SHA set to get full-time coach

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Hockey Association (SHA) will soon have the services of a former national defender as its full-time coach in their bid to lift the standard of the sport in the State.

However, the immediate task of the coach in question would be to prepare a State team that would compete in the Razak Cup championship to be held in the national capital in August.

SHA Secretary Avtar Singh, when met yesterday neither confirmed nor denied the imminent arrival of the particular coach, who donned national colours between the late 80s and early 90s.

He, however, admitted that the association has been trying to get a full-time coach, but will only reveal the identity of the coach once everything is finalised.

“We are trying to get a full-time coach, and hopefully we will be able to get one the latest by July because we need someone to help us prepare our team for the Razak Cup which would be held in Kuala Lumpur from August 11-20.

“We also have to prepare our team for the Borneo Cup, which is likely to be held year-end. Then our next major assignment would be to prepare our team for the Malaysia Games to be held in Melaka next year,” said Avtar.

At the same time, Avtar said they also need someone with experience to look into the development side of the game in the State.

“We have been talking to the Sabah Sports Council about our intention of securing the services of a full-time coach. We are also seeking assistance from the Malaysian Hockey Federation to help us find the right man.

“We wish to express our sincere thanks to both the Sports Council as well as MHF because they have been very helpful in our cause,” Avtar added.

If everything goes according to plan, the coach in question, who is believed to be from Perak, and has coached several teams and clubs throughout the country, will be officially unveiled early next month, as SHA wants him to be around when they stage the annual President’s Cup Inter-Zone Championship likely to be held the second week of July.

The last time Sabah had the services of a full-time coach was in 2005.

Then a former national player Lim Chow Chuan was their choice. However, Lim, who now coaches the Singapore national team, left at the end of his two-year contract.

Among other top coaches that have served the state is an Indian ex-international C. K. Kumar, who managed to lead Sabah to the Sukma quarter-finals in 2002.

Kumar, who guided India to the World Youth Cup crown in 2000, was named as the national women’s squad coach after leaving Sabah end of 2003.