When one reads the statement made by the newly appointed Sports Minister, all we can do is pray for the future of Malaysian sports. He had the "cheek" to say that playing in the hot blazing sun was okay for team sports. If that is his conviction, may I suggest that he take on the FAM who have refused to allow matches to be played in the afternoon, despite the fact that State FA's have to incurr a higher cost for night matches. Let's start playing the Super League/Premier League and Malaysia Cup matches at 4.30pm on Saturdays. And if the Minister needs reasons as to why we should move football matches, here are some arguments for him.
- all teams train in the afternoons hence there should be no reason for burn out or fatigue. After all they are professionals and not kids.
- the costs factor as for night games you have to pay for floodlights.
- we will thus not compete for attention with the EPL.
- easier for fans to find their way back via public transportation.
- parents will let kids go for matches as they will be home before sunset.
Sementara itu, Ahmad Shabery menolak dakwaan sesetengah pihak bahawa waktu perlawanan Kejohanan Hoki Wanita Majlis Sukan Sekolah-sekolah Wilayah Persekutuan (MSSWP) Zon Sentul yang diadakan di sebelah tengah hari sebagai masa yang tidak sesuai.
Namun, beliau berharap Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) dapat memberi garis panduan tertentu kepada pemain-pemain untuk melakukan persediaan jika terpaksa bermain di bawah cuaca yang terlalu panas.
Namun, beliau berharap Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) dapat memberi garis panduan tertentu kepada pemain-pemain untuk melakukan persediaan jika terpaksa bermain di bawah cuaca yang terlalu panas.
“Hoki tidak seperti sukan berpasukan lain seperti bola sepak, kerana pemain boleh bertukar ganti pada bila-bila masa dan saya percaya ia tidak memudaratkan pemain kerana ia juga boleh diibaratkan sebagai latihan ketahanan buat mereka. “Persoalan utama di sini adalah keadaan cuaca, bukan masa perlawanan diadakan,” katanya.
