Blind support by NSC for MHF and they are taking it for granted..

There are various ways of employing people.There are those who are full-time employees and working directly for the employer.Others are similar except for a specified period and they are sometime referred to as contract staff or as those on service contract

Then there are others who are full-time employees, maybe even contractual, and they are seconded to another place. For all purpose you can regard them as staff of the place where they are seconded but legally they are employees of the original employer.

You may wonder why i am making such distinction and the purpose? It is about NSC and their relationship with National Sports Association, in particular Malaysian Hockey Federation(MHF).

In my previous article dated 28th.September.2008 titled: MHF - "Seated comfortably in their positions", I indicated that the principal financier of MHF is NSC. NSC pays for all the coaches with the various National Teams and the necessary Consultants. This article is not about the extent of NSC's funds that is put into hockey, but rather of the personalities who are on NSC's payroll. The ones who I am talking about are the Coaches and the Consultants.

I use the term "NSC's payroll" because those who had the opportunity of reviewing MHF's financial statements would let you know that the Coaches and Consultants are paid directly by NSC and the monies are not routed through MHF. Therefore for all purposes they are employees of NSC. While that cannot be denied but the recommendation for their appointment comes from MHF. This is where the situation becomes hazy i.e who takes responsibility?

NSC cannot say they are not responsible because the Coaches and Consultants are on their payroll. Really, the only thing that NSC can argue is that they pay them, but they are effectively on secondment to MHF, because MHF wanted them to be appointed. This sort of argument can never end. The issue here is both are responsible and it should not be a question of pointing fingers.

This is the sort of confusion that goes on. In the past Coaches and Officials play one of the other by trying to get MHF and NSC entangled. This is not healthy for the sport. More so now with the dismal performance of the various National Teams. Indeed questions are asked: "Why is NSC tolerating and paying for all these Coaches and Consultants despite the string of poor performances?". Similarly too, questions are being asked on NSC blindly funding the National Team to Hamburg 4 Nation tournament when the overall strategy of the trip is not known. This is especially as the other teams would be with their rebuilding squads.

Part of the reason NSC cannot effectively take position on Malaysian hockey despite their substantial assistance is because of the sacrosanct principle attached to government interference into sports. The other is that NSC is in a "Catch 22" situation. If they leave it to MHF, hockey would get even worse. NSC's presences in a way helps to put some form of pressure and that is probably as far as they can go.

Many may not agree as NSC and MSSM has taken over most of MHF's role including grassroot development. As mentioned in an earlier article the people in MHF are sitting comfortably as most of the work and funding have been outsourced. Therefore there is no pressure on them other than spending other peoples' funds. This is where NSC should get tougher and start denying them funds unless they can proof by performance of the teams. The pressure they put on MHF can get the "comfy" positions "hot" as MHF has to go out and find the funds. This would ensure that those who are prepared to work and have the passion for the game would find the place in MHF. So long as NSC continues its blind support, nothing will change in MHF.