Not a level playing field

Unfair and unjust.

That is how Nur Insafi team manager Dr. S. Taichana Murthi feels how the regulations with regards to foreign player participation are drawn up for the Malaysian Hockey League.

A team participating in the Premier League can field up to six foreign players while those in Division One are allowed three players.

That ruling is fair says Taitchana when it comes to the league matches.

But it is in the newly introduced knockout tournament where all teams from Premier and Division One compete against each other that has him crying foul.

" Where is the level playing field?" , questioned Taitchana.

"How can the MHC expect teams from the First Division to compete against those who can rely on six foreign players.

" Obviously not much thought was given to this matter when drawing up the rules or deciding on this new tournament.

" It should be one set of rules for all teams participating in a tournament. Why grant the Premier teams special privilege."

He went on to add that in Football all teams in the Super or Premier League are allowed to field four foreign players in the FA Cup which is a knockout tournament.

"And why give two teams the bye as well when really it should be an open draw and not select two teams to receive a bye," Taitchana contended.

" I hope that MHC will have a re-look at the rules and Make it fairer to all competing teams.

Nur Insafi are the only Division One team that has registered foreign players.

Five teams in the Premier League - KL Hockey Club, Terengganu HT, Maybank, Sapura and UniKL have registered foreign players.