KUALA LUMPUR: The national hockey team will resume training on Monday with or without the services of national coach Paul Revington.
The team will be handled by national assistant coach S. Arul Selvaraj.
Arul said that he would continue coaching the team for the Asia Cup in Ipoh from Aug 24 to Sept 1.
“Revington is expected to make a decision by this week. And frankly speaking, I really don’t know what his plans are.
“As for me I will continue training the team for the Asia Cup,” said the former international.
Malaysia failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup in The Hague, Holland, after finishing fifth in the World League semi-finals tournament in Johor Baru last Sunday.
Now they must win the Asia Cup at all cost to make the grade to Hague, Holland.
The National Sports Council (NSC) want Revington to continue training the national hockey team.
NSC director of athletes division Ariffin Ghani said that the World Hockey League semi-finals in Johor Baru just ended and they don’t want to push the South African coach to make a decision.
“We will give him until next week to make up his mind. However, we need his services as the Asia Cup is an important assignment for the national team to qualify for the World Cup.
“And furthermore, the tournament is less than six weeks,” said Ariffin.
Revington, who is under the payroll of NSC, signed a two-year contract last September.
Revington sent an e-mail to Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) last month stating that he was quitting the team due to outside interference.
However, he changed his mind, and decided to continue training the team for the World League semi-finals.
NSC liaison officer for hockey Nur Azlan Shah said that he is still waiting for Revington to contact him to decide whether he wants to continue training the national team.
“Despite the fasting month, the national team will train twice a day,” said Nur Azlan.
All the 18 players, who featured in the World League semi-finals and eight others who were dropped earlier will be called up for training.
Eight teams will feature in the Asia Cup and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against Taiwan on Aug 24.
Their other matches are against Pakistan on Aug 25 and Japan on Aug 27.
South Korea, India, Bangladesh and Oman are drawn in Group B.
The semi-finals is scheduled for Aug 30 and the final is slated for Sept 1.
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