KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are on the lookout for a new head coach for the men’s team after A. Arulselvaraj’s contract expired following the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification debacle.
The vacancy will be advertised on MHC’s official website today, and those interested have seven days to submit their applications.
MHC coaching committee chairman Datuk Majid Manjit Abdullah said the head coach will act as supremo for both the men’s senior (Speedy Tigers) and junior (Young Tigers) teams for the next Olympic cycle.
“The role is open to both local and foreign coaches. He will oversee both the senior and junior teams and we will give him the mandate to appoint the assistant coaches,” he told reporters after the committee’s first meeting for the 2023-2027 term.
Majid Manjith said the new head coach would probably take charge a month after the candidates’ interview as they’ll need to rush the appointment to begin the Speedy Tigers’ preparations for their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title defence in Ipoh from May 4-11 and the FIH Nations Cup in Poland from May 31 to June 9.
Meanwhile, Majid Manjith said the committee had asked Arulselvaraj to submit a detailed report on the team’s failure to qualify for the Olympics within seven days.
“We discussed the report submitted by Arulselvaraj, but we need more details such as before, during and after the qualifiers (in Muscat, Oman from Jan 15–21).
“We want him to give (details of) players’ performance, match-by-match performance, the condition of players and (their) injuries because were told some players were injured… so we need the report,” he added.
He explained that Arulselvaraj is also free to re-apply for the position of head coach if he is interested.
Meanwhile, MHC chief executive officer S. Nishel Kumar said two candidates from Europe have already expressed their intentions to take charge of the Speedy Tigers.
Last week, MHC disbanded both the national men’s senior and junior teams.
The Juniors, coached by Muhamad Amin Rahim, finished 12th in the 16-nation Junior World Cup late last year. – BERNAMA
