Homecoming to where his roots are and Malaysia being highly rated by the media in India for the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), which starts on Thursday in Chennai, India, is all flattering, but only adds additional pressure on national hockey coach Arul Anthoni Selvaraj.

Arul back in Chennai after 26 years in the state where he last was as a player for the national team in 1997 for the Chief Minister’s Cup, is also sentimental being back in Chennai, because his father was born in Kumbakonam.

He has said on arrival on Saturday: “I am very proud as my father belongs to Kumbakonam. He used to come here [Chennai] often as well.”

Arul who speaks fluent Tamil greeted the media on arrival saying: “Romba magizhchi ah iruku [I am so happy]. I am very proud to be a Tamilian and be here as the coach of my team in the land where my father was born.”

The team arrived on Saturday in Chennai and there was a warm traditional reception with local folk dancers, drum beats, being garlanded and a huge team of print and electronic media waiting for an interview.

“The media here rates Malaysia here very highly. It is flattering, but I told them that, as much as we want to well in the ACT and will try our level best to do so, our mission here is different,” said Arul in a telephone interview with Apa Khabar.

Arul and the team named Coach of the Year and Team of the Year respectively a fortnight ago, will certainly will have all eyes on them, with high hopes at the ACT.

But with the ATC held so close to the Asian Games in Hangzhou (Sept 23-Oct), which is the qualifier for the Paris Olympics, Arul is in a Catch 22 situation.

The Champion’s Trophy six weeks before the Asian Games is certainly not an ideal situation.

Having to play seven matches in 10 days, makes it even more difficult situation.

But critics would want results no matter what, but Arul remains focused and will use the Champion’s Trophy to try out all players, see the players gain individual confidence, enjoy the game and take one game at a time.

“I have no targets for the Champion’s Trophy, but it is the Asian Games gold we are eyeing to make to Paris,” declared Arul before his departure.

“I also have to worry not to pick up any injuries during the Champion’s Trophy,” said Arul. 

Three players injured are already on the injury list and not in Chennai, and are in Malaysia recovering. They  are Nik Muhammad Aiman Nik Rozemi, Norsyafiq Sumatri and Shahril Saabah

“All three are progressing well and should be able to join the team in training when we return from Chennai.”

Speaking on arrival at the Chennai Airport on Saturday, Arul said:  “Our main focus is the Asian Games. We have prepared well with a couple of new tactics [for the Asian Champions Trophy]. Our objective is to finish the tournament with no injuries, as this will be our last preparation before the Asian Games.”

Thus, the  ACT is the pre-cursor for the top Asian teams in its bid for the Asian Games gold in October and automatically earn a Paris Olympic berth, bidding for the Speedy Tigers’ first qualification since 2000.

Malaysia, has never won the Champions Trophy, will be against the host India, China, Pakistan, Japan and defending champions South Korea. 

Arul is pleased with the progress his team has made since he took over from Roelant Oltmans in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. He has had experience as an assistant coach with the national teams of South Africa, Ireland and Malaysia but never as a head coach before he was put in the hot seat.

The 49-year-old has learnt from the best minds in Paul Lissek (Olympic gold-winning coach with Germany), Maurits Hendriks (Olympic gold-winning coach with Spain and current Chief Sports Officer at Ajax) and Paul Revington (Great Britain Head coach).  He has been coaching in Malaysia, South Africa and Ireland, where he has been living for the last 17 years.

Malaysia open their campaign against Pakistan on Thursday in the round-robin tournament. Defending champions South Korea, world No. 4 India, Japan and China complete the cast.

The top four in the round-robin will qualify for the semi-finals, and Malaysia should be there.

India hosts ACT after 16 years and naturally they will be under pressure to win gold.

“India are the favourites. They play regularly in the Pro League (against the best in the world),” said Arul.

“Our team has nine players with more than 100 international caps and the average age of the squad is 27 years. Ours is a good mix of young and old. The captain (Marhan Jalil) is 33 years of age. We have 8 players in their 30s and the rest are aged between 25 and 28 years. The youngsters are full of energy,” he added.

On the team in Chennai, Arul said: “After a day’s travelling on Saturday, we had our first training session on Sunday evening.

“All is good and team has settled in well and are comfortable, especially the food is good, which is very important for energy and recovery with back to back matches.

“We are looking forward to our opening match against Pakistan, although they have always been a formidable team with individual skills. Our record against them too does not favour us, but we drew against them in last year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh.

“It is going to be different this time around and am sure will be looking to avenge that defeat. We just have to continue to work hard as a team and manage the situation.”

MALAYSIA’S FIXTURES Aug 3: v Pakistan (8.45pm); Aug 4: v China (8.45pm); Aug 6: v India (11pm); Aug 7: v Japan (6.30pm); Aug 9: v South Korea (8.45pm)

THE SQUAD:

NO	NAME	POSITION
1	MUHAMMAD HAFIZUDDIN OTHMAN	GOALKEEPER
2	MOHD ZAIMI MAT DERIS	GOALKEEPER
3	MUHAMMAD RAZIE ABD RAHIM	DEFENDER
4	MUHAMMAD MARHAN MOHD JALIL	DEFENDER
5	MUHAMMAD NAJMI FARIZAL JAZLAN	DEFENDER
6	MUHAMMAD AMINUDDIN MOHD ZAIN	DEFENDER
7	MUHAMMAD SYAFIQ HASSAN	DEFENDER
8	MUHAJIR ABDU RAUF	DEFENDER
9	MUHAMMAD NAJIB ABU HASSAN	DEFENDER
10	MUHAMMAD AMIRUL HAMIZAN AZAHAR	DEFENDER
11	FAIZ HELMI JALI	MIDFIELDER
12	MEOR MUHAMMAD AZUAN HASSAN	MIDFIELDER
13	SHELLO SILVERIUS	MIDFIELDER
14	MUHAMMAD AZRAI AIZAD ABU KAMAL	MIDFIELDER
15	ABDUL KHALIQ HAMIRIN	STRIKER
16	MUHAMMAD FIRHAN ASHAARI	STRIKER
17	FAIZAL SAARI	STRIKER
18	MOHAMAD ASHRAN HAMSANI	STRIKER
19	MUHAMAD RAMADAN ROSLI	STRIKER
20	MOHD FITRI SAARI	STRIKER

MANAGEMENT AND COACHING STAFF

NO	NAME	POST
1	DATUK MIRNAWAN NAWAWI	TEAM MANAGER
2	ARULSELVARAJ ANTHONISAMI	CHIEF COACH
3	AZRUL EFFENDY BISTAMAM	ASSISTANT COACH
4	KUMAR SUBRAMANIAM	GOALKEEPER COACH
5	THOMAS MICHAEL DROWLEY	FITNESS COACH

By Tony Mariadass