Saturday November 28, 2009

National coaches get nod to handle MHL sides

KUALA LUMPUR: All the coaches attached to the national teams, except for Tai Beng Hai, have been given the nod to coach clubs in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), which will start on Friday.

The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have made a U-turn on their earlier decision to ban the coaches after it was cleared by the MHF coaching committee on Thursday.

MHF secretary Hashim Mohamed Yusof said yesterday that he had received a letter from MHF coaching committee chairman Dr Balbir Singh stating that the coaches should be allowed to train the MHL teams.

This means that Nor Saiful Zaini, K. Dharmaraj, Nor Azlan Bakar, Lailin Abu Hassan, K. Rajan and K. Gobinathan will be able to handle teams in the MHL.

“The only exception is Tai Beng Hai. He remains the national coach. We have earlier told the coaches that they cannot take up any other coaching tasks. But since the coaching committee have cleared the way, we will allow them to take up any offers that come their way,” said Hashim.

The National Sports Council (NSC), who pay the coaches their salaries, were not keen to let them take up the clubs’ offers.

The NSC felt that the coaches could scout for talent during the tournament and hold coaching clinics as part of their duties.

Hashim said the coaches would be able to scout for talent even though they were handling the club sides.

Nor Saiful, Lailin and Nor Azlan Bakar are expected to handle Tenaga Nasional while Dharmaraj is likely to coach the KL Hockey Club. Former National Junior coach Rajan is tipped to join Sapura.

The MHL will feature six teams – Tenaga, KL Hockey Club, Sapura, Maybank, Nur Insafi and Universiti Kuala Lumpur. The opening match will be between Tenaga and Sapura at the Tun Razak Stadium.

News

Saturday November 28, 2009

National coaches get nod to handle MHL sides