Thrown into World Cup deep end but Carolan sees opportunity

Big challenge ahead: The Malaysian team will be captained by Marhan Jalil (right).

PETALING JAYA: The national hockey team face a daunting task at the World Cup after being drawn as the lowest-ranked side in arguably the tournament’s toughest group.

World No. 14 Malaysia will take on top-ranked hosts Belgium, defending champions and world No. 5 Germany, and world No. 9 France in Group B in Wavre from Aug 15-30.

Head coach Brendon Carolan, however, believes the stern test is exactly what the Speedy Tigers need ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a group of death; instead, it’s a group of opportunity. It depends which way you look at it,” said Carolan after announcing the 20-man squad for the World Cup yesterday.

“For us, the Asian Games is the main target, and right now India are beating those in the top eight in the world.

“It is what it is. If we want to qualify for the Olympics, we have got to be beating those teams. It’s factual.

“If it’s a negative, we take it as a positive because we know where we need to be in September.”

The team will be departing for Belgium on Aug 3 for a training stint in Ghent before heading to Wavre to face Spain in a friendly match on Aug 13.

Malaysia will then start their World Cup campaign against Germany on Aug 15 and followed by France on Aug 17 and Belgium on Aug 19.

Having returned from their tour in South Africa less than two weeks ago, Carolan added they have yet to increase the intensity of training.

“We were away for 41 days, so it’s a long trip and we’re just tapering off a little bit now.

“There’s some recovery going on with the players at the National Sports Institute.

“We don’t want to push the players too hard so it’s more technical training at the moment.

“But as we get closer and start acclimatising in Ghent, we will start pushing more,” added Carolan.