NAHARUDIN Mahayudin hopes to be given the chance to finish the job — put the national weightlifting team on the right path again.
But whether the national head coach will get the opportunity is up to the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF).
In February, MWF brought in Naharudin to replace China's Wang Zhiquan whose contract was not renewed.
And the national team are being revamped, following frequent doping issues in recent years.
Two national lifters — Azroy Hazalwafie and Ikram Haikal Muhd Zuari — were also tested positive by the National Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia in May.
This led to MWF and the National Sports Council taking the drastic steps of disbanding the national team recently, a decision which Naharudin fully supports.
The entire national team, including Naharudin, were given a one-month notice, which expires at the end of the month.
"I think revamping the national team is the right move because we need to start fresh," said Naharudin, who was a Selangor coach.
"We must clean up our image, and this time select athletes who have the right discipline and are free from bad influences.
"As for myself, I am still keen on guiding the national team. If I am given the chance, I want to finish what I had set out to do.
"But it is not for me to decide, and I will accept whatever decision the MWF decide."
Naharudin said if MWF discontinue his service, he will mostly likely go back to coaching at state level.
MWF said their coaches selection committee will conduct a series of interviews with candidates next month before deciding who fill up the four coaching slots.
Naharudin added that he supports MWF's decision to select the national team through an open selection competition.
The national championships-cum-national selection trials, which is open to all state athletes who meet the qualifying standard, will be held in Kuala Rompin this weekend.
Naharudin feels that athletes outside of the national setup are hungrier for success because they have to pay for their own training and supplements.
"They know what it is like to struggle," he said.
"Sometimes, athletes who are in the national team get too comfortable because everything is provided for them."
A total of 28 athletes, who met the qualifying standard, have been accepted to compete in the National Championships-cum-selection trials.
