KUALA LUMPUR – Newly appointed national hockey head coach Sarjit Singh expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) for entrusting him with the task of reviving the underperforming Speedy Tigers.
The governing body chose former national captain Sarjit over three other shortlisted candidates – K. Dharmaraj, Australian Glenn Turner, and South African Brendon Caralon – for a two-year contract.
Turner and Caralon served as assistants to former national head coach Arul Selvaraj.
Arul’s contract was not renewed after Malaysia failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, leading to MHC’s search for a new coach.
Speaking to Scoop, Sarjit said that he is excited to take on the job and use his vast experience to build a strong team for future tournaments.
“I’m forever grateful for the responsibility that MHC has given me. I applied for the head coach role because I wanted to use my experience to help the team, but I never thought that I would be selected among all the other candidates who are equally strong.
“This clearly shows how much MHC trusts my work over the years, and I will do my best to help the team by changing its image in the days to come.
“This was the challenge I was waiting for, and I can’t wait to begin my job. I need to build a team from scratch, and I need to start planning how I’m going to form a formidable side.
“I promise that I will not disappoint them throughout my tenure,” said Sarjit.
The 61-year-old Sarjit, who previously coached the Johor state team, led the national side from January 2007 to December 2008.
The former national hockey captain also coached the national junior team from 2004 to 2006.
Meanwhile, MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said that he has always been a big fan of Sarjit during his days as a national player and has always admired his strong personality.
“I always looked up to him when I was growing up. He was a great player, and he always maintained a very strong winning personality on the pitch whenever he played.
“Sarjit is a patriotic person, and he always puts the nation first above everything. I believe he will also be able to instil his patriotism in the players based on the team that he will be forming soon.
“Players need to play under a coach who will be able to guide them, and Sarjit is the right person to do it. We will fully support Sarjit’s plans for the national team.
“I believe that in two years, we can see some results coming in, and if he brings results earlier, the MHC committee will definitely extend his contract,” said Subahan during a press conference at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium today.
Sarjit has been given the free hand to select his assistants and decide on coaches for the national junior team.
In addition to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, to be played in Ipoh from May 4 to 11, the Speedy Tigers will also participate in the Nations Cup in Poland from May 31 to June 9. — March 3, 2024