KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) deputy president Datuk S. Shamala has voiced out a strong opinion on the financial strategies employed by the governing body.
Speaking to Scoop, Shamala said MHC needed to diversify its funding sources and prioritise judicious spending over excessive initiatives that may not directly benefit the association.
She urged MHC to refrain from continually depending on the government for insufficient funding.
Previously, Scoop reported that MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal mentioned the need for additional funding from the Youth and Sports Ministry to advance hockey in Malaysia, particularly in organising tournaments.
As such, Shamala advocated for a strategic focus on the national team’s performance, asserting that success on the field would attract the necessary investments.
“There’s no use in consistently blaming the government for insufficient funds. If the team wins, the investments and funding will automatically come to the association.
“They should focus on the national team, instead of creating other hockey leagues and teams that don’t yield results.
“MHC should analyse how they can improve based on the investments received over the years rather than overspending on new endeavours,” said Shamala, who was also a former deputy president of the Selangor Hockey Association.
The FIH Hockey Junior World Cup, which concluded in December last year, cost MHC approximately RM3.5 million to organise, with the largest portion of RM1.6 million designated as the hosting fee for the International Hockey Federation.
Despite the junior team’s 12th-place finish, MHC aimed for a better outcome with its men’s and women’s hockey teams in the ongoing FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Oman.
Budget constraints have hampered MHC’s participation in the annual FIH Pro League, with an estimated budget of between RM1.2 million and RM1.4 million required.
The financial challenges also extend to supporting the necessities of its coaches, youth athletes, specialist coaches and its sports science team.
MHC has sought more funds from the government to fulfil these operational needs.
The decline in sponsorship from corporate partner Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has added to MHC’s financial strain.
While TNB contributed RM35 million between 2006 and 2019, with funds mainly focused on the development of the sport at the grassroots level, the focus shifted to organising local and international tournaments after 2019.
TNB’s sponsorship, including RM1 million for the Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup, is seen as instrumental but insufficient for MHC’s financial requirements.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, MHC faces a financial gap of at least RM12 million to cover expenses and effectively manage the confederation. – January 27, 2024