Comments?

In response to "ball-catcher"'s comment on the 19th of August 2006.

In summary, what "ball-catcher" said :

1. Not enough is done to promote the game locally
2. IHF rules must be implemented during local games
3. Overall attitude of players on the court depend on the match organisers and team managers
4. As a former national player in the 2003 SEA Games he feels:

• a part-time coach is not sufficient
• the team manager was not supportive of the players
• crappy training venues during the build-up to SEA Games
• unrealistic expectations placed on the players
• blame game when expectations not met
• lack of financial support

I do not feel that "ball-catcher"'s comments are unfounded. Ask anyone around you. Not many would know what bola baling is. You get blank stares when you say you play handball. Some might give you a knowing look then ask if it is the game 'played against the wall'.

What is team handball or bola baling as it is known in Malaysia? Check it out here.

In truth, bola baling is usually played only until Secondary School level. Where the ultimate would be the MSSM ( Majlis Sukan Sekolah-sekolah Malaysia ) tourney. After secondary school, barring a few scattered "tournaments", handball fades into the distance. In recent years, there have been more tournaments organised e.g. the recently concluded National League. Yet much more can be done to promote the sport among the masses. Getting the public interested would also mean getting their support. When more people support the sport, more can be done at grassroot level in developing the sport in this country. How can that be done? My best guess would be via the media. International matches could be shown, articles published. Not forgetting our local players as well, more recognition could be given to them, more write-ups done about them. Many among our local players are professionals ( not in handball, but are engineers, successful businessmen, teachers etc. ) and can serve as role models.

It is true that in our local tournaments many of the referees are not fully able to implement the rules as drawn up by the IHF. Whether it is due to ignorance or incompetence we do not know. But the fact of the matter is that if the rules are not implemented properly during games our system of play will be stunted. Our play will be confined to the wimps and fancies of these referees!

Touching slightly on the 2003 SEA Games comment. It is not easy getting a qualified coach. Even if a coach were found for us, how many of us will be able to commit ourselves? That brings us to the topic of financial support. I do now know how much funding the Malaysian Amateur Handball Association (MAHF) gets from the Sports Ministry. I do realise that because bola baling is such a small sport in Malaysia funding might not be much. Yet it has come to the stage where there are reports of national handball trainees having to bring their own maggi mee packets to cook and eat after training sessions. These players come from different walks of life. Many sacrifice their work day just to turn up for a training session. Perhaps, perhaps more could be done in terms of financial support for the players?

Team handball is a slow growing sport in Malaysia. In has been around for sometime but its growth has been stunted. We are nowhere near the level of our neighbours Thailand or Vietnam. It is unfair to expect a gold or silver from the SEA Games. Not if things carry on the way they are. If anything the SEA Games can only be used as a stepping stone for the Malaysian National Team to learn and improve. If we were deprived of the opportunity to play in the SEA Games just because we do not bring back the gold or silver, progress in this particular sport will never happen.

I am not making excuses for below par performances by the players. What I mean is that the handball event of the SEA Games is actually the lowest level of any international handball tournament in Asia at the moment. We do not even dare to dream of participation in the handball event of the Asian Games. We'd be slaughtered. We have to start small. But at least we get to start somewhere.

Again I have to say that we do have good referees. As proven in the recently concluded National League. Ideally, much more could be done to develop the sport. Perhaps the MAHF could take note of "ball-catcher"'s comments?

P.S. The management of Malaysian Handball has changed over the years. It does seem that more is being done now to develop the sport.