Valid & Current Prevailing Issues faced by the Malaysian Women Hockey Team to obtain a World Class playing Hockey Nation

Based on my personal view, the following are the valid & current prevailing issues faced by the Malaysian Women Hockey Team to obtain a World Class playing hockey Nation:

- No proper Women Junior Teams planning for upcoming Junior World Cups. As for Jnr W Asia Cup next year, expected not to qualify for 2021 W Jnr World Cup due to bad & ad-hoc planning. This current Malaysian Jnr W Asia Cup team will face India, Korea & Japan with China Jnrs, the defending Champions returning to play after withdrawing due to Covid19 pandemic. The Malaysian Women Junior Team has to get top 3 to qualify next year’s 2021 Junior World Cup in South Africa.

- Next Junior World Cup cycle will be in 2023 and Qualifier will be in 2022/2023 and by today there should already a team i.e. Women Under 18 in active and undergoing a good Performance Plan but who cares...

- No National Women Hockey Development Plan from Grass-root till High Performance. Done on a piecemeal approach. National Women Development Team was abolished in March 2017 & convert few players to Indoor for Sea Games level.

- Lack the exposure of International Hockey at age group or Project Squads.

- Most young players bypass the Junior Team and plays directly with Senior Team and only then such players would get an International Matches and maturity will take a longer period of 4 to 6 years to be a Top player at International stage.

- Only 1 or 2 out of 16 Affiliates has a Women State League.

- Main Event TNBMHL for Women has limited 6 teams with 120 players to choose to form National Team. Insufficient talent and creates non competitiveness between players to don the National colors.

- Women Junior Hockey League made of Sukma Development Teams, State Sports School & one National Sports School. Total participation 9 teams.

- Women Tun Abdul Razak Cup premier event - Lack of interest from Affiliates and teams ill prepared without sufficient financial support.

- High Turnover of Withdrawals by Key Women National Players after marriages or birth of a child.

- No clear Pathway of Livelihood or Career. Currently, Women National players are selling online cakes, festive biscuits, scarfs etc, Since January NSC/MHC has no salary or allowance for National Women Hockey Players. Recently, national Women players started auctioning their playing attires to survive their livelihood.

- Delayed in Post-Mortem & Appointment of Coach for National Women Team has delayed their program and been inactive mode since June 2019. This approach has hinder the growth or progress of players. For sure many players has put on weight, lost interest, drastic drop in fitness/strength and all the 4 to 5 years of plan has gone to waste.

- The current Junior Women Asia Cup team lack the physical size to compete at International stage. There should be balance of sizes in a team. This would allow an advantage. Now China, Japan, India most their players has the physical abilities to compete with European teams.

- No continuity of National Age-Group Project Squads & Low Quality of Matches for preparation.

- Lack Talent Identification Plan through-out the Country. No key selectors at National or State Age-Group Championships.

- Lack of International High Performance & Development Women Coaches in Malaysia.

- Employment Opportunities – in this era, players need an academy qualification to obtain jobs security. No extra Tuition Classes held & weak in mastering English Language which is a must to communicate ie Video Referral Scenario, attending Tournament Meetings or any technical discussion with Foreign Consultants or Coach.

- Lack of Media Publicity Support for Women Hockey – Media is an important element to create awareness of gender equality, popularize the sports to next generation, in promotion & development from school to National level.

- No Policy or SOPs in MHC to create and operate electronic database. For Development, the training & tactical syllabus are not accessible electronically including latest modern hockey updates. For National Teams, integration of various reports – fitness, bio-medical, performance, mental strength & experience are not available for decision making.

- No dedicated electronic Database on Women Hockey such as Players, Coaches, Umpires & Officials.

- No proper support from Funding to Women Hockey Programs at all levels.

- Lack importance & effort by National & State Affiliates on Women Hockey

- No Clarity & Emphasis of Direction for Women Hockey

How to be Asia No 1 in 4-6 years time? First solve the above prevailing issues...

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