Shamala is ‘so terribly disappointed’
have never lost to Wales, and they hope to maintain their winning streak in today’s FIH Series Finals playoff match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
A defeat today will end the national team’s campaign in shame while a victory will earn them a semi-final meeting against Austria.
The 4-2 defeat to Italy was so humiliating that not only the fans turned nasty and sarcastic on social media out of sheer disappointment, but a normally composed Malaysian Hockey Confederation deputy president Datuk Dr S. Shamala did so as well.
Shamala is always a pillar of support whenever the men and women fail in a tournament, but she, too, let her anger loose following the defeat.
“Seriously, I have no justification nor words to express the outcome of today’s (Monday) match against the Italians,” she posted on social media.
“So terribly disappointed and disheartening but since this is not the end of the tournament ... let’s not give up ... even when we feel excruciating pain, disappointment and embarrassment beyond comprehension!”
She summed up by saying: “Wednesday’s (today) match will really be a day to prove if we (players) have even an ounce of pride left in ourselves and more importantly, for the country and the beloved sport that we play. The only way out of this is to finish in the top-two.
“An invitation was sent and accepted by our hockey-loving King (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah) to attend the final on Sunday.”
The team have already disappointed their fans and officials. They must not let down the King by not showing up for the final.