Sabah to stamp mark in 2021 MHL
Sabah men’s team are determined to make their presence felt in the 2021 Malaysian Hockey League scheduled to take place early next year.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah men’s team are determined to make their presence felt in the 2021 Malaysian Hockey League scheduled to take place early next year.
And this despite them losing several top players to rival clubs in a tournament that they will be making their maiden appearance.
“We are not going to set high expectation as we are among the inexperienced sides in the league.
“However, we are determined to make our presence felt,” said the men’s team assistant coach Hasrul Jideh yesterday.
Hasrul, who will be assisting head coach I. Vickneswaran, said the men’s squad will be strengthened by several exinternationals as well as local talents.
“Unfortunately we will not have the services of Adrian Andy Albert, Shello Silverius and Abdul Khaliq Hamirin.
“Shello and Abdul Khaliq will play for THT (Terengganu Hockey Team) while Adrian will play for UNIKL.
“Despite that, we are determined to mount a strong challenge in the league. We have identified several ex-nationals and that will compensate for the loss of three of our top players,” he added.
He said they have identified eight players from Peninsular Malaysia where five of them are former Malaysia international players namely Shazrul Izwan Nazli, Shamim Yusuf, Jiwa Mohan, Arif Sabron and Baljit Singh.
The other three are Harmeet Singh, Mohamad Zulfikar Abdul Ghani and B Namasivayam Matma Nathan.
As for the homegrown talents, the players identified are Muhammad Saifuddin Bin
Azli, Nasrul Syahkhir Sadikul, Granson Noel Goden, Mohd Khairul Tadol, Mohd Aswat Merit, Azril Peter, Mohd Faiz Aiman Aseri, Herryzolly Peter, Mohd Azfar Mustaming, Jocel Justin and Yehzekoveen Rinol.
“We will register 22 players for the MHL,” he said.
For the record, Sabah Hockey Association (SHA) president Datuk Seri Anil Jeet Singh confirmed recently that Sabah will be sending the men’s and women’s teams for the MHL.
It will be the first time that Sabah will contest both categories since the league inception in 1987.
While it will be a first appareance for the state men’s team, the women’s team on the other hand will feature in their second straight edition following their debut early this year.