News

28-07 MHF to introduce new Tun Razak Cup

2010-07-28 20:07:00

The Razak Cup Hockey tournament, the oldest hockey tournament in the country, will undergo a facelift as the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) has decided to introduce a new format.

The tournament that kicks off next April will see the competition divided into five zones and held over a two-month period instead of two to three weeks carnival format adopted previously.

MHF President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Armed Forces would make up North Zone, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, National Juniors (Central Zone); Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Singapore (South Zone); Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Police (East Zone); Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and Brunei (West Zone).

"As time goes by, this event needed a face lift with some new innovative ideas in sustaining the event as the best national event. I have told the MHF meeting last year that this competition should be held as a zonal format.

"The competition will be divided into five zones. It will attract better participation and a longer duration of competition. It will involve 25 teams," Tengku Abdullah said in his speech at a sponsorship signing ceremony between MHF and 100Plus, here Tuesday.

The sponsorship inked Tuesday was worth RM1.5 million to MHF over a three-year period.

"When I was elected MHF President, I realised that there was a lack of hockey tournaments in states and the Razak Cup was only organised on a carnival basis for about two or three weeks. That is not enough.

"We want players to be constantly involved in matches to maintain a high level of fitness. When we want to select players for the national team, they (players) must be in tip top condition," said Tengku Abdullah.

He added that if there was more tournaments at national and state levels, it would provide a better opportunity for MHF to identify players for national duty.

Bernama