Beng Hai game for new challenge

Former international Tai Beng Hai is ready to accept the challenge of being the interim coach of the national hockey team.

Beng Hai is under the employment of the National Sports Council (NSC) and his secondment to the national women’s hockey team since last January expires on Wednesday.

The former National Juniors coach said that he was told by the NSC last week to be on stand-by to move back to the men’s team.

“I have not been told of my duties. I only learnt of the appointment through the newspapers’” said Beng Hai yesterday.

The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) are still looking for a foreign coach to take over from Sarjit Singh, whose contract with the NSC has not been renewed.

Last Saturday, the MHF named three coaches to oversee the preparation of the national team until the job of chief coach is filled. The other two coaches selected were Tenaga Nasional’s Nor Saiful Zaini and Lailin Abu Hassan.

Beng Hai was initially given the task to train the National Juniors in 2006. But a string of poor results saw him being removed in October 2007 by the MHF.

“I have no problem coming back to the men’s team. I need to find out if it is just a temporary move. I will also have to talk to the NSC about my contract,” he said.

The national team will resume training next week and their first assignment is the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament in April followed by the Asia Cup in May.