Manjit Abdullah: Johor Cup to be annual

There is a good news. Good news for the global youth, who take up hockey as their play sport. The Sultan of Johor Cup, which is presently underway at Johor Bahru with much fanfare, will be an annual affair.

All the formalities that go to make it a regular calender event have been completed.

Manjit Abdullah, Deputy President of the host unit, Johor Hockey Association, confirmed this to stick2hockey.com.

“Yes, we are happy to announce this. The city of Johor will have additional colour and gaiety with this development. We will have this junior tournament annually, and we are proud to do so”, Manjit said beamingly during the welcome dinner hosted in the Puteric Pacific hotel.

“Our Sultan of Johor, HE Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskander is a sports lover. He had already made this city a popular sports destination with Golf and other sports. His interested to boost hockey; and with his blessing Johor Hockey Association has introduced the addition. This tournament will not only help our young talents to polish their wares, but also the global youth”, he explained.

His enthusiasm is in sync with the mood at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium. Without exception everyone enjoys the ambience here, and wholeheartedly welcome Manjit Abdullah’s announcement.

“Malaysian Hockey Federation has given a great opportunity for all of us to develop our younger generation. There cannot be a better news than it is going to be a regular FIH event”, said Paul Gaudoin, Chief coach of Australian team, which has just booked the berth for the Saturday final.

The first edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup is welcomed by the global hockey community, and it is in the fitness of things that the event will be a regular one. Further, with Sultan Azlan Shah Cup running into its glorious 20 years, the junior event completes and compliments over all growth of hockey in the global perspectives, especially to Asian nations.

With Sultan of Johor Cup on the calender, with it having as many as six teams, four of them from Asia, the floodlight hockey facility at Taman Daya is expected to be in full use as well.

Further, it is already noticed the swelling crowd for the present six-nation. The stands are nearly full on all days, and is packed on week ends, especially for Malaysian match.

This is a good proof the effort is reaching the public destination.

Manjit also says that in future, more teams may be opted for the field.

“Yes, this is possible, we will do everything possible to make the annual event a popular one. We are sentimentally attached to this Cup because, it is celebrated as a part of birth anniversary of HE Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskander, which falls in November”, he said.

PIC: Manjit Abdullah with Malaysian Hockey Confederation Chairman Sultan of Pahang