KUALA LUMPUR — Newly appointed national men’s hockey head coach Brendon Carolan has set his sights firmly on reaching the Asian Games final, outlining a clear roadmap to address Malaysia’s defensive frailties ahead of the Olympic qualifier later this year.
Speaking to reporters at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium, Carolan made it clear that while time is limited, the focus will be on sharpening key weaknesses and ensuring the team peaks at the right moment.
Malaysia, who are preparing for the Nations Cup in South Africa in June before heading into the Asian Games in Nagoya in September, will treat the upcoming tournaments as part of a broader build-up rather than immediate targets.
“We have to prioritise our main goal, which is September,” said Carolan.
“The Asian Games is an Olympic qualifier, so everything we do now is about making sure we are fully prepared to reach that level.”
Carolan, who is no stranger to the national setup after previous stints as an assistant coach to former head coach Arul Selvaraj, acknowledged that Malaysia’s defensive structure remains a major concern.
“We know defensively we are not where we need to be,” he said.
“We’ve been playing a full man-to-man system, and while that has its strengths, it also takes a lot out of the players physically.”
To address this, the South African plans to introduce a more balanced defensive approach by incorporating zonal elements into the system — a shift he believes will better suit the team’s strengths.
“It’s about finding the right balance. If players are constantly chasing, they’re too tired when they win the ball. We want to improve our one-on-one defending, but also allow players to recover and play to Malaysia’s strength, which is counter-attacking,” he added.
Beyond defensive organisation, Carolan highlighted circle entries, circle defence, and penalty corner defence as key areas requiring immediate improvement over the next two months.
Despite the urgency, the 41-year-old was cautious about placing undue pressure on his players too early in the cycle.
“We don’t want to peak too early,” he said.
“The Nations Cup is important, but it’s part of the process. We want to build momentum and ensure we are at our best in September.”
Carolan will also cast a wide net in his selection process, with an extended training squad of around 30 to 32 players already identified.
He confirmed that he will actively scout talent in the upcoming Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) in a bid to strengthen depth, particularly in specialised areas such as penalty corners.
“There are a few young players we are targeting to bring into the senior group,” he said.
“We need more options, especially with our penalty corner conversion rate not being good enough.”
On the issue of players juggling commitments between field and indoor hockey, Carolan struck a pragmatic tone, stressing communication and flexibility.
“It depends on what the player wants and what is manageable,” he said. “At the end of the day, we just want the best players available for September.”
While external criticism, particularly on fitness and decision-making, has surfaced in recent months, Carolan dismissed oversimplified assessments of the team’s shortcomings.
“There’s more to it than just saying players are unfit,” he said.
“Systems matter. If we get the structure right, it will naturally help the players perform better physically and tactically.”
Having worked with many of the current players for over a decade, Carolan believes familiarity within the squad will accelerate the transition.
“These players are proud, they want to do well for Malaysia,” he said. “Now it’s about putting them in the best position to succeed.”
With the Asian Games final set as a key performance indicator by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, the pressure is immediate — but Carolan appears focused on building a system capable of delivering when it matters most. – April 3, 2026