Has anyone noticed something missing in the on-going Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) of late…the last week or so?
The assessors of umpires have disappeared from the league matches. No reasons have been forthcoming for their sudden disappearance.
It is left to be seen if these assessors will soon disappear from local tournaments and in time to come Malaysians will suffer the fate in international tournaments.
The chairman of the Malaysian Hockey Cnfederation’s Umpires Committee Amarjit Singh when contacted had a simple two-word reply “No Comments” to all questions that were thrown at him on the matter.
The MHL matches have been played without the vital link in the smooth running of the league. More importantly it has jeopardized the career of the umpires, future career, both at national and international level, if they have high ambitions.
The missing assessors have certainly left a big question mark over their absence.Â
“Why have they (assessors) been removed and on whose orders?Â
The assessors are the key to umpires “moving up the ladder” in their career and they start from local tournaments and competitions. The MHL is one of the perfect platform for them to “improve” themselves to upgrade their umpiring career.
Suffice to say the assessors are the link to every party in a match…from match officials, players and teams when the need arises. Resolving on the spot issues is an example.
The “grading” of match officials will very much depend on the “report card” of the assessors, who, like teachers, play a vital role in assessing and teaching them how and what needs to be done to overcome the shortcomings.
Malaysia have produced world class umpires who have officiated at the highest level in international tournaments like the Olympics, the World Cup, the World League, the Asian Games and many more.
Malaysians have also officiated as Umpires Managers in such international meets – thanks to the assessors who themselves “come through the mill” to be where they are and recognized by International Hockey Federaton (FIH).Â
It is through the hard and good work of the assessors that Malaysians have made the grade at international level.
Meanwhile, in another development, match officials have yet to be paid their allowances for officiating in last year’s MHL.
Despite this the dedicated officials – thanks to their love for the game – have been blowing the whistle in this year’s MHL for the smooth running of the league.Â
When will they get their dues?Â
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