KUALA LUMPUR – Is it not just a rerun of the same script with a different cast for the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) as they decide to disband and revamp the Speedy Tigers and Young Tigers teams?
Hockey luminaries are voicing dissent over the national body’s decision, saying that it is a recurring strategy from the past – despite the change in players and coaching team, the outcome remains the same.
Former national player Kerpal Singh argued against this approach, saying that this should not be the only method used to overcome the teams’ failures as it could place an undue financial strain on the governing body.
Speaking to Scoop, the hockey stalwart instead advocated for a shift towards developing young talents by moulding them into future national players.
“Starting a team from scratch and keeping it running is going to cost a lot of money. If they intend to make this solution a norm, it’s not going to be a useful method for them in the long run.
“The future of the national team should not be based on the MHL. In my opinion, the league is not competitive enough, as only a few teams are competing. At the end of the day, we are going to see the same faces again in the national team setup.
“More emphasis should be given to grooming players as young as 8 to 10 years old for the future of the national team, instead of overly depending on the national league for short-term gains,” said Kerpal, who played as a fullback in the national team from 1989 to 1997.
Echoing similar sentiments, former national hockey player Datuk Seri N. Sri Shanmuganathan suggested collaboration between state hockey associations and MHC to showcase players.
The 77-year-old said the state hockey associations should play their part in making their players more noticeable so that they can be under the radar of MHC’s coaching committee.
He also urged MHC to form an independent athlete selection council headed by former Olympians, who will act as feeders for the governing body to train some of the best players for the country – a common practice in foreign nations.
“I agree with the disbandment of the teams made by MHC, as the teams were indeed not good enough in the tournaments they participated in.
“But my question is, what is the need for going back to the same formula, which has proven to be a failure over the years?
“The team should consist of the best players from the country, not just the best players from the MHL.
“MHC has many good coaches, and we also have around 150 former hockey Olympians in the country. Perhaps MHC can come up with an independent player selection board made up of calibered former hockey players and not those who dance to their tunes.
“Players should be selected by the selection board instead of directly being chosen by the coach,” added Shanmuganathan, who captained the 1975 World Cup team that finished fourth at Stadium Merdeka.
On Wednesday, MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said the national teams will be rebuilt after the 2024 Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) ends and all coaches’ contracts have come to an end.
This was decided following Arul Selvaraj’s senior team’s failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics, while Amin Rahim’s junior squad fared poorly in the Men’s Junior World Cup in Bukit Jalil last year.
The MHL, established in 1987, is a top league competition for field hockey clubs in the Malaysian hockey league system.
With seven teams currently in the league, Terengganu is the defending champion.
The 2024 edition of the league commenced yesterday and runs until March 9. – February 3, 2024