KUALA LUMPUR – The Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA) is set to take a bold step by fielding a team comprising under-21 athletes for this year’s Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
Named Kuala Lumpur City Hockey Club (KLCHC), the team aim to produce talent for the city, particularly with an eye on the Sukma scheduled for August.
KLHA president I. Vikneswaran, who also serves as the national junior hockey team manager, said that KLCHC would have separate teams for both men’s and women’s categories.
“The initiative, supported by agencies such as the Federal Territory Sports Council and corporate partners, is designed to develop KLCHC into a team centred around Kuala Lumpur with a substantial fan base.
“The club aims to provide an opportunity for aspiring players to excel in the sport, giving them a platform to play in the competitive MHL.
“When I was the coach of UniKL (2009-2010), I provided many opportunities for school players to participate in the sport, and they ended up playing in the Junior World Cup and other prestigious tournaments.
“We at KLHA aim to continue these initiatives with KLCHC by moulding the huge pool of talent available,” he said in a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium today.
Vikneswaran added that former national women’s player Kannagi Arumugam will coach the women’s team, while he will take charge of the men’s team, hoping to carry forward momentum from their Tun Abdul Razak Cup victory into this new venture.
He also expressed confidence in KLCHC’s ability to compete against top teams in the MHL, emphasising that the players were prepared for any challenges and exposure gained through participation in the league.
“As an association, we are doing our best with the limited budget we have, as we are not like other state hockey associations that receive funding from their state governments.
“We want to provide opportunities for new and young players to be part of the game, with a condition that they must be born in Kuala Lumpur,” he added.
The MHL, established in 1987, is a top league competition for field hockey clubs in the Malaysian hockey league system.
With seven teams currently in the league, Terengganu are the defending champions.
The upcoming 2024 edition of the league is anticipated to commence next month.
Under Vikneswaran’s leadership, KLHA ended a 12-year Tun Abdul Razak Cup title drought by lifting the trophy for the 19th time, defeating Melaka 4-2 in a penalty shootout in October at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium. – January 1, 2024