KUALA LUMPUR – National hockey icon Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi is not keen on returning as team manager for the national hockey team, adding that he may consider retaining the role if approached by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
The 53-year-old triple Olympian (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) was appointed by the MHC in 2020 as team manager and he stayed in the role until January of this year.
His contract, along with those of other coaches such as former national head coach Arul Selvaraj, was not extended following the disbandment of the national team after failing to qualify for this year’s Paris Olympics.
The governing body recently hired Sarjit Singh as the new national head coach on a two-year contract and has yet to finalise his assistant coaches, as well as the manager and performance director for the team.
Mirnawan said he would prefer that someone else be given a chance to take over his previous role with the Speedy Tigers if the governing body happened to approach him for his services.
“At the moment, I’m not the team manager of the Speedy Tigers as my contract has ended. My cycle and service for the national team were based on the Paris Olympics. I have never been approached by the MHC for any role in the newly revamped system.
“But if the MHC approaches me again for the manager post, I prefer to give a chance to other candidates who are available for that role.
“If any other role that MHC deem fit, I will consider it because I would still want to contribute to Malaysian hockey.
“When I was the team manager, I made sure that we prepared a formidable team for the Asian Games and also the Olympic qualifiers in Oman, and all players had the commitment in them.
“I just hope that whoever comes on board carries the responsibility with passion and love for the country,” said Mirnawan when met at the C. Paramalingam Legends Trophy at the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium yesterday.
The 61-year-old Sarjit has scouted between 40 and 42 players from the Malaysia 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. – March 11, 2024