NATIONAL hockey players stand to pocket at least RM20,000 each if they qualify for the London 2010 Olympics.The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) council yesterday endorsed this barrel of cookies as an added incentive, as Malaysia last played in the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
“The council today (yesterday) endorsed RM1,000 per player for each win in the Olympics Qualifier, and if Malaysia qualify, there is an added RM15,000 bonus for each player,” said MHF secretary Maninderjit Singh after MHF held their council meeting in Malacca yesterday.
MHF will foot 50 per cent of the incentive bill, while the remainder will come from their president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
And there is also a major change in the coaching structure, as Tai Beng Hai was elevated from assistant to his old post of chief coach for the senior side.
Stephen van Huizen was elevated to National Team Co ordinator and Coaching Chief.
“Stephen will also play the role of team manager when none is available, but the selection still lies with the various age-group coaches,” said Maninderjit.
Beng Hai’s assistant will be Nor Saiful Zaini, while the team managers appointed are George Koshy and M. Gobinathan.
MHF also set targets to achieve, with the first is to finish top-four in the Azlan Shah Cup, and then top-five in the Champions Challenge in South Africa.
Mirnawan Nawawi will remain as team manager and advisor for the 2013 Project Squad, while the coaches will be K. Dharmaraj, K. Gobinathan and Nor Azlan Bakar.
As for the 2017 team, Paul Lissek will be the consultant, while the chief coach will be Lim Chiow Chuan, assisted by Lailin Abu Hassan.
The council also set clear national team Code-of-Conduct with specific punishment for abuse of drugs, and getting involved in betting and gaming syndicates.
