KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 35 players were called up for national junior hockey training after the recent Malaysia Games in Sarawak, but there is no accommodation for six players.
This came about because the national junior team are not under the National Sports Council's (NSC) programme, and hence are not allowed to stay at the NSC hostel in Bukit Jalil.
So, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has to provide alternate accommodation for the national juniors at three apartments near the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
But they can accommodate only 26 players. Consequently, KL players were told to stay on their own.
Two players have declined to join national juniors training is from Sept 2-17 while forward Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin has gone to China to play in the Asian Champions Trophy which begins on Sunday.
The four KL players staying on their own are Danish Afnan Faizal, Shafiq Adam Harris Suzaini, T. Naaveennash Panicker and Sriraam Vikneswaran.
The two other players from outside the Klang Valley staying on their own are Danish Aiman Khairil Anuar of Perak and Angad Singh Khalsa of Penang.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) chief executive officer V. Jayanandhan said the national body is not trying to save costs by asking the six players to look for their own accommodation.
"The national junior team are not under the programme of the NSC, and they are not allowed to stay at NSC hostel.
"We (MHC) have to bear the costs by providing the players with accommodation.
"We have rented three apartments, and each unit can accommodate eight or nine players.
"Twenty-six players are staying in the three apartments while those from KL and those studying at college nearby KL are told to stay at their campus.
"We, however, managed to look for another apartment which is available by next week.
"MHC will provide meals and training allowance to all the players. But the states also have to do their part by bearing the costs for players to travel from their respective states to attend national junior training.
The team are preparing for the Sultan of Johor Cup from Oct 19-26 and the Junior Asia Cup in Muscat, Oman, from Nov 11-19.