PETALING JAYA – The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) hopes to see state hockey associations throughout the country organise tournaments to foster and cultivate interest in the sport among the youth.
MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, speaking at the launch of the 2024 TNB-QNET Selangor Hockey League (SHL) today, said that state associations should not cite financial issues as a reason to suspend their competitions.
Subahan added that the governing body is always ready to help the associations in need of financial assistance for local tournaments.
“One of the biggest problems that I’ve noticed is that state associations aren’t having enough platforms for the younger generation to play hockey.
“It’s sad to see that only a few states have been able to do it over the years. Competitions and tournaments are crucial at the state level as they will help us identify more talented players for the sport in the years to come.
“I’m aware that several states have been facing financial difficulties over the years, but this should not deter them from nurturing and exposing their talents, as there are numerous corporates out there ready to help. They just need to actively seek support.
“Selangor sets a very good example of how the association managed to bring on board the QNET Group to run its league, and I hope all states will follow this example.
“MHC is also ready to assist state associations with competitions, with funds such as RM40,000 per league tournament, but we hope that the associations will run a competitive league instead of treating it like a carnival,” said Subahan.
After a five-year hiatus, the SHL is back in action starting from today until June 2, with the aim of unearthing new hockey talents.
The league, taking place at the Pandamaran hockey stadium in Klang, will be contested in three divisions and is open to all age groups.
QNET Group, formerly known as QuestNet and GoldQuest, is a Hong Kong-based multi-level marketing (MLM) company.
The group was founded in 1998 by Datuk Seri Vijay Eswaran and Joseph Bismark.
Their products include energy, weight management, nutrition, personal care, home care, and fashion accessories on an e-commerce platform.
The group was also involved in the establishment of Petaling Jaya City FC, which played in the Malaysia Super League between 2019 and 2022 when the football club was known as the Malaysian Indian Football Association. – April 20, 2024