Back to basics as U14 squad prepare for national tourney
KUCHING: Sarawak will be competing in the Nat ional U14 hockey Championship at Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur this weekend.
The 18- strong squad started their preparation with a training camp which began on Nov 15 at the Sarawak Hockey Stadium.
They are selected from the initial 30 players who took part in an open trial in Oct.
“We had a very strong response to that trial. Over 80 players including those from Betong and Miri came for the session,” said team manager Ali Rahman who is also coach for SMK Bako.
Former national team player Dangerous Lee Mathew has been assigned to coach the team.
It is his second coaching duty after a tough baptism by fire in the Perak Sukma.
“I mostly emphasized on the basics in the first phase. We only did more tactical work in the second phase,” said Dangerous.
Sa rawak head coach C . Sivarsubramaniam has always emphasized the basics when it comes to players in this age bracket.
Dangerous will be looking to Paku’s Khalid and Sabah Sports School’s Joetan and Addit for the goals.
Head coach Sivar is under no illusion as to the uphill task awaiting Sarawak players.
Just about every team they will be facing is from a sports school or a project school.
“They train almost every day while we only have a training camp prior to the tourney,” Sivar said.
He is banking on several players such as SMK Bako’s M. Hafizan Jumat to shine.
15 teams will take part in the tournament. Sarawak is grouped with Selangor, Terangganu, Perak and Perlis in the preliminary round.