Asian Hockey Federation: "I have served hockey at every level, and with two deputy presidents' I can concentrate on developing the ladies teams as well as grassroot. Malaysia has some very talented women players, and they need some sound programmes to make them even better.
"I'm ready to take on a bigger responsibility in the sport which I have dedicated half my life to, and I will challenge anybody who stands against me. There is no turning back," said Shamala.
Early indications are that Shamala and Subahan will not have to go to the polls to take over the reigns of MHC, as they might just be winners when nominations close.
During the earlier nominations which were cancelled due to a messed up constitution, Subahan won unopposed with 12 states nominating him, while Shamala had the highest nomination (men as well as women) for vice-president with 11 states backing her quest.
The closing date for nominations is April 28 while the last date for withdrawals is May 9.
- MALE
| DATE | INFO | TIME | TEAMS | SCORE | STATUS |
|---|
| June 20, 2015 | Pool A | 18:00 |  IND - FRA  | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool A | 20:00 |  PAK - POL  | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| June 21, 2015 | Pool B | 12:00 |  CHN - MAS  | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool B | 16:00 |  GBR - BEL  | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool A | 18:00 |  AUS - FRA | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| June 23, 2015 | Pool B | 12:00 | GBR - IRL  | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool A | 16:00 | IND - POL | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool B | 18:00 | BEL - CHN | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| June 24, 2015 | Pool A | 14:00 | POL - FRA | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool A | 20:00 | PAK - AUS | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| June 25, 2015 | Pool B | 14:00 | MAS - IRL | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool B | 16:00 | GBR - CHN | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| June 26, 2015 | Pool B | 14:00 | IRL - CHN | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool A | 16:00 | PAK - IND | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool B | 18:00 | MAS - BEL | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool A | 20:00 | AUS - POL | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| June 28, 2015 | Pool A | 12:00 | PAK - FRA | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool B | 14:00 | MAS - GBR | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool A | 16:00 | IND - AUS | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Pool B | 18:00 | BEL - IRL | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| July 1, 2015 | 9th / 10th | 10:30 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| QF 1 | 13:00 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| QF 2 | 15:30 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| QF 3 | 18:00 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| QF 4 | 20:30 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| July 3, 2015 | 5th - 8th | 13:00 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| 5th - 8th | 15:30 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| SF 1 | 18:00 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| SF 2 | 20:30 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| July 5, 2015 | 7th / 8th | 10:30 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| 5th / 6th | 13:00 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| 3rd / 4th | 15:30 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
| Final | 18:00 | - | 0 - 0 | Upcoming |
- FEMALE
