KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan were once heavyweights in Malaysian hockey. Today, their rivals can be excused for taking them lightly.
Negri hockey has been on the decline in recent years, and it was no surprise that they ended up as the whipping boys in the recent Razak Cup.
Negri lost four times, drew once and won only once, conceding 26 goals and scoring only seven in six matches.
The team, under coach S. Chandran, were outplayed by Armed Forces (4-2), Terengganu (5-1), Johor (7-2) and KL (8-0). They beat Perlis 3-2 and drew with Perak 2-2.
Negri, who used to be a Razak Cup powerhouse, finished 11th out of 13 teams.
What happened to the grassroots development of the Negri Sembilan Hockey Association (NSHA)?
What has Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, who is NSHA president, and his committee done since 2019?
Where is their grassroots development blueprint and who is in charge?
NSHA spent hundreds of thousands to hire national players from other states to win the league title and cup final in the National Women's League in March. This did not benefit the Negri players but only the other states players.
The money spent on the "non-Negri players" would have been better used for development in districts in Negri.
There is also no proper coordination as some affiliates do their own hockey development without NSHA's support.
And some affiliates are not active but yet sitting in the executive council.
Some current council members are already making deals with other affiliates to serve for another term at the NSHA Annual General Meeting on Friday. Is there a list prepared for the affiliates to vote accordingly?
Only affiliates should be allowed to vote, and not council members if they don't represent the affiliates.
Follow the Malaysian Hockey Confederation voting system where only the affiliates vote, not the office bearers.
If office bearers are allowed to vote, 11 votes are already in their hands.
If these ineffectual council members are elected again, then Negri hockey is doomed.
If they cannot help Negri hockey, please leave, and let others, who have the expertise and vision, run the NSHA.
Otherwise, Negri will continue to be the whipping boys in domestic competitions.
