KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Eleven new faces complete a list of 34 players called up to the national hockey squad’s centralised training camp before a 25-man squad is picked for the 2020 season.
However, the names of experienced players such as Mohamad Sukri Abdul Mutalib, Faizal Saari, Fitri Saari, Nabil Fikri Mohd Noor and Joel Van Huizen were surprisingly missing from the list.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) National Team Management Committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak said national head coach Roelant Oltmans had his own criteria in the selection.
“Before the names were released today, coach Roelant met the players. Discussions had been held and obviously the coach has certain criteria to select the players after the discussions,” he said during a press conference at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here yesterday.
The eleven new players are goalkeeper Mohamad Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri; three defenders – Muhammad Firdaus Omar, Muhammad Nur Asyraf Ishak and Muhammad Aminudin Mohd Zain.
Three midfielders – Mohamad Faid Farhadh Mohamad Shah, Abdul Khalid Hamirin and Shello Silveriusserta; and four strikers – Muhamad Hafiz Zainol, Muhammad Sufi Ismat Mr Rohulamin, Arif Sabron and Muhammad Amirul Hanif Mamat.
The selected players will begin training sessions next Monday and will be evaluated for three weeks before being selected to the 25-man national squad, while three additional players will also be selected by Oltmans to train with the Malaysian team.
“In three weeks, we will reduce the number to 28 players. That will be the last phase for preparation towards the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Out of 34 players, there are 11 new players who play good hockey in the league (Malaysian Hockey League).
“These guys have to show their quality and potential in the first few weeks to secure the position in the national team. There are few criteria, one is fighting spirit in the team. They really have to show the potential to compete at the international stage. That’s where we are going to judge them,” said Oltmans.
— Bernama
