PART ONE - MAKE, CREATE, INNOVATE

It is vital to thread carefully when initiating changes for they could well back fire.

Hence I have decided to pen my thoughts through a series of articles titled after the CNN theme - Mske, Create and Innovate.

Hopefully this will provoke some that warm chairs to think outside the box towards improving the sport so that we can regain our dignity at international level.

Thus one has to look at the so called changes mooted by the Competitions Committee with a pinch of salt rather then accept them just because changes are due or deemed to be required to boost the ego of individuals.

Let's first take a look at the MJHL.

A change of title sponsor followed by a promise of drastic changes but in reality the only change was a mere 10 per cent increase in the total prize money.

Playing at zonal level is nothing new as this had been the practice since 2013 itself.

As far as the number of teams, one must note with concern the fact that there is no team from Kelantan and only one team from Terengganu.

While it's fine for TNB to adopt schools in the name of development, they really should not take over established teams but develop schools that had a Hockey tradition with the likes of Penang Free School, St Paul Institution, King George V, St Feancis Institution, English College or assist the likes of SMK Dato Taha, Tunku Besar and SMK Padang Midin.

That is truly development and by taking over established teams it will hamper the development at schools levels which will be detrimental in the Long term effort to better the sport.

But above all what the Conpetitions Committee failed to realise is having a seven week MJHL is not conducive towards the objective of the sport being played seriously.

Why the need to play a one round league and finish the tournament by Mid March?

Already we blame schools for neglecting the sport and here we rush through a tournament in seven weeks!

Spread the tournament to finish till May, play matches on alternate weekends, let teams train and prepare in between matches.

With the present system, a cough, a sneeze and the league is over. Ever heard of the proverb - melepaskan batuk di tangga.

With a 100 per cent increase from the title sponsor, one would expect more to be channeled down to the teams but they still will get the RM3k subsidy.

Here is food for thought - introduce match winning bonus for teams - let's say RM200 for a win and RM100 for a draw. This was done in the past and it increased the competitiveness till the last league match.

Change the former to play hone Abd away and play it in four quarters instead of the traditional two. Allow 20 players for one match so more can be exposed.

And finally why can't we start a competition within a competition?

What I mean is hold a 5 a side competition amongst the teams playing before the actual league game is held.

No extra cost, two in one and gives more players a change to play.

This is part one on the make, create and innovate series...