KUALA LUMPUR – National hockey head coach Sarjit Singh is prepared to work under the consultancy of master tactician Paul Lissek if he is available to assume the national team’s technical consultant role.
The 76-year-old German previously coached the Speedy Tigers from 1998 to 2003, nurturing several players who became valuable assets for the national team over the years, such as the late Chua Boon Huat, Marhan Jalil and Muhammad Razie Abdul Rahim.
Lissek also guided Germany to an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and secured three European Championship titles (1991, 1995 and 1999).
Sarjit expressed his profound admiration for Lissek, believing that his inclusion in the national team would significantly bolster the squad he aims to assemble.
“I have always looked up to Lissek and have learned a lot from his tactics over the years. If Lissek is available to join the national team, I would be happy to work under his consultancy.
“But it’s not just Lissek; I’m ready to collaborate with any former Olympians and legendary coaches who are available. Working with individuals like Lissek and other legendary figures will undoubtedly enhance the team’s performance over time.
“I am in constant communication with Lissek, and I would be delighted if he comes on board,” said Sarjit during a press conference at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium today.
Sarjit, who signed a two-year contract replacing former head coach Arul Selvaraj, whose tenure ended after the Olympic qualifier in Muscat, Oman, last month, has scouted between 40 and 42 players from the ongoing Malaysia Hockey League.
Sarjit will commence training with the selected players on March 19.
The 61-year-old coach, who previously helmed the Johor state team and led the national side from January 2007 to December 2008, also said that he is actively seeking the right candidates to serve as his assistants for the national team.
“I am still in search of my assistants, and I believe that by the end of this month, I will finalise the selections based on their availability.
“I am open to working with anyone, whether local or foreign coaches. However, my priority at the moment is to secure a goalkeeping coach to elevate the standard of our goalkeepers.
“The junior team also falls under my purview, and I need to ensure that I select the right coaches for them as well. They will be participating in the Junior Asia Cup in China in the coming months, and they must be nurtured adequately.
“I need to ensure that all players, including juniors and seniors, operate under the same system and DNA. I have heard that several junior players struggled to adapt to the senior team’s system in the past, and I want to prevent that from happening again. We all need to work together, including the coaches, for the betterment of the game,” Sarjit added.
Sarjit’s first assignment will be the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11, followed by the Nations Cup in Poland (May 31-June 9) and the Asian Champions Trophy in Inner Mongolia, China (September 8-17). – March 4, 2024