Liaoning, Stingers withdrawal reduces MHL to seven teams

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) has become a mockery after two foreign clubs - Liaoning Province from China and Territory Stingers from Australia - withdrew from the second round of the national league.

Both Liaoning and Territory teams featured in the first round of the men's league from April 11 to May 17 but withdrew from the second round matches from Oct 5 to Dec 6.

Former national player Maninderjit Singh said that both foreign teams promised a plan to participate in a two-window league.

It is learnt that costs to play in the second round of MHL would have been a factor for both teams to withdraw from the league.

With the pullout of the two foreign clubs, the number of teams was reduced from nine to seven local teams.

Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) removed all the matches played by both Liaoning and Territory Stingers in the MHL.

Timesport tried to contact MHC competition committee chairman Datuk Anil Jeet and also the MHC chief executive officer V. Jayanandan for comments on the foreign teams' withdrawal.

The withdrawal of the two clubs is a big blow because the same teams and players feature in the MHL every year.

Only Tenaga Nasional, Terengganu Hockey Team and Maybank have reliable players to provide a strong challenge in the league.

Other teams like TNB Thunderbolts, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Armed Forces and Young Elephants of Pahang are just making up the numbers.

The MHC calendar must give top priority to international tournaments but the national players have to play non-stop hockey at international and domestic competitions.

After the Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab, India, which ended on Nov 5, the national players returned to play in the league.

The MHL will take a break on Nov 15 so that the national players can feature in the six-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from Nov 20-28.

The national players will return to play the MHL knockout stage from Dec 2-6.

The national league has been organised for the last 39 years since 1987 and MHC should be more professional in running the MHL.