The Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) was labelled the Malaysia Haphazard League last week following the news that two teams from China and Australia would arrive later in the tournament.
The event started on Jan 4 while debutants Matador Club only played their first match last Wednesday against Nurinsafi Sporting. Eight Matador players had arrived from Pakistan only last week.
Liaoning from China and another debutant team, Territory Stingers from Australia, are also competing in the MHL this season.
Interestingly, Liaoning, who have arrived in Malaysia, are competing in order to prepare for China’s National Games later this year.
The New Straits Times reported that the Australian men’s and women’s teams will arrive in Kuala Lumpur next month to play in the domestic competition..
Territory Stingers men are set to play nine league matches over 11 days.
The MHL also clashes with the Indoor Hockey World Cup in Croatia which will see players travel and return to play.
“The MHL fixtures look messy, to say the least. For a seamless organisation of the league, it would have been better to run it in the later part of the year,” the New Straits Times wrote.