KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has stressed that the revamp of the national men’s senior team will not be entirely based on the ongoing Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
The hockey governing body’s response came after hockey luminaries questioned MHC’s over-dependence on finding players for the national team based solely on the MHL, without exploring other options.
Last week, MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said the national teams would be rebuilt after the 2024 MHL season ends and all the coaches’ contracts have come to an end.
This decision followed 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.
Speaking to Scoop, MHC coaching committee chairman Datuk Majid Manjit Abdullah said that the MHL was chosen as a player selection platform due to the tournament’s proximity, and the governing body has pledged to explore other avenues for player selections in the months to come.
“We are not entirely relying on the MHL to find future players for the national team. We are focusing on the MHL for now just because that’s the closest platform that we currently have to scout potential players for the national team.
“Once we form a team, we will expand the pool of talent with the aim of having a maximum of 40 players in the national setup.
“Besides the MHL, the coaching committee will also consider prospects from other state tournaments across the country, the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) tournaments, and the Malaysia Games (Sukma) which is scheduled to take place in August this year.
“Regardless of the coaches we bring in for the national team, we will not limit their selection process. We will ensure they travel to all states across the country to find the right players for our long-term plan,” added Majid.
The MHL, established in 1987, is a top league competition for field hockey clubs in the Malaysian hockey league system.
There are currently seven teams in the league, with Terengganu as the defending champion.
The 2024 edition of the league commenced on February 2 and runs until March 9.
At the same time, Majid said that the MHC would be forming a second national men’s team within their existing budget to provide players with more exposure to enhance their performance.
“There has always been a complaint that MHC does not provide enough opportunities for players to compete in tournaments and gain exposure, so we have decided to introduce a new national team called ‘Speedy Tigers B,’ which will offer more player choices that can potentially join the Speedy Tigers team one day.
“In total, we will be forming three new teams: Speedy Tigers, Speedy Tigers B, and the Young Tigers.
“Through this initiative, whichever coaches we decide to bring in will have a wider variety of players to choose from, all with similar levels of game experience, that can be nurtured on a long-term basis,” Majid added. – February 7, 2024