Bogged by the same old problems

The Malaysia Hockey League (Under-19 category), which begins today, is still bogged down by the same old problems.

The more urgent matter is the shortage of umpires.

There will be 11 matches played on most days and the organisers need at least 33 umpires for each day.

But as it stands, four of today’s matches will only have two umpires. There will be no reserve umpires on stand-by.

It is not clear why the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) are unable to get umpires for the matches concerned. But when the fitness test was held for the umpires on Feb 15, only 37 turned up. And nine failed the test.

Some of those who turned up were international class umpires, although there have been suggestions that the MHF utilise Class Three and Two officials for the preliminary rounds.

Team managers have also called for more quality umpires to overcome the problem of dubious decisions.

This year, the umpires will also have to come to grasp with some new rules which the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will introduce in May.

Another problem the MHF need to tackle is the late payment for umpires and technical officials.

The officials have yet to receive last year’s payment.

It is learnt that Milo, one of the main sponsors of the Malaysia Junior Hockey league (MJHL), had paid the money to the National Sports Council (NSC).

Match officials claimed that this was not the first time such payments had been delayed.

“This is the norm for the last few years. Yet, they expect us to turn up whenever we are called. This is ridiculous. We have to use our own money,” said the umpires, who did not want to be named.

“Why can’t the MHF pay us for last season’s competition when they have collected the money?”