Azlan Misron (right) knows that the Asia Cup, which will be held in Ipoh starting tomorrow, is his last chance to make his dream come true.
KUALA LUMPUR: The desire to end his playing days by making a debut in the World Cup is what has kept Azlan Misron going all these years.
And the 30-year-old Perak-born player knows that the Asia Cup, which will be held in Ipoh starting tomorrow, is his last chance to make his dream come true.
Although indications are that Malaysia will clinch one of the spots for next year’s World Cup Finals as a reserve through the World Hockey League, Azlan would prefer the team to qualify on merit, instead.
“I want the team to qualify through merit – and that would be by winning the Asia Cup. That’s always been the target and that’s what we are working so hard to achieve,” he said.
“There won’t be any let-up in our quest to achieve our objective ... we are not going to take it easy.
“Yes, a World Cup place is virtually ours but I believe many will take that (the reserve slot) as going through the back door. But that’s not true ... we have earned the right to be reserve for the World Cup spot.”
Only the winners of the Asia Cup will qualify for the World Cup Finals in The Hague, Holland.
Azlan will go into this edition of the Asia Cup as one of few players with vast experience at the world level.
He will be featuring in his sixth edition of the Asia Cup after making his debut in the 2003 edition.
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