Olympian Saiful set to get national job
KUALA LUMPUR: Two names were mentioned, but now it seems to be turning into a one-horse race.
Three-time Olympian Nor Saiful Zaini is the frontrunner for the post of national junior hockey coach.
The other name for the job, I. Vikneswaran, is believed to be not interested.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation will have a meeting soon to decide the national junior coach, and he will helm Malaysia for the Junior World Cup in India from Nov 28-Dec 10.
Saiful, 59, who guided Tenaga Nasional to the Malaysia Hockey League treble last year, was also the coach of the national junior team from 2016 to 2020.
Vikneswaran, who was in charge of the national juniors last year, is said to be busy with his duties as the president of Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association, and he also wants to focus on his business.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Young Tigers gear up for tough road to World Cup
PETALING JAYA: The road to India starts now and the national junior hockey squad are not taking any shortcuts. With the Junior World Cup just months away from Nov 28-Dec 10 in Chennai and Madurai, the team are diving into an intense build-up to take on the best in the world.
New Straits Times
28-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Junior hockey team need more matches before World Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: The national youth hockey team are racing against time in their bid to be ready for the men's Junior World Cup (JWC) in India from Nov 28-Dec 10. Coach Nor Saiful Zaini believes his squad need at least 60 matches to be tournament-ready, but they've played just 13 so far, with four months to go. As part of their preparations, the junior Tigers will head to Perth from Aug 3-15, where they'll play six matches — three each against the Western Australian junior and senior sides. They will then travel to China to take on Liaoning in another six-match series. Following that, Malaysia will play in the prestigious Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) in Johor from Oct 11-18 — a six-nation tournament featuring Britain (defending champions), Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland. Saiful will bring 22 of his 25 players to Perth, but is sweating on the fitness of two key men — Adam Ashraf Johari and Aqil Danial Mat Ruslee. Midfielder Adam, who played in the 2023 JWC in Bukit Jalil, is sidelined with a wrist injury, while defender Aqil, a mainstay during the Junior Asia Cup in Oman, is recovering from a knee injury. "The matches in Perth will give my players good exposure," said Saiful. Malaysia have been drawn in a tough Group E at the JWC alongside the Netherlands, England and Austria. In the 2023 edition, Malaysia finished 12th out of 16 teams.
New Straits Times
28-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Junior hockey team face rush job for World Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: The national youth hockey team are racing against time in their bid to be ready for the men's Junior World Cup (JWC) in India from Nov 28-Dec 10. Coach Nor Saiful Zaini believes his squad need at least 60 matches to be tournament-ready, but they've played just 13 so far, with four months to part of their preparations, the junior Tigers will head to Perth from Aug 3-15, where they'll play six matches — three each against the Western Australian junior and senior sides. They will then travel to China to take on Liaoning in another six-match that, Malaysia will play in the prestigious Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) in Johor from Oct 11-18 — a six-nation tournament featuring Britain (defending champions), Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland. Saiful will bring 22 of his 25 players to Perth, but is sweating on the fitness of two key men — Adam Ashraf Johari and Aqil Danial Mat Adam, who played in the 2023 JWC in Bukit Jalil, is sidelined with a wrist injury, while defender Aqil, a mainstay during the Junior Asia Cup in Oman, is recovering from a knee injury. "The matches in Perth will give my players good exposure," said have been drawn in a tough Group E at the JWC alongside the Netherlands, England and Austria. In the 2023 edition, Malaysia finished 12th out of 16 teams.
