KUALA LUMPUR – National hockey assistant coach Sukri Abdul Mutalib openly admits that transitioning from being a Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) teacher to joining the Speedy Tigers’ coaching set-up is the biggest leap in his career.
Known for his midfield prowess on the turf, Sukri made his international debut against China in 2003 and went on to make over 330 appearances for the national hockey team.
The 38-year-old was a two-time Sultan Azlan Shah silver medallist and also won silver at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
Speaking to Scoop, Sukri pledged to take his new coaching role seriously and apply the lessons learned from his time as a sports teacher to nurture and develop players selected in the national camp.
A total of 46 players were selected by head coach Sarjit Singh to join the selection camp from the recently concluded Malaysia Hockey League, beginning from March 19 to the 31.
On April 1, the players will be narrowed down to 30 to begin preparation for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Nations Cup in May.
“The transition from a sports school teacher to be a part of the national team set-up is definitely a big leap in my career, but my directions are clear.
“Being a sports school teacher at BJSS has taught me a lot in life, especially in how to handle young players.
“I know the way they think, how to manage their attitude, and also shape their mentality to put their focus on elevating themselves and the game.
“At first, I was contemplating on whether I should accept the offer or not because I was so committed to the Bukit Jalil Sports School. However, I received full support from the school, and they told me that the national team needs my expertise and they gave me the green light to go.
“I have been exposed to several departments of team management over the years, and I have also evolved and know very well about modern hockey and how it works.
“Whether it’s the hockey5s series or field hockey, I have always kept myself updated,” said Sukri when contacted.
Suukri served as a sports teacher at BJSS for nearly six years since joining the institution in 2018.
Throughout his time there, he has also worked closely with the National Hockey Development Programme and other institutions in moulding some of the young hockey prospects for the country.
He was also the team manager for the Malaysia team, where they made history by finishing as silver medallists, eventually falling 2-5 against the Netherlands in the final of the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup held in Oman last year.
Sukri also said that he appreciated the trust given by Sarjit, and he was honoured to work together with his coach who guided him during the 2005 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup in Rotterdam.
“I’m thankful to coach Sarjit for his interest in bringing me on board to be his assistant. This is not an opportunity that comes to everyone, and I’m going to use it to the maximum.
“I don’t want to brag as if I know everything about hockey. I’m now with coach Sarjit, and I’m always open to learning from him. He’s one of the most respected coaches in the country, and being under his guidance is an honour for me.
“Even as a player, I have always been an integral part of his team, especially in the Junior World Cup in Rotterdam 2005. He was always the person that I contacted whenever I wanted any help or ideas in managing my students at Bukit Jalil.
“We are now working on a long-term project, and we need to be very careful in ensuring that we find the right players that can fit into the national team’s direction.
“To ensure it happens, we need to make sure that we are strict and always emphasise choosing the players based on their performance on the turf.
“We both have the same mentality and wavelength, and we also want all the players that have been selected in the national training camp to share the same vision as us if we want to succeed on the international stage.
“We coaches are always ready to give our 200%, but at the end of the day, players should also share the same responsibility as us,” Sukri added.
In addition to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and the Nations Cup in Poland, Sarjit’s team will also participate in the Asian Champions Trophy in Inner Mongolia, China, scheduled to take place from September 8 to 17.
The Speedy Tigers are currently ranked 13th in the world, with 1,828.27 points. – March 24, 2024