MHF still await Oltmans

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) are still keen to hire a foreign coach, but have yet to receive a reply from Dutchman Roelant Oltmans.
The MHF held their management committee meeting in Penang on Sunday, in conjunction with the USM Penang- International Sixes and Sevens, but could not reach a concrete decision.
“We only had a brief discussion because National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkeples Embong cold not make it for the meeting.
“The MHF is still keen to hire a foreign coach, but until we do so, Tai Beng Hai remains as the interim coach,” said MHF secretary Hashim Yusoff.
Hashim said the MHF has short-listed three coaches, and the coaching committee has been told to submit their recommendations.
“I know that it has been a year that Beng Hai has been an interim coach, but I believe we should be able to get a reply from the coaches that we have contacted by the end of this year.”
Oltmans has a contract with clubside Larens until 2012, and the MHF will have to pay a bomb to secure his release, and then pay him and his assistant at least Euro 16,000 per- month.
Malaysia will be involved in the Asian Champions Trophy, the Azlan Shah Cup, Asian and Commonwealth Games next year and the MHF are keen to seal a foreign deal as soon as possible.