Faizal, seven newcomers among 38 called up for national training

KUALA LUMPUR: Hotshot Faizal Saari and seven new faces are among 38 players who have been called up to join the national hockey team’s four-week training stint from Oct 5.

Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) national team management committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak, in announcing the call-up, said all the players were chosen based on their performances in the Tun Abdul Razak Cup competition which ended on Sept 26.

The seven new faces are Muhamad Shafie Sahrom, Syarman Mat Tee, Syarman

Mat Tee, Muhammad Fakhri Ardillah Abdullah, Pavandip Singh Gurdip Singh, Syamil Azim Dzulkafly and Nur Rahul Hrisikesa Mohd Murni Tatchana.

Fitri Saari, Muhamad Ramadan Rosli, Muhamad Shafie Sahrom and goalkeper Muhammad Hafizuddin Othman, who were all omitted by former head coach Roelant Oltmans last February, have also been called up.

Several players who did not feature in the Tun Abdul Razak Cup due to injuries, like Muhammad Amirol Aideed Mohd Arshad, Muhammad Aminuddin Mohd Zain and Mohd Faid Farhad Mohamad

Shah, as well as Muhammad Firhan Ashaari, who did not compete following the death of his child, also made the list.

Ahmad Najmi said the panel of coaches, led by head coach A. Arul Selvaraj, would evaluate the players before naming the 25-man Speedy Tigers squad that will be kept together until the new season of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) begins next year.

Meanwhile, Arul said the selection of the players, with an average age of 25.3, was made based on several criteria, such as ability, fitness and attitude as well as their capability to shoulder team responsibility.

He also said that Faizal, 29, was chosen after he proved himself in the Tun Abdul Razak Cup competition, where he emerged as the top scorer to guide Terengganu to finish as runners-up.

“My decision was made based solely on his performance and discussions with him. The message I received from him is that he wants to don the national jersey again and will give his 100 per cent commitment,” Arul told a press conference at the National Hockey Stadium here yesterday.