Speedy Tigers toughen up to push for honours at Nations Cup
PETALING JAYA: The Speedy Tigers are setting a clear goal ahead of the FIH Nations Cup, which will be held from June 15-21 in Kuala Lumpur. They want to reach the semi-finals and then go all out.
Having finished fourth in South Africa in 2022 and seventh in Gniezmo, Poland, last year, coach Sarjit Singh believes this time, with a stronger, more battle-hardened squad, the team are ready to make a serious push for honours.
"We are going with 20 players, and we've built well this past year with 17 matches in 2024 and 11 already this year," said Sarjit.
"The team are improving, especially after the tours in Australia and South Korea. It's fair to say we must qualify for the semi-finals. That's the minimum."
The coach is counting on his forwards - Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal, Shello Silverius, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Muhajir Abdu Rauf and Akhimullah Anuar Esook - to convert more chances, especially from field goals, and has identified the need for additional penalty corner flickers to improve scoring efficiency.
"Our forwards are creating chances, but we need to take more when it comes to penalty corners - 50 percent conversion would help us a lot. Syed (Syed Mohd Syafiq Syed Cholan) is one of our top penalty corner takers. If he performs, I hope he can break into the top four," he said.
"We have scored 16 goals, 11 from field and five from penalty corners. We have to do better when it comes to defending penalty corners. In South Korea, we conceded 25 penalty corners, letting in five. We've to stop that."
Malaysia's first game in the Nations Cup will be against Pakistan at the National Hockey Stadium on June 15, and Sarjit knows Malaysia have not had the best of results against them in recent years.
"We drew 4-4 in the last Nations Cup and lost 4-5 to them in the Azlan Shah Cup. They have quality players like Abdul Rana, Hannan Shahid, and penalty corner flicker Sufyan Khan. They have come back stronger. We have to check these players closely."
Sarjit also highlighted that teams like New Zealand, France, and South Africa bring Pro League-level intensity to the competition.
"These are quality sides, and the matches will be tough. But with coaches like Sohail (Abbas) helping our keepers and us studying the opponent flickers via video, we're preparing well."
NATIONS CUP SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Hafizuddin Othman and Rafaizul Mohd Saini.
Defenders: Marhan Jalil (captain), Syed Mohd Syafiq Syed Cholan, Faiz Helmi Jali, Amirul Hamizan Azahar, Faris Harizan, Andywalfian Jeffrynus, Arif Syafie Ishak and Syarmann Mat Tee.
Midfielders: Fitri Saari, Nik Mohd Aiman Nik Rozemi, Shafiq Hassan, Mughni Mohd Kamal and Alfarico Lance Liau Jr.
Strikers: Shello Silverius, Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Muhajir Abdu Rauf and Akhimullah Anuar Esook.
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