Coach's father passes away

2009/11/04

TAI Chin Seng, the father of national hockey coach Beng Hai, died when he succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident in Taiping on Monday.

Chin Seng, 77, was riding a bicycle when he was knocked down by a motorcyclist.

He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Taiping Hospital and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his head. But he was pronounced dead later.

Beng Hai, who had left with the national team for Invercargill for the World Cup Qualifiers on Oct 30, will return today for the funeral.

He will return to New Zealand immediately after the funeral tomorrow. Malaysian Hockey Federation secretary Hashim Mohd Yusof said in Beng Hai's absence, the national team will be under the guidance of his assistant, Nor Saiful Zaini.

"We are deeply saddened. Hockey officials will attend the funeral. Beng Hai will head back to New Zealand before the team's opening match (on Saturday)." said Hashim.

Malaysia open their World Cup Qualifier campaign against Austria.