KUALA LUMPUR – Despite missing out on the chance to head the national hockey team, Muhammad Dharmaraj Abdullah remains undeterred in his pursuit of excellence.
His vision remains resolute – to forge the Indonesian hockey team into a formidable force in this year’s competitions.
Dharmaraj is currently technical director of the Indonesian national hockey team, with a contract spanning from 2020 to 2025.
The former Olympian was among the four candidates shortlisted by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to take charge of the Speedy Tigers, but the reins were handed over to former national captain Sarjit Singh, who secured a two-year contract with the governing body.
Speaking to Scoop from Jakarta, Dharmaraj said he was not disappointed to lose out on the job, citing that he only applied for the Malaysia head coach position as he wanted a new challenge.
“The first reason I chose to apply for the job is that I wanted to have a new challenge. In Indonesia, the target is more towards excelling in indoor hockey and the SEA Games, whereas Malaysia has more KPIs and higher targets.
“Before I applied for the job with MHC, I gave a heads-up to the Indonesian Hockey Association.
“The moment my Indonesian players and coaching staff heard the news that I applied for the role, they kept calling and messaging me every day. A few of them were in tears and asked me to stay and guide the team to more glory.
“They were happy when they found out that I wouldn’t be heading back to Malaysia, and when I saw the love and support from my players, I felt so blessed. I’m now committed to proving myself to Indonesia with the talents that I have,” said Dharmaraj.
Acknowledging the support and emotional bond with his Indonesian players and coaching staff, Dharmaraj said he was committed to proving himself in Indonesia.
His focus now lies in nurturing a strong indoor hockey as well as Hockey5s team and preparing for the coming tournaments, including strategies to defend their gold medal at next year’s SEA Games in Bangkok.
Under Dharmaraj’s guidance, Indonesia’s men’s indoor hockey team clinched gold in the 2023 Phnom Penh SEA Games, defeating Malaysia 2-1 in a penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, Dharmaraj extended his best wishes to Sarjit, his former national teammate, on securing the national head coach role.
He emphasised the need for a transformation in the team’s image, urging Sarjit to prioritise the development of young players.
“Sarjit was my teammate in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and I was his friend. I think at this moment, the job is not easy, and it’s tough to handle.
“We haven’t seen many young and upcoming players in the team over the years, and if Sarjit can change the image of the national team by giving importance to young players, that will be really great.
“I hope Sarjit can fill the gap and also bring in quality players to the team. Many of the players from the previous team are already at the end of their careers, so he needs to be brave by limiting the chances for senior players and moulding more youngsters into the team.
“Sarjit really needs to start rebuilding, and if I were in his shoes, I can guarantee that it’s going to be a tough job for me too.
“His primary focus for now is to live up to the promises he made and give the team a new look with a young and energetic team. I wish him the best,” Dharmaraj added.
The 61-year-old Sarjit has scouted between 40 and 42 players from the ongoing Malaysian Hockey League and will begin training on March 19.
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.
The Speedy Tigers are currently 13th in the world rankings, with 1,828.27 points. – March 10, 2024