KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf) has confirmed that Tamer Abdelraouf will assume the role as head coach of the national kumite team.
The 40-year-old Egyptian will take on the position with immediate effect after his predecessor R. Puvaneswaran’s contract, which expired in December last year, was not extended by the sports body.
“I have known Tamer for a very long time, and he has a commendable track record with our national team, performing exceptionally well throughout his career.
“With Tamer now taking over as the head coach of the kumite team, it will be a boost for the athletes, as he can closely monitor their progress,” Makaf president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad told Scoop when contacted.
Tamer had served as the national senior squad manager since February last year, after former coaching director Datuk P. Arivalagan stepped down from his role in the same month.
For the record, Tamer previously coached both the Egyptian (2010-2015) and Iraqi (2015-2020) national teams.
Nur Azmi also revealed that the association is currently undergoing a restructuring phase involving former national athletes in development roles.
He added that Puvaneswaran, being a former athlete, has been offered a position as a development coach, emphasising the need for experienced individuals to guide the younger generation for future tournaments.
“I believe that coaches like Puvaneswaran are much more needed in the development team compared to the senior team, and that’s why we didn’t extend his contract.
“This is to ensure that these young athletes can learn from their seniors and be well-prepared when they compete in major tournaments,” he explained.
Previously, Puvaneswaran told Scoop that he is currently considering other job opportunities in Asia.
Under his guidance, Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik clinched gold in the men’s kumite below 84kg, and the women’s team – Lovelly Anne Robberth, Naccy Nelly Evvaferra Rojin, and Nathalia Sherawinnie Yampil – secured a silver medal in the team kata event.
Lovelly also added another silver in the individual kata.
At the same time, Makaf aims to diversify coaching roles by bringing in a women’s team head coach for the first time to sharpen its female athlete’s performance.
“All this time, the women’s team has always been guided by male coaches, and for a change, we want to bring in more women’s coaches to guide our athletes.
“We are currently in discussions with a few candidates from Scotland and several other countries, and we will be making an announcement very soon on this matter,” Nur Azmi added. – January 9, 2024
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