KUALA LUMPUR: Sarjit Singh has been given the task of getting the underperforming national men's hockey team back on their feet.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) today announced Sarjit's appointment as the new head coach of the national men's team.
Former national captain Sarjit was chosen over three other shortlisted candidates: K. Dharmaraj, Australian Glenn Turner and South African Brendon Caralon. Turner and Caralon were assistants to A. Arul Selvaraj.
Arul's contract was not renewed after Malaysia failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, leading to MHC's search for a new coach.
MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said Coaching Committee chairman Datuk Majid Manjit Abdullah picked Sarjit as the head coach.
Subahan said the other three applicants are also good, but MHC believes that Sarjit can do a better job. A total of 23 coaches applied for the head coach's post.
"And we, the executive board, unanimously supports Sarjit's appointment as the new head coach.
"Sarjit will be given a free hand to take the men's national team to the next level. He will be given a two-year contract."
Sarjit was the national junior coach from 2004 to 2006, and national senior coach from 2007 to 2008.
"Sarjit will decide his assistants. He's an experienced coach, and we are confident that he will do a good job with the national team to win more matches and tournaments.
"We are not setting any immediate targets for him as you know it will take time to rebuild the national team.
"We want to give Sarjit room to help improve the national team's performance. And success doesn't come overnight.
"To be fair, we will do a Key Performance Index (KPI) after two years.
"Sarjit's main goal is to help Malaysia win the 2026 Asian Games (gold) in Nagoya to qualify for the 2028 LA Olympics."
Subahan also said there is a possibility that
Sarjit will have three assistant coaches.
On Arul's part in the national team, Subahan said: "Arul has done a good job as the national coach except for the last two assignments. We thank coach Arul for his services and wish him all the best."