The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) want to fill the post as soon as possible even though they have put a three-man interim coaching set-up in place. And the National Sports Council (NSC) have stepped in to help them hire the coach.
The NSC director general, Datuk Zolkples Embong, said yesterday that they had spoken to a number of top-notch coaches but they were committed to other projects.
“We have a few names to consider at the moment but they are not among the top-notch coaches who we had sought after. Some are with clubs in Europe. Our priority is to get a foreign coach. For the moment, the interim coaches will take charge of the national team’s preparations,” he said.
The interim coaches appointed on Saturday are Tai Beng Hai, Nor Saiful Zaini and Lailin Abu Hassan.
South Korean Kim Sang-ryul was top on the list of foreign coaches for the national team. But he has decided to stay in China to chart the fortunes of a provincial side for the China Games next year.
Among the others were two Australians and a Dutchman. Barry Dancer, an Olympic gold medal winning coach, has taken up an offer with the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) while Mark Hager has gone to New Zealand.
Maurits Hendrik has left the Spanish national team to return to Holland.
“We are left without much choice. The Asia Cup is five months away and we must get cracking. My hope is to fill the post within the next two weeks,” said Zolkples.
The national team will play in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in April followed by the Asia Cup in Dubai. The Asia Cup winners gain direct entry to the 2010 World Cup Finals in India and if Malaysia fail to win the championship, they have to play in a qualifying tournament in November.
The national team are also down to play in the Champions Challenge II tournament in July in Dublin.
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