The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) felicitated the national men and women’s Hockey5s teams in a special reception yesterday for their outstanding performance in the inaugural World Cup in Muscat, Oman early this month.
The men’s squad, coached by Wallace Tan, won the silver medal after going down 5-2 against the Netherlands in the final. In the women’s competition, the team coached by Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor, finished sixth following a 4-8 defeat against Uruguay in the fifth-sixth placing match.
MHC President Dato’ Seri Subahan Kamal congratulated the players and said their achievements not only brought great pride to the country but stamped an indelible mark on Malaysia’s performance in the world stage.
Speaking at the occasion held at a leading restaurant in the city after presenting appreciation certificates to the players, he said: “Your hard work and efforts have elevated the status of our country as a rising sporting nation. Your success is a good example to the other national hockey teams.”
“In fact, hockey5s was the effort of Cikgu Hasnizam Hassan, the chairman of hockey5s committee who had cajoled MHC into believing this event will bring success to the country in the near future. His prediction was right and today we are grateful to him and thank him and his committee members that include several other teachers,” said Subahan.
He added that hockey5s should be encouraged in schools as it can be played on grass fields at a very minimal cost.
“There is no need to play on artificial pitches or hockey stadiums. The National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP) should look into this proposal and develop the game at school level,” he said.
The event was also attended by NSC deputy director-generals Arrifin Mohd Ghani (Commercialisation & Marketing) and Jefri Ngadirin (Sports Development), Datuk Shalin Zulkifli (Head of Malaysian Athlete Career and Education in NSC), Azrul Hisyam Abd Jalil (Director of Athletes Division), members of the MHC executive council, and Abu Hashim, whose apparel company Young Tiger was the sponsor attire for the national men and women teams at the World Cup.
Subahan also credited the women’s team for an outstanding performance despite the limited time and resources they had in preparing for the World Cup.
“To women’s team, it was a great achievement finishing 6th and we salute all of you. It is not easy playing against tough opponents and it was your determination and hard work. It shows that a sports person plays for the country and you have proven that. But don’t rest on your laurels.
“The next World Cup is in 2028 and you have to start training from now to qualify for the World Cup. The challenge has just started,” said the MHC supremo.
He also assured the hockey 5s teams that MHC, with the support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the National Sports Council (NSC), is committed with providing them with all the necessary support to further excel in the game.
Youth and Sports Minister YB Hannah Yeoh had earlier also announced a special incentive of RM80,000 to the FIH Hockey5s World Cup 2024 silver medal-winning team based on NSC’s Incentive Scheme. In addition to this, Hannah said her ministry will also reimburse all expenses incurred by NSC for the Hockey5s World Cup team.
The Sports Minister had also requested for an allocation of RM3.9mil from the Ministry of Finance to prepare the national teams for the 2028 Hockey5s World Cup.
Coaches and players also expressed their gratitude to the government for helping them achieve success in the Hockey5s World Cup in Oman.