Coaches get the stick – and the axe
Changes in store as hockey team fail to qualify for olympics
PETALING JAYA: Now that the national hockey team’s hopes of returning to the Olympics after 20 years have been derailed, the heads of the coaches are set to roll.
Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal hinted at coaching changes after the team failed to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
This is likely to spell the end for coach Roelant Oltmans, whose key performance indicator (KPI) was to get the team into the Olympics.
“The coaches should be responsible. MHC will reshuffle the coaching line-up especially Oltmans’ position because he has failed,” he said.
The failure has as good as destroyed the dreams of goalkeeper S. Kumar, captain Sukri Mutalib, vice-captain Razie Abd Rahim and
The coaches should be responsible. MHC will reshuffle the coaching line-up especially Oltmans’ position because he has failed.
Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal
forward Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil of featuring in the Olympics.
The four have acknowledged that this was their last shot at Olympic glory and the defeat to Britain in the playoffs could even see them out of the national team in the future.
Malaysia had their best chance for qualification this time but in their two playoff matches at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London, they looked well below par and were soundly beaten 9-3 on aggregate by the ruthless Britons.
In the first-leg on Nov 2, Malaysia were beaten soundly 4-1. On Sunday, they were thrashed 5-2.
Malaysia last played in the Olympics in Sydney in 2000 when the team captained by Mirnawan Nawawi finished 11th.
For Sukri, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow but he admitted that Britain were better.
“The first-leg defeat made it tough for us. We had to attack in the second-leg, and they capitalised on our gaps,” he said.
“We didn’t qualify and it’s a disappointment but I cannot fault the commitment of the players. I’m proud of everyone in this team.”
Britain’s captain Zach Wallace said the team didn’t feel that the 4-1 first-leg lead was comfortable and wanted to go with guns blazing in the second-leg.
“It would have been easy to go into this (second leg) game and try not to lose, but we wanted to make sure we won the game and go to Tokyo in style.
“These Asian sides come out so hard and quick. For us, it was about sticking to our principles.
“We knew we had better fitness so knew if we stuck to it we would come out on top.”
The 12 teams that will play in the Olympics are hosts Japan, Argentina, South Africa, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Germany, Britain, India, Holland, New Zealand and Spain.