MALAYSIAN HOCKEY - WHAT IS THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE?

MALAYSIAN HOCKEY - WHAT IS THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE?

Happy New Year everyone, and apology as been busy with matters and today decided to write a piece.

Its another cycle now after failing to Paris Olympics and again there will be no Jalur Gemilang and we all the hockey fraternity will be just a mere spectator on the tv screen and supporting other nations in the coming Paris Olympic Games.

After placing 6^th in Asian Games & 12^th in Junior World Cup with Men sliding to 13 & Women at 23, there were hue & cry with loud hooo-haaa and massive turnaround and post mortem will be conducted and find out why we failed but finally the following was the reasons:

1.   The Olympic Qualification must be change and more slots for Asia & increase the number of teams was the root of the problem on why we didn’t qualify to Paris Olympics.

2.    Change the Coaching Setup – means the Coaches failed and new batch of Coaches are appointed. So the whole Nation accepted the reason why we failed but not the current ecosystem.  

3   The caretaker said that they never failed based on the interviews and statements over the years.

My view – so far what is done is only a cosmetic-changes without any bold decision or solutions are implemented for the coming new cycle towards 2026 World Cup in Bel/Ned & 2028 LA Olympics with the ultimate 2026 Nagoya Asian Games with 2025 & 2027 JWC cycle for men & women hockey. The indoor games in Asia Cup in May will be ultimate where we stand as my Iran will be Champions and another slot fight will be between Kazak, Thailand & Malaysia with Indonesian being the spoilers. On the H5s – after Oman WC, this event is only a complementary or supplementary to indoor & outdoor and my view it will be a natural death in years to come.

Now back to our main topic. The Senior Team will be having 3 key events this year – SASC2024, FIH Nation Cup in which both is in next month and another one the Asian Champions Trophy will be held later part of the year.

As for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup – my view we should at least finish as a medalist or podium finish as we are defending Champions & weak teams are invited except for New Zealand who will be using this event as part of Paris Olympics selection. Will write soon before the SASC event - a target must be set to create motivation and some pressure to achieved results - no target setting indicates low esteem and sitting at crossroads without knowing the depth of the strength of the team. We must set targets for every event that we are participating even though is low but it must be realistic and measurable. 

As for the FIH Nation Cup we are placed in pool B which is easier to make it to SF and in SF will determine whether we will play in Finals or 3/4 placing. Previously we were runners up in the last edition and the Champions gets a promotion to play in the FIH Pro League next edition. I am a great believer that Malaysia must play in Pro League to advance in World Hockey map again and to be one of the contenders as a powerhouse in world hockey. We should at least finish top 3 here and anything 4^th onwards will consider as we failed the mission.

The Asian Champions Trophy we should be making the finals as only India will be our key competitor.

Many hockey lovers and former internationals called and chat about our future and as I said the success of the senior team is always dependent on the cycle of junior teams. If we see the last 3 JWC cycles – 2016, 2021 & 2023 – the overall performances were mediocre even we finished 8^th in 2021 edition due to withdrawal from top nations due to Covid19.

But yet, till today – the JWC 2025 (Malaysian U20) & 2027 (Malaysian U18), no any periodization plan & coaching structure is in-placed as the similar mistakes will be repeated again. Been following with other top Nations where most of them has established teams for next JWC cycles and participating big tournaments especially India/Japan/Pakistan and other European teams playing in Europe U18 & Europe U21.

On the women aspect – my view we are still at participating level and adding the numbers level not medalist as at Asia Level we will never break the top 4 regime based on our current ecosystem and periodization plan which is very ineffective. The best is finishing top 5 in 2026 Asian Games as Thailand is narrowing the gap with us and qualify to JWC as merit and not as replacement due to last minute withdrawals.

Another interesting aspect is the Road to 2026 World Cup, where the slots are not divided to Continental previously and the breakdown is as the followings – Bel/Ned as Host, 5 Continental Champions - so 7 taken left with 9 – 2 venue of Qualifiers (8+8) and if we not careful or having a strong periodization plan for our team we may missed this world cup. Just highlighting before its happen because till now I do not see a proper short & long-term plan for our journey towards being in top 10 and better prospects to qualify for LA28 with winning 2026 Nagoya Asian Games.  

My view LA28 we will be a very tough journey to qualify and I have my own reasons and will write about it when time permits.

Thank you, all the readers, for visiting my blog as often as possible and it already hit above 150,000 times even not writing often but will try my level best to do so.

Just a small advice before I pen down…

It is an acknowledgement of failure. The first step towards correcting your wrongs is to admit that you have failed. Once you can admit that you have failed that will (or should) lead to more honesty. It should lead to more self-criticism and self-awareness…

Best Regards everyone…

Maninderjit Singh (Mike)

Former Malaysian Hockey International