KUALA LUMPUR – Friendship serves as the driving force behind Kim Sang-ryul’s willingness to extend his support to Sarjit Singh should the national hockey head coach require his services.
Regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, the 69-year-old South Korean was recently in town for China’s Liaoning men’s and women’s teams, which competed in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
His women’s side finished second in this year’s MHL. They went on to win the Vivian May Soars Cup by defeating Malaysian University 3-0 in a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw in regulation at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil in March.
Speaking to Scoop, Sang-ryul said that he has known Sarjit for more than two decades and has been following Malaysian hockey during his stints with South Korea and also China.
“Sarjit is the most passionate person that I have ever seen in Malaysian hockey; he has been the pillar of support in developing some of the best players for the national team over the past two decades, and friendship has always blossomed whenever we meet, even on and off the pitch. We always tend to exchange knowledge about the game and have always been in touch.
“I heard that he’s currently building a really formidable team for the Malaysian team to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and I would love to be a part of his vision if he needs me. I’m a person who loves to build something from nothing, especially with young players.
“We may have some differences if we happen to work together, but one thing that we both have in common is ‘discipline,’ and that’s what will unite me and Sarjit, as we have the same wavelength in not tolerating nonsense in our coaching careers.
“There are so many quality players in Malaysia, it’s just that we have to fine-tune them to make them into world-class players, and Sarjit and I can definitely make it happen.
“I’m still currently attached to Liaoning until 2025, but I won’t think twice to help my friend Sarjit to reach his vision in bringing back Malaysian hockey to where it belongs,” said Sang-ryul.
Associated with an aggressive style of coaching, Sang-ryul is well known for his 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 systems, aiming for his players to always burst onto the flanks instead of moving on relatively flat lines, which has been the norm in Malaysian hockey over the past four years.
Sang-ryul’s legacy extends to rejuvenating the South Korean national hockey team when they faced their lowest point, culminating in a remarkable silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics under his leadership.
The South Korean also guided China’s men’s team to silver at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and the women’s team to fifth place at the 2012 London Olympics.
He received his coaching certificate from India’s National Institute of Sports in Patiala in 1985 after studying under Olympic champion Balkrishan Singh.
Sang-ryul also discussed the potential challenges in joining Sarjit’s coaching team or any roles offered by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, citing difficulties in earning players’ trust and altering their mindset.
“Players like Faizal Saari, Fitri Saari, and Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal, in my opinion, are world-class players. I’m not saying that the other players in the country are not, but they are just lacking the winning mentality.
“In terms of individual skills and talents, Malaysian players are by far the best in the world, but they can only excel if they have the right attitude. If I happen to come on board with Sarjit, I will need to make sure that some of the players do not play selfishly and play for the country instead of the coaches.
“I will need to instil the winning mentality, and that’s going to be a challenge for me, as I won’t be sure that the players will be ready to handle my aggressive style of approach.
“But I believe that I will be able to adapt to the players’ ecosystem with the help of Sarjit. At the end of the day, forging a winning mentality is the key to a team’s success, and I believe that I can make a change with my experience,” Sang-ryul added.
The 61-year-old Sarjit, who is under a two-year contract, brought the revamped Speedy Tigers with an average age of 25 years old to a fourth place finish at this year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, with a total of 18 goals scored in the tournament out of six matches.
Azrai Aizad emerged as the top scorer under Sarjit’s tutelage with a total of eight goals scored in the invitational tournament.
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. – May 11, 2024