Coach Sarjit bemoans lack of competition exposure for hockey team

National hockey squad head coach Sarjit Singh believes the team could do with more international matches throughout the year.

The team are currently preparing for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11. The tournament will be the first under Sarjit’s tenure as the head coach.

Sarjit says the national team should be playing around 40-45 international fixtures to get more exposure playing other opponents.

“There is a lot of difference when playing international and local matches. Some players can do well domestically but can’t replicate that performance when playing in internationals.”

“We’ve to give exposure to our players in more international matches, only then can we get the information needed to see how they would perform overseas.”

The Speedy Tigers will get a chance to see how they fare against international opponents at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, as they will start the tournament against Pakistan on May 4.

The Perak Hockey Association (PHA) remain confident that Pakistan will compete at the tournament as promised despite facing internal conflict in their parent body.

However, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have asked Pakistan and two parallel bodies fighting over control of the sport in the country to resolve the matter immediately or not be allowed to compete at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

But before that, the team will play two friendly fixtures against New Zealand on May 1 and South Korea on May 2, which would allow Sarjit to name the final 18 for the team.

“We want to try out the best player combinations to field during the tournament. We have two games for us to test things out with about 20 to 22 players,” he said.

“There isn’t a target to win the friendly games. If the team do their best and show commitment, the results will come.

“If it doesn’t favour us and we don’t get a good result, then we know that we have to train harder,” he said.

For those that won’t be competing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Sarjit said they would still train together with the team in the mornings in Ipoh to prepare for their next competition at the Hockey Nations Cup in Poland from May 31-June 9.

After playing Pakistan, the Speedy Tigers will take on Canada on May 5, New Zealand (May 7), Japan (May 8), and South Korea (May 10).