Johari as MHC secretary

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will hold their first council meeting after their merger with the women's body today, and top of the agenda is the appointment of a new secretary general and also the future of coach Tai Beng Hai.
Former MHC secretary general Maninderjit Singh sent in his quit letter after the team failed in the Dublin Olympic Qualifier, and Johari Aziz is expected to be officially appointed today.
Johari, who retired from Tenaga Nasional, is the Kuala Lumpur HA vice president as well as president of Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club.
He was also the team manager for national juniors in 2009.
Yesterday, MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and also Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) president watched Project 2013 beat Pakistan 5-3 in the run-up to the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca on May 3-13.
Pakistan had won the earlier two friendlies 4-3 and 5-3, and Malaysia will play another four matches against South Korea starting from Thursday.
When asked about the appointment of his secretary: "I have my list of candidates and will forward and discuss it at the council meeting today. We will also discuss about the coaching set up, as it is time that we moved on," said Tengku Abdullah.
Even though he kept his secretary's name close to his chest, as under the MHC constitution it is the prerogative of the president to name his right-hand man, it is strongly believed that Johari will helm the post from today.
Tengku Abdullah also me the the women's team, who are preparing for the Olympic Qualifier in Kakamigahara, Japan, on April 25-May 6.
"I hope the women qualify, after the men failed in Dublin. Their biggest hurdle there will be Japan, and hopefully, they overcome it.
"And as for the Project 2013 team, I have big hopes on them to do well in the Junior Asia Cup and qualify for the World Cup, as we need to keep playing at the higher level, be it junior or senior," said Tengku Abdullah.
After losing the first two friendlies with a mixed-team, coach K. Dharmaraj fielded his best yesterday and his charges did not disappoint as they played well as a team.