Will there be a change of coach for the Malaysian women's hockey team after the team booked a place in the second round of the World League?
That seems to be the million dollar question as indications are that the current coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim may not see a renewal of his contract when it ends in December.
Infact there had been indications that Nasihin would be replaced even before the first round of the World League, but commonsense prevailed and he has been allowed to carry on as per his contract.
Another indication that Nashin's place may not be secure came about after Malaysia had defeated Kazakhstan 11-1 on Saturday as the Malaysian Hockey Confederation President, accompanied by MHC Deputy President Raja Noorashikin fielded quesion from the press.
"We need to look at the tactics employed as currently there is no variation and there is an overdependence on penalty corners," said Tengku Abdullah.
When asked if MHC was considering bringing in a foreign consultant or coach to help the women's squad, Tengku Abdullah looked over to Raja Noorashikin for a reply.
"We are looking into such arrangements but nothing has been finalised yet. We will have a discussion on this issue," was all Raja Noorashikin offered.
The MHC Coaching Committee will meet on September 23 and its Chairman Manjit Majid Abdullah confirmed that one of the matters to be discussed is the position of the women's hockey coach.
Moving on from that, the team did well, scoring 31 goals in the process and conceding only one. But it was hardly a yardstick to gauge their ability and work must start now towards the second round which is expected to be played in New Delhi next February.
The team will be playing in the Lanco 9 a side tournament organised by the Australian Hockey Federation in October in Perth. But it is matches beyond that what the MHC should be looking at as the team requires exposure rather then training.
Teams like India and Japan are beatable at Asian level and that is what MHC ought to be aiming for in their quest to taken women's hockey to another step.
But while MHC are said to be a merged body, it was sad to see the men officials staying away from the event, with only Tengku Abdullah and Manjit present together with the Secretary General Haji Johari Aziz.
From the organisational aspect, it was well run, with Pahang HA officials lending a helping hand to the organising committee.
