MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) coaching committee chairman Datuk Ow Soon Kooi said Sunday none of the coaches dubbed as the 'Magnificent Seven' will be allowed to coach or play for teams in this years Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
The seven are National seniors coach Stephen van Huizen, his assistant Lim Chiow Chuan; women's chief coach K. Dharmaraj, his assistant Lailin Abu Hassan; National Development team head coach Wallace Tan, Women's Development squad head coach K. Gobinathan and 1Mas Director Tai Beng Hai.
In reiterating this stand, Soon Kooi said that this condition was already made known to the coaches in January.
"They know MHC's stand and I believe all will adhere to the decision," said Soon Kooi.
"The seven have a role to play during the MHL as they will have to monitor the performances of their respective players as well as scout for talent.
"I hope the coaches will understand the situation and I hope their clubs too realise that as full time coaches with MHC they have to adhere to the regulations."
Teams that will be affected by this rule are KL Hockey Club (Dharmaraj and Chiow Chuan), Sapura (van Huizen and Beng Hai) as well as Uitm (Gobinathan).
While these seven cannot coach or play, some others will be allowed to coach or play in the MHL.
Amongst those who are still expected to play are Roslan Jamaluddin (KLHC) and Amin Rahim (TNB).
Roslan is the goalkeeper coach for the National Development Squad while Amin is the assistant coach of the team.
It will be interesting to see who will now handle high profile teams such as KLHC and Sapura, as this season, clubs not only have to scout for foreign players during the Olympic period, but also for calibre coaches to handle high profile clubs.
