Arul pays tribute to others for his award
By Tony Mariadass
For a man whom many were not very fond of and received more brickbats than accolades, it was the icing to the cake for national hockey coach Arul Antoni Selvaraj, when he was named the coach of the Year at National Sports Award on Sunday in Subang Jaya.
No, the 49-year-old former national player, who had set up his home in Dublin, Ireland 15 years ago, was not gloating over his award nor taking shots at his critics, but instead was his normal modest self, lying low and praising everyone else for his award.
“ Firstly, I must thank Datuk Sri Subahan Kamal (president Malaysia Hockey Confederation -MHC) for trusting me and believed in me to offer me to take the job and the second person I like to acknowledge is Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak (Vice President and national team committee chairman) and of course, my national team manager Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi,” Arul started off on his award winning.
“It is nice thing for me to be allowed to work with a free hand, no one interferes, allowing me do my job how I want and do my things, get to do on my own on what I want to do, when I want to do, how I want to do it and why I want to do it.
“When I present to them my plans, they gave me full support and that is a big thing for me. When you are a coach and when your bosses allow you to do it your way and trust in the process, it makes my job easy.”
And Arul also paid tribute to his family: “Of course, my family, especially my wife Solo (former national athlete Soloseeni Krishnan), were behind me all the way to allow me go to Malaysia.
“I was coaching in Ireland and had to leave the job and when I decided to take up the offer and uproot myself to come to Malaysia and my children (three daughters Tharine, Erin and Deepa) asked me why I had to leave them and go Malaysia. I explained to them and they understood what it meant to me.
“For me it was when my nation needed me, I am still a Malaysian and love my country and so when Malaysia asked to come back to serve my country, I needed to come back.
“Of course the support from my brothers and sisters played a role too in my decision to come back.
“But at the end of the day, it was my team here – the players, my assistants and back room staff – who played a huge role in the team’s rise and my recognition as a coach.
“What I tried to preach to them and they had to bite into my ideas, concepts and apply it.
“If the players did not bite into my ideas, believed in it and performed and implement accordingly, nothing would have been achieved. It is their performance that is the result of my award today,” said the modest lanky coach.
Thus, Arul said the hockey team being awarded the Men’s Team Award of the Year was a fitting recognition for all the players for all the hard work they had put and the results that they achieved.
“That every player was recognised was so meaningful and I am very happy for the players who fully deserve the recognition.”
His wife Solo, as she is affectionately known, indeed was proud of all the sacrifices both of them had made.
Solo, working in the Malaysian Embassy in Dublin watched the live streaming of the awards ceremony during her lunch hour and was in jubilation when Arul was named the winner of the award.
When contacted in Dublin, this is what Solo had to say: “As Arul’s wife, and our daughters Tharine, Erin Mridula and Deepa, we are very proud and excited to see Arul receiving this prestigious award.
“It recognises the work of a dedicated and humble man, who has made many sacrifices during his coaching career to reach this level of success.
“The long pathway has at times been very tough and challenging for Arul and for his family, but Arul has shown great resilience and strength and also loyalty to his team and our nation.”
Malaysia Madani !!!
Indeed, spoken from the heart and only she and her daughters will know the sacrifices they had to make, to be away from Arul.
Love him hate him, but Arul, has been totally focused on his job as the national men’s hockey team head coach and went about his job with full confidence and believe in himself and his team.
And the award is testimony for his dedication and resilience.
He took charge of the national team head coach from Roelant Oltmans, of Holland, in August 2020, has had his fair share of critics for his way of managing and selecting the players, his choice of friendly matches overseas and basically doubting his capabilities.
But Arul has proven he has done it his way with the believe and trust of his bosses and team and recognition was finally on the rise when Malaysia made history when they lifted the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup trophy at home ground for the first time after defeating South Korea 3-2 in a tense final at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium, in Ipoh last year.
The victory to win the championship came after a 39-year absence after losing to Australia 8-3 in the 2014 final.
All eyes will now again be on Arul, for the Champion’s Trophy in India at the end of this month, prior to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, which is the qualifier for the Paris Olympics.
The Champion’s Trophy five weeks before the Asian Games is certainly not an ideal situation.
Having to play seven matches in 10 days, makes it even more difficult situation.
But critics will want result no matter what and the knives may just be out again, even before Arul savour the Coach of the Year award.
However, Arul remains focused and will use the Champion’s Trophy to try out all players, see the players gain individual confidence, enjoy the game and take one game at a time.
“I have no targets for the Champion’s Trophy, but it is the Asian Games gold we are eyeing to make to Paris,” declared Arul bodly.
“I also have to worry not to pick up any injuries during the Champion’s Trophy,” said Arul.
At the 29 th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, Arul had declared that the tournament was a process to get the team ready for the World Cup in January in India and with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2024 OIympics, by winning the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September.
Should, Malaysia fail to emerge champion at the Asian Games, they have another chance in January 2024, in the Olympic qualifier where 16 teams will be involved and the top three in each Group qualify.
But that is furthermost on Arul’s mind, as he focuses on the Asian Games.
Another rough and winding road is ahead of Arul, but the award will only spur him to achieve greater heights with his believe and his way.
ALL THE AWARDS AWARDED ON SUNDAY:
Anugerah Jurulatih Wanita (Women’s Coach) Kebangsaan 2022
Beh Lee Wei (Table Tennis)
Anugerah Jurulatih Lelaki (Men’s Coach) Kebangsaan 2022
A. Arul Selvaraj (Hockey)
Anugerah Pasukan Wanita(Women’s Team) Kebangsaan 2022
Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (Badminton Doubles Women)
Anugerah Pasukan Lelaki (Men’s Team) Kebangsaan 2022
Men’s Hockey Team
Anugerah Khas (Special Awards) 2022
Soh Wai Ching
Anugerah Khas 2022
Tuan Haji Ahmad Merican Othman
Anugerah Khas 2022
Datuk Fauzi Omar
Anugerah Khas 2022
Desmond David & Ann Marie David
Anugerah Kepimpinan (Leadership) Sukan 2022
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Abdullah Mohammad Said
Anugerah Olahragawati (Sportswomen Paralympian) Paralimpik Kebangsaan 2022
Lim Carmen (Para Swimming)
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