Friendly with Spain can be good tune-up for Shello

PETALING JAYA: Striker Shello Silverius will get a chance to gauge his game when Malaysia play a friendly hockey match against Spain on Wednesday at Rourkela, India.

The friendly will be a perfect warm-up for Shello ahead of Malaysia’s first Group C match against world No. 2 Holland in the World Cup at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium on Saturday (Jan 14).

Shello is one of the three injured players who had been included in the squad after a fine recovery besides defender Marhan Jalil and striker Shahril Saabah

The debutant from Sabah broke his radius bone on his left hand at the Nations Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa, six weeks ago but recovered fast after a surgery to be included in the team.

The friendly will be his first match since making a comeback.

“I’m so grateful to the coaches for selecting me.

“There is no fear or anxiety despite just having recovered from the arm injury,” said Shello.

“I will give my best whenever I play at the World Cup.

“I’m able to hold the hockey stick and can make hits, and I don’t feel any pain while training,” added Shello.

Marhan and Shahril are also expected to use the friendly against Spain to get high-tempo match practice after having missed the last two tournaments – the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in November and the Nations Cup – due to injury.

The Speedy Tigers arrived in Rourkela on Saturday where they will play two group matches at the World Cup.

Besides Holland, they will face world No. 22 Chile on Jan 16 while their last match will played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Jan 19.

National coach A. Arulselvaraj views the match against Spain, although they may not play a full four quarters, as a good warm-up.

“We arrived in Rourkela yesterday (on Saturday) and had our first session at their second stadium which is next to the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium where we will play our first two group matches,” said Arulselvaraj.

“We will play against Spain as our final warm-up on Wednesday and we will decide with their coaches on the number of quarters we would play, whether it is two or four, and also the possibility of having a shootout.

“We will probably use each quarter as a simulation of playing against our different opponents in our group.

“The friendly will be a very good warm-up at the main stadium before we play against Holland.

“We will also be able to gauge the match fitness and condition of the players, who have returned from injuries.”