Return of the dynamic duo

BUKIT JALIL – The National senior head hockey coach Arul Selvaraj and team manager, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, are back together again after their 2015 collaboration with the junior team. The duo looks to transform our national players beyond the sport. According to Arul, his ultimate goal with the team is to change the mindsets of the players “to think and play to win.” 

However, winning is not the only goal in Coach Arul’s mind as he aims to empower his players to internalize the understanding that they have to carry their own responsibility in the team. While his focus is on the skills of the game, it is the players’ responsibility to maintain their physical health and strength. 

“You have to be fit to play hockey, and not play hockey to be fit,” said Arul.

Players also need to have a balanced life between the game and spending valuable time with loved ones and friends. Arul wants his players to be happy playing hockey.  He believes a combination of their own efforts and positive support from their community will drive success. 

At the moment, 38 players have been shortlisted to be part of the training team, which will train for four weeks before 25 of the best players will be finalized for the team. 13 out of the 38 players are either returning faces from previous eliminations or new debuts.

On this note, when asked about a potential team captain, Arul shared his desire to have a team of leaders instead of just one captain to take the lead. The captain, who is yet to be appointed, will only serve as the representative of the team.

“I don’t want just one captain. I believe in leaders to decide the program.” Arul said, “The captain is just to represent the team.”

Meanwhile, newly appointed team manager Mirnawan aims to focus on the targets, which are yet to be set, by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation. As the synergy between him and Arul already exist from their partnership back in 2015, his main concern is that they focus on their own responsibility and work around that.

Chairman of the national team committee, Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak, mentioned that it is still too early to provide a definite target for the team, especially due to the pandemic, but targets will be set as soon as they finalize the 25 players of the team.

We anticipate seeing a team of hockey players that transcends on and off the pitch under the new management of Datuk Minarwan and Coach Arul. – The Vibes, October 1, 2020