A blog on track and field

K. Jayabalan, Rose and Harun Rasheed Othman, a schoolboy champ in the quartermile and now coaching the men's sprint team

Datuk Dina Rizal, the man who made famous the slogan Malaysia Boleh and Prof Datuk W.Y. Chin, loose cannon's fellow Leo

Some of the athletes based at HPTC Asia in Bukit Jalil

Rajasegram of Johor and Negeri Sembilan's Chinnethamby

When Danyal inspected the HPTC in Bangkok in late 2002, loose cannon was there, snooping around

The guest of honour, Datuk Yasin Salleh, was given the bag

Loose cannon does not suffer fools easily when it comes to track and field. Although the guardians of the sport seem to be perpetually in battle mode, loose cannon has not given up on the discipline that remains the highlight of any multi-sports festival.

But loose cannon becomes cynical if one suggests the internal bickering in Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) is over. The officials might share the same meal, be seated at the same dining table and share the same stage but their differences, are, unfortunately, irreconcilable.

Those who have suffered from loose cannon's endless supply of ammunition included Datuk Khalid Yunus, Karim Ibrahim, S. Rajasegram, S. Vegiyathuman and Musa Noor Mohamad. But it was refreshing to note at least Karim, Rajasegram and Musa could be seen together at the same function.

All four were at the IAAF High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) annual dinner at Istana Hotel on Thursday. The guest of honour was the Sports Ministry's Secretary General, Datuk Yasin Salleh. Also present were National Sports Council director-general, Datuk Zolkples Embong and former MAAU deputy president, Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah.

But even if they claim MAAU can now be called 1MAAU in the spirit of 1Malaysia, loose cannon thinks it's hogwash. Nonetheless, loose cannon salutes their willingness to bite their tongues and accept criticism in the right spirit, much like the big guns at FA of Malaysia (FAM).

By the way, we should all welcome http://mytracknfield.blogspot.com to the blogosphere. See for yourself who is behind the blog.