KUALA LUMPUR: Tragedy struck Division Three leaders Nur Insafi when their defender Mohd Fadhirul Razmin died in a road accident in Butterworth on Wednesday.

Fadhirul and four other Kuala Kangsar Clifford College students were travelling in a car, driven by a Nur Insafi driver, to attend training in Sungai Petani.

The other four players were Mohd Fadli Zabidi, Sabir Ismail, Mohd Azrul and goalkeeper Mohd Hanif Kasman.

It is learnt that a punctured tyre caused the car to overturn just after the toll gate along the Butterworth Coastal Road about 3.30pm.

Fadhirul was taken to the Seberang Jaya General Hospital, where he died at 11pm. He was buried in Kuala Kangsar yesterday.

Hanif underwent surgery for head injuries and has been warded in the intensive care unit at the Penang General Hospital. The other three players and the official are reported to be out of danger.

Fadhirul, who would have turned 16 on Oct 7, played for Perak in the National Under-16 tournament in Seremban last week. Perak lost the final to Kuala Lumpur 1-3.

Nur Insafi coach S. Tatchanamurty said they were all shocked and sad over Fadhirul’s death.

“We never expected such a tragedy would befall one of our players. We were happy with the players’ performance in winning all our six matches thus far. The players have been looking forward to winning the Division Three title,” he said.

M. Kulasingam, who was the Perak team manager in the National Under-16 meet in Seremban, said that the state had lost a dedicated player.

“He was hard working and could play well in defence and in midfield. We are very saddened to hear of his death,” said Kulasingam.

Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary Hashim Mohd Yusoff said they too were sad about the incident.

“Such an incident has never happened before in the history of the Junior League. We have postponed Nur Insafi’s match against MSS Selangor tomorrow (today),” said Hashim.

another news here ya :

Hockey: Division Three leaders almost pulled out of MHL

By S. RAMAGURU

KUALA LUMPUR: Nur Insafi, who lost a player in a car accident on Wednesday, almost pulled out of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) yesterday.

The Division Three team’s management were about to inform the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) of their decision when the families of those involved in the accident intervened and pleaded with them to continue playing in the MHL.

Nur Insafi coach S. Tatchanamurthy, who was responsible for setting up the team, said they were too distraught to carry on after the tragedy.

Defender Mohd Fadhirul Razmin died in the accident while he and four other team-mates were being driven by a Nur Insafi driver to attend training in Sungai Petani on Wednesday.

The others injured in the accident were Mohd Fadli Zabidi, Sabir Ismail, Mohd Azrul and goalkeeper Mohd Hanif Kasman.

While Hanif underwent surgery for head injuries and is in the intensive care unit at the Penang General Hospital, the other three players and the driver are reported to be out of danger.

“I just do not know what to do and felt like throwing everything away. It just does not make sense to carry on. The whole team is devastated. They were all like a family and for this to happen is just awful,” a tearful Tatchanamurthy said.

“The families of the players involved in the accident met me and told me that we had to carry on for the sake of the players. They said we owed it to the players, especially the late Fadhirul, to win the Division Three title. We will finish the MHL fixtures before deciding about the future of the team.”

Tatchanamurthy said it was likely that he would disband the team at the end of the season and quit hockey altogether.

“I can’t take it. For now I will rally the other players and try to make an effort at winning the remaining three matches,” he explained.

Nur Insafi need just one win in the three remaining matches to seal the Division Three title.

Their match against MSS Selangor today has been postponed by MHF. Their other remaining ties are against SMK Temerloh on April 3 and MSS Penang on April 5.

Nur Insafi lead the standings with a maximum 18 points from six matches in the 10-team Division Three.