Latest news with #NorSaifulZaini
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Exposure is key, says Malaysian junior hockey coach Nor Saiful Zaini ahead of MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup
In his first stint as the head coach of the Malaysian National junior men's hockey team, Nor Saiful Zaini is pragmatic of his team's chances in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup, which commenced here on Thursday and the FIH junior men's World Cup to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. 'We don't have any high hopes. Ours is an inexperienced and young bunch. It will be great if we make it to the knock-out stages of MCC-Murugappa tournament, and I will be delighted if we maintain the 12th place finish that we did in the previous edition of the World Cup in 2023,' Saiful told Sportstar here. According to Saiful, the National team is running out of time. Since taking over in May this year, the 59-year-old is keen to give maximum exposure to the boys and make it the best possible team. FILE PHOTO | Hockey India announces 33-Member squad for senior men's national coaching camp 'Before coming here, we had three months of strong preparation, playing against a top division club in Liaoning (China), coached by South Korea's top coach Kim Sang-ryul, at Dalian City. After Murugappa, we are going to Perth and compete in the Sultan of Johor Cup (from Oct. 10 to 18 at Johor Baru). And then may be train again in China,' said the three-time Olympian. Playing against senior players in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup will not be easy, said Saiful, but expressed confidence that his boys will put up a fight. Placed in Pool-E with the Netherlands, England and Austria in the FIH junior men's World Cup, Malaysia will find it tough and Saiful admitted it as much. 'England and Dutch are very strong teams. And some of the number two teams from other groups, are quite strong. We still try to finish 12th. We don't want to finish behind 16. It is going to be tough all the way, but I want my players to play modern hockey; that's my philosophy,' he said. Having assisted other coaches of the Malaysian National junior team from 2016-20, Saiful knows what ails the country's hockey. 'We need time to build the team and require more exposure tours. In my six months (before the FIH junior men's World Cup), I can't do wonders. I want my boys to play their best,' he said.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
A pragmatic Saiful wants to give maximum exposure to the Malaysian junior team
In his first stint as the head coach of the Malaysian National junior men's hockey team, Nor Saiful Zaini is pragmatic of his team's chances in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup, which commenced here on Thursday, and the FIH junior men's World Cup to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. 'We don't have any high hopes. Ours is an inexperienced and young bunch. It will be great if we make it to the knock-out stages of the MCC-Murugappa tournament, and I will be delighted if we maintain the 12th place finish that we did in the previous edition of the World Cup in 2023,' Saiful told The Hindu here. According to Saiful, the National team is running out of time. Since taking over in May this year, the 59-year-old has been keen to give maximum exposure and make it the best possible team. 'Before coming here, we had three months of strong preparation, playing against a top division club in Liaoning (China), coached by South Korea's top coach Kim Sang-ryul, at Dalian City. After Murugappa, we are going to Perth and will also compete in the Sultan of Johor Cup (from Oct. 10 to 18 at Johor Baru). And then may be train again in China,' said the three-time Olympian. Playing against senior players in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup will not be easy, said Saiful, but expressed confidence that his boys will put up a fight. Placed in Pool-E with the Netherlands, England and Austria in the FIH junior men's World Cup, Malaysia will find it tough and Saiful admitted it as much. 'England and the Dutch are very strong teams. And some of the number two teams from other groups are also quite strong. We still try to finish 12th. We don't want to finish behind 16. It is going to be tough all the way, but I want my players to play modern hockey That's my philosophy,' he said. Having assisted other coaches of the Malaysian National junior team from 2016-20, Saiful knows what ails the game in his country. 'We need time to build the team and require more exposure tours. In my six months (before the FIH junior men's World Cup), I can't do wonders. I want my boys to play their best,' he said.
Barnama
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Malaysia Target Semi-Finals In Inaugural U-18 Asia Cup
KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is targeting the national men's under-18 (U-18) team to reach the semi-finals in the inaugural U-18 Asia Cup championships to be held in China from July 3 to 13. National junior team head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin said the target is based on the strength of the teams drawn alongside Malaysia in Group B. He added that the U-18 squad's coaches and players have a strong reputation in this age category. bootstrap slideshow 'If we look at Group B, we have Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei. I think finishing first or second is very achievable. 'So we will qualify for the semi-finals. If we become group champions, we might even make it to the final,' he told an MHC press conference here today. Nor Saiful Zaini also said the tournament will serve as a platform to expand the national player pool in preparation for the Junior World Cup in India at the end of this year. 'All the players in this U-18 squad are not part of my current junior team. So with their inclusion, we will have a bigger pool of players,' he said. At the U-18 Asia Cup, Malaysia will kick off their campaign against Kazakhstan on July 3, followed by matches against Indonesia (July 4), Chinese Taipei (July 6), Japan (July 7) and Uzbekistan (July 9) in the final Group B fixture. Only the top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Young Tigers headed for Liaoning and Chennai
KUALA LUMPUR: The national junior hockey team have received two invitations — to play against the Liaoning Province in China next month and in the All India Murugappa MCC Invitational in Chennai in July. Nor Saiful Zaini, who was appointed national junior coach last week, said Young Tigers need to play at least 50 matches in preparation for the Junior World Cup in India from Nov 28 to Dec 10. "We are happy to receive an invitation from Liaoning to play at least five matches and also to play a few more matches in a tournament in India. "We will also play one or two friendly matches with the teams that will feature in the Nations Cup in Bukit Jalil in June. We are also planning for a playing tour of Australia." Young Tigers will also play in the Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup at Taman Daya Stadium from Oct 19-26. A total of 37 players have been selected for training under Nor Saiful. They started training on May 14. The training squad: Nor Syakir Saini, Irfan Abd Nasir, Hafiezuddin Ali, Nabil Irfan Yusof, Nor Daniel Nor Effendy, Azimuddin Shakir Kamaruddin, Shafiq Ammar Fahmi Suzaini, Aqil Danial Mat Ruslee, Danish Haikal Saufi, Ammar Qusyairi Abdul Halim, Atif Aqil Zubir, Shafy Shahymm Huzzeini Shahrul Azran, T. Naaveennash Paniker, Danish Irfan Saufi, Haziq Zunnurain Azhary, Alief Adha Akhbar, Shafiq Adam Harris Suzaini, Danish Aiman Khairul Anuar, Handzalah Abdul Hadi, Muaz Bashir Shabri, Khairul Norizam, Wan Arif Faizuddin Wan Ameer Ruzman, Aiman Safwan Hisham, Eswaran George, Amandeep Singh, S. Yashvindraa, Khairil Hakimi Zainol, Nischal Singh, Ghirejdish Singh, Amanraj Singh, Yadiy Saifuddin, Addy Jazmi Jamlus, Khairul Amirin Kamarul Azlan, Haziq Muizuddin Hairul Mizan, Safwan Salihe, Shazwan Shamsul, S. Karthikesan.
New Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Nor Saiful returns with six-month mission to shape JWC squad
KUALA LUMPUR: "Don't lose to teams ranked below us - that's the number one target." That's the message from national junior hockey coach Nor Saiful Zaini, who has returned to helm the squad ahead of the Junior World Cup (JWC) in Chennai, India, on Nov 28-Dec 10. Nor Saiful, officially reappointed on Tuesday on a three-year deal, faces the tough task of building a competitive team with just six months to go before the tournament. He stressed the urgency of starting preparations immediately to ensure Malaysia - currently ranked 11th in the world junior rankings and fourth in Asia - do not lose to lower-ranked teams. "In the Junior Asia Cup, we finished fourth, and there will be 24 teams at the World Cup. My top priority is simple - don't lose to teams ranked below us," he said. "We want the players to perform well, regardless of their position. That's why preparation is critical. "Our goal is to beat all teams ranked below us and challenge the stronger sides to pull off some wins. "If we achieve that, the players will return better and more mature with a real shot at breaking into the senior national team," said Nor Saiful on Thursday. Nor Saiful, who replaces I. Vikneswaran, had coached the junior side from 2016 to 2020 before stepping down to focus on grassroots development and leading the Tenaga Nasional team in the domestic league.
