Hook Hockey

New Straits Times: Revs and Arul Malaysia-bound

The New Straits Times have reported that Paul Revington will take over the Malaysian men’s head coaching role with Irish assistant and Three Rock Rovers coach Arul Anthoni possibly to follow as his assistant.

Reports suggest that the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) held meetings with both coaches on Tuesday with both coaches with an official announcement set to be made in the coming days.

Revington is currently finishing up with the Irish men’s team having announced his decision to resign in mid-May in the wake of narrowly missing out on Olympic qualification.

The Times quote an MHC official as saying of the impending appointment: “Our president has met Revington and is happy with the coach’s determination and commitment.

“He (Revington) will chart Malaysia’s senior future starting with the Champions Challenge I (in Argentina in November) and then the World Cup Qualifier next year.”

Anthoni, meanwhile, is currently in his native Malaysia on his summer vacation from his job at Three Rock but is said to be making a decision on whether he will take up the new post in the coming days.

Again according to the New Straits Times, Anthoni said at the Olympic Qualifier in Dublin that he would like to link up with the Malaysian national setup: “I have been working in Ireland for the last five years, and if possible, I would like to handle the Malaysian team once more.”

Anthoni was part of the coaching team in his homeland under Paul Lissek before moving to South Africa where he first met Revington and they have worked regularly together since.

Initial speculation in Malaysia was that Revington would work in tandem with former Australian skipper Paul Gaudoin but this situation appears to have fallen through.