Dangerous Lee

KUALA LUMPUR: Coach K. Dharmaraj is furious with forward Dangerous Lee for pulling out of the Project 2013 hockey squad for the third time in three years.

The Sarawak-born player first withdrew from the team in 2010 after featuring in the Surjit Singh Memorial Cup in India. He felt that he didn’t stand a chance of being selected.

In 2011, the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) player decided to play for the team again and Dharmaraj took him back. But Lee pulled the same trick again early last year, citing his pre-university studies in BJSS.

The 21-year-old then wrote to Dharmaraj last October asking to be given a third chance. Dharmaraj obliged.

Lee, who featured in the All India Ubaidullah Khan Gold Cup in Bhopal last month, then dropped the third bombshell on Sunday – sending a text message to Dharmaraj.

It read: “Coach I will not attend training tomorrow (Monday) morning. I am pulling out of the team. I believe that I don’t stand a chance against the other players. I am sorry coach. I hope you can understand.”

And Dharmaraj has had enough.

“I almost blew my top when I read the text message on Sunday,” he said.

“He has made me look like a fool by taking him back three times. I don’t need players like him in the team. I’m really disappointed with him.”

The Project 2013 squad resumed their next phase of training yesterday. They are preparing for the Junior World Cup in Chandigarh, India, from Dec 5-16.

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