TERENGGANU Polygon Cycling Team (TSG) have appointed their former rider Saiful Anuar Aziz as the new head coach for this season.
The 36-year-old takes over from Englishman Jeremy Hunt, who has now moved into a high-performance advisor role with the team.
Saiful, who raced for TSG between 2012-2016, was in charge (interim) last year after Hunt left Malaysia during the pandemic period.
Saiful is the Kuala Terengganu-based team's first Malaysian head coach. The UCI Continental outfit was formed in 2011.
He will be assisted by Wan Nazri Wan Ahmad, while Zulhilmie Afif Ahmad Zamri will oversee TSG's youth academy and after-school programme.
TSG chief executive officer Che Ku Izmuddin Che Ku Mahmood said Saiful's performance as an interim head coach warranted his promotion.
"We felt that it was time to give our local coaches a chance to lead. If you don't give locals the opportunity, there is no way for them to show what they are capable of," said Che Ku.
"Saiful has done very well over the past few seasons based on the team's performances."
TSG enjoyed a strong season under Saiful last year — winning four one-day races in Turkey, finishing third in the general classification of the Tour of Mevlana (Turkey) and taking the yellow at the Tour of Thailand.