'Centralised matches too costly'

KUALA LUMPUR: Nur Insafi have called on the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to rethink their plan to hold all matches in the Division Two second-round playoffs and the knockout stage of the MHC-Milo-NSC Malaysian Junior Hockey League at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Nur Insafi claim that there will be extra costs incurred by teams from the north if they have to travel to Kuala Lumpur.

Team manager S. Tatchana Murthi said that he was informed of the decision on Wednesday that all second-round matches in Division Two from Feb 20-23 will be held in KL.

“For that Feb 20-23 weekend alone we will incur extra costs of around RM10,000. Then, if we qualify for the quarter-finals there is another cost involved.

“The competitions committee must also realise that we cannot just come on match day and go back. We will need to come a day or two earlier. There are also school-going players and they cannot afford to miss their classes.

“I hope they will allow us to play one or two matches at home. This is a request on our part and not meant to dispute their decision,” he explained.

Nur Insafi, who were Division Two champions in 2007, are determined to get back into Division One next year.

They have already won the Division Two Group A and collected RM5,000 for their effort.

Their plan is to win the Division Two title and then aim for at least the semi-final in the knockout stage.

“We have remained unbeaten in the group matches and hope to make the grade until the semi-finals. The main objective is to get back into Division One next year,” he said.

To make it to Division One the team have to finish in the top four of the second round. That will also take them into the quarter-finals.

Tatchana said he has a more complete team this year with a lot of his players coming from Penang.

The team have scored 23 goals in seven matches and conceded only six.

Two players who have stood out in the team are current top scorer Nur Mushawir Hrsikesa, who has nine goals to his credit, and his brother Nur Rahul with six goals.

The Division One and Two league fixtures will come to an end on Sunday.