PETALING JAYA: National junior hockey coach Wallace Tan (pic) prefers to look on the bright side after the Junior Asia Cup was postponed due to Covid-19.
With the tournament in Bangladesh now scheduled in the first quarter of next year, players over the age of 21 will not be eligible.
But Wallace is not worried as he has almost 20 players below that age as he called up 27 trainees for the next phase of training.
“Looking at it from another angle, the postponement, to some extent, helps the team, especially the new players. We will have more time to work with them and maybe take another look at our training plans.
“Currently there is no word from the Asian Hockey Federation on the age limit but we’ll be prepared just in case, ” said the former international.
“For me, it’s not an obstacle because we have a long line of players who are eligible.”
Based on the list released, Mohd Amir Muhaimin Ahmad Mustaqiem (goalkeeper), Zulfitri Md Zin (defender), Granson Noel Goden (striker) and Mohd Abid Sufian Mat Ruslee (striker) are the new faces in the squad.
Wallace explained that several factors were taken into account in the selection including the decision to absorb the four newbies.
“We evaluated these players for a long time. Among the criteria we look at are their attitude, discipline, teamwork, hard work and of course, skills, ” he said.
“We made the observations from their performances during the Razak Cup. We absorbed them for a more comprehensive evaluation.
“The 26 players are at the best fitness level except for Muhammad Amirul Hamizan Azahar who had an accident recently and is recovering.”
THE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Che Shahrul Azmi Che Saupi, Mohd Hamiz Mohd Ahir, Mohd Aidil Mohd Shah, Mohd Amir Muhaimin Ahmad Mustaqiem.
Defenders: Mohd Nur Asyraf Ishak, Mohd Saifuddin Ali, Mohd Fahmi Khalid, Idris Samad, Zulfitri Md Zin, Mohd Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin, Mohd Amirul Hamizan Azahar, Adam Aiman Mamat.
Midfielders: Shello Silverius, Mohd Shafiq Hassan, Mohd Nursyahmi Zulkifli, Nasrul Syahkhir Sadikul, Mohd Syawal Abd Razak, Mohd Hafizi Zainuddin, Alfarico Lance Liau, Mohd Izham Azhar.
Strikers: Granson Noel Goden, Mohd Muhibuddin Moharam, Mohd Amirul Haniff Mamat, Muhajir Abd Rauf, Mohd Shamir Rizmi Mohd Shamsul, Mohd Akhimullah Annuar Esook, Mohd Abid Suffian Mat Ruslee.
Did you find this article insightful?
