MALAYSIAN HOCKEY - COSMETIC CHANGES AGAIN

Recently, there was an announcement about new structure with direction heading towards 2022 & 2026 Asian Games and special committee headed by Technical Director. 

As Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." 

The custodian is repeating the same decision making with similar approach. The changes looks like "cosmetic changes without any substance"

Since 2015 till now, the approach of trial and error methodology are been applied without thinking out side the box. Engaged 8 foreign consultants and failed miserably and spending funds without desired results.

Why Malaysian team is not getting results is because we do not have a International Quality Hockey Players that could bring glory by beating the World best teams. That is the true reality. You all must start looking at players pathway from school to district to State to National and find out what is causing the growth of players to be a good international player. As I said we have many national players but very few with International standings. This is where we are lacking in competitiveness in World Hockey.

After failing to win the gold in 2018 Asian Games, they brought in Roelant Oltmans to get the team to Tokyo Olympics via the playoff matches against Great Britain and Malaysia lost badly.

Where is the Post Mortem report? Held in January till then it is silent and nobody knows what are the causes of the failure and way forward. Even promised to complete within a month and a copy will be send to YB Minister.

From 2015 looking at the domestic components, decision making of policies & periodization plan for National Team structure, I have openly criticized that this Malaysian team would never make it to Tokyo Olympics but many failed to see it rather than complimenting that we will make it. 

Firstly, you must understand where we are in World Hockey? You have to accept the facts of reality. Then look at your strength and weaknesses of the National Teams structure from age group, juniors and Senior teams and compare the results between world best teams in all segments including physiology, fitness, strength, technical, tactical and mental conditions. 

Secondly, understanding the tabulation of world ranking points and it's implications on the periodization plan against the target settings.

Thirdly, comprehend the journey or be well educated about the processes involved towards qualifications for big events such as World Cup & Olympics.

This current team do not have international qualities and the gap is too wide between the World best teams. 

And as of today, our current National Men Team is made of most players from 2016 Junior World Cup & current 2021 Junior World Cup project squads. Few Key Seniors players are told to leave the team and excluding the 2 brothers who could still contribute. 

Let's analyse it!

Poor performance in 2015 Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan which acts as the Qualifier to Junior World Cup - at group stage only a win against China and lost to South Korea at Quarterfinal stage. Finishing 5th place (only top 4 qualifies) on home soil is embarrassing.

The 2016 Junior World Cup team technically qualified to JWC due to Pakistan teams visa issues and withdrawal. Due to replacement, we qualified and not on merit.

Finished 11th placing in 2016 Junior World Cup - at group stage only managed to beat Egypt & lost to NZ at crossover and beating Austria thru Shoot-Out.

Current 2021 Project Squad, looking at their results from 2017-2019 Sultan of Johor Cup (as this only tournament and exposure the team had over the years), the team's performance been mediocre as no effort put into this team in term of detail plan and international exposure as the concentration was on the Senior Team. Spend close to 15 million since 2015.

Just imagine that we failed miserably in 2016 Junior Asia Cup/Jnr World Cup with ill ongoing preparation for Project 2021 without proper international match exposure towards 2021 Junior World Cup. The success of senior team depends on the junior team cycle. With two cycle ie 2016 & 2021 is bad, then how the future is going to be bright especially in next 2023 World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.

If you don't know what to do? Just go and use the Project 2013 Model as your guide. It was initiated in July 2009 with two clear objectives i.e. winning the Jnr Asia Cup in 2012 and playing in the finals of 2013 Jnr World Cup in India. This clear plan was well implemented with the enormous support from all stakeholders.

The Project starting point was preparing the detail methodology of the journey with milestone and quality of Team Management was crucial as we need the right person in the right position. This two facets was well governed and feedback loop on the progress was at its optimum level.

The Project 2013 won the 2012 Jnr Asia Cup hands down and topping pool D with finishing 4th in 2013 Junior World Cup. This team had high quality international players due to their periodization plan since 2009.

The caretaker must understand that the main issues that you're not getting results is because you do not have a good international standard National Team. This is the key core issue that is plaguing our results in World Hockey.  

So the solution, is not changing the structure at the top such as Coaches, Technical Director etc would change the results immediately. Go back to the ground and start all over again. It will take a longer period but will be beneficial.

Believe me, if you do not accept reality, the results will be the same as what Einstein said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." 

Then comes an announcement to win the Asian Champion Trophy in Dhaka in November. On what information or basis you make the decision. It is like the same you said we will top 8 in 2018 world rankings. Most of the announcement made are without valid substance and doesn't hold water.

Another Fairy tale statement - Menyifatkan 90 peratus pemain dalam skuad utama negara sekarang, masih boleh dipertaruhkan semula untuk memburu pingat emas Sukan Asia Hangzhou 2022 sekali gus layak ke Sukan Olimpik 2024. https://bebasnews.my/?p=40310

Teams like India are thinking about finishing podium at Tokyo Olympic and ranked 5th in World Hockey. Why? They won the 2016 Junior World Cup and their pool of talent is immeasurable. Then their Project Squads that plays in yearly Sultan Johor Cup is very impressive and carries outstanding quality International players. Their countless domestic age group competitions and the youth indian hockey players plays non stop as their yearly calendar is well occupied.

Then comes Japan, due to hosting Tokyo Olympics, the government & JHA invested well in their Junior Development program since 2016/2021 Junior World Cup cycle and now paying dividend in their success. They will do well in the next 2022 Asian Games due to the spill over of Tokyo Olympics preparation & exposure.

Pakistan & Korea will remain as dark horses of the tournament as their plan is always based on ad-hoc mode with lack of funding without proper long-term plans.

But you need to remember that China is hosting the next 2022 Asian Games, they may be a force and put a spanner in the work for us. Take this into consideration too.

Strong wind is blowing, that they are trying to face out Roelant Oltmans and Paul Revington to be back as Technical Director. He will be the 9th Foreign Appointment in 5 years. Unbelievable! Musical chair approach again.

Here is the Great Britain Hockey news - Meanwhile, GB women’s Elite Development Programme head coach Paul Revingtonhas accepted an opportunity overseas, which has yet to be revealed. https://www.thehockeypaper.co.uk/articles/2020/07/15/katie-glynn-and-zak-jones-join-gb-hockey-ahead-of-tokyo-2020  

Remember, we qualified for 2014 World Cup due to home ground advantage as the final qualifying round was played in Johor Bahru in 2013.  And now the qualifications processes are different and is based solely on rankings. You all must understand it. Go and read it again - https://stickwithmike.blogspot.com/2020/07/new-fih-world-ranking-points-model.html

Also note that the current failed miserably in 2014 Asian Games when gold was promised.

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L
	India	6	4	1	1
	Pakistan	6	4	2	0
	South Korea	6	5	0	1
4	Malaysia	6	3	1	2
5	China	5	2	1	2
6	Japan	5	2	1	2
7	Oman	5	2	0	3
8	Bangladesh	5	1	0	4
9	Singapore	5	1	0	4
10	Sri Lanka	5	0	0	5

And winning titles in Malaysian Hockey League it doesn't reflect the true success or qualification to helm a team due to our current MHL is in pathetic stage & low in standards.

Any team that have huge money could win the titles. No longer based on talent and national players in a team. More so, using foreign players to enhance the winning discriminates the growth of local talent & Clubs to grow. 

Finally, If you describe measures or changes as cosmetic, you mean they improve the appearance of a situation or thing but do not change its basic nature, and you are usually implying that they are inadequate. My view is a cosmetic measure which will do nothing to help the situation long term. I have warn you all again and hope don't take it too personal...