KUALA LUMPUR – Hockey has always been a powerhouse in the Malaysian sporting landscape since 1932, consistently ranking in the top 20 globally for the past nine decades.
However, the sport has not been the top priority for the government over the years, lacking funding and support, compared to other glamorous sports in Malaysia such as badminton and football.
To ensure its sustainability, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has taken a bold step by establishing its own entity, Speedy Tigers Sdn Bhd, with a small business plan.
This move aims to reduce dependence on government funding.
Speaking at a press conference today, MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said that the committee had obtained approval from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to establish a commercial sports shop to overcome their current financial challenges.
He said that the confederation requires RM15 million annually from the government to run its operations, compared to the RM8 million it has been receiving.
“I want to focus on the commercialisation of Malaysian hockey. We are thankful for the government’s assistance – but the figures have declined tremendously over the years, hindering our progress.
“It’s challenging to expect Grade A performance with limited funds. Coaches now require various technologies, which are expensive, so we have to find our own income.
“To win medals, there must be a consistent flow of money into our coffers to pay our junior, senior, and women’s local and foreign coaches. Hence, we thought out of the box while waiting for sponsors.
“Registering Speedy Tigers as a business entity is to generate long-term income, especially with many more tournaments coming up after the Hockey Junior World Cup.
“For a start, we will sell national jerseys, running shoes, and turf shoes at the ground floor of the National Hockey Stadium, and the shop will be called MHC Sports,” said Subahan.
The FIH Hockey Junior World Cup (JWC), will cost MHC approximately RM3.5 million to organise, with the largest portion, RM1.6 million, allocated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) as the hosting fee.
Subahan also said that the MHC shop will sell hockey equipment to support young talents interested in venturing into the sport.
“Our shop will remain open even after the JWC, stocked with MHC mineral water, Orang Kampung products, and later our own brand of hockey sticks.
“Currently, parents who are wage earners are investing up to RM1,600 to buy top-brand hockey sticks, and I feel that’s a bit too high for the masses.
“So, we will source quality hockey sticks and other equipment makers to manufacture quality hockey sticks and sell them for, say, RM500 at our MHC Sports shop.
“This way, MHC can generate revenue and provide the hockey-playing public with a better deal,” Subahan added.
The National Hockey Development Programme has about 5,500 boys and girls aged 14 to 17, and they can buy from MHC Sports when hockey sticks are custom-made by MHC.
Recently, Tenaga Nasional Bhd sponsored RM1 million for the JWC, 99 SpeedMart, a local convenience store, sponsored RM 1.2 million, and the popular local energy drink brand Orang Kampung Group contributed RM 300,000 in cash and in-kind.
The World Cup, set to unfold in Kuala Lumpur from December 5 to 16, will see Malaysia competing in Pool A alongside defending champions Argentina, Australia, and Chile.
The junior Speedy Tigers will commence their campaign against Chile on December 5. – November 30, 2023