Saari brothers are worlds apart
KUALA LUMPUR: One is a temperamental character with a short fuse. The other’s a cool cat who keeps his nerves in check.
Saari brothers Faizal and Fitri could not be more different in their personalities but they make a super pair for the Terengganu hockey team in the ongoing Razak Cup in Kuantan.
The duo played a vital role in helping Terengganu upset defending champions Kuala Lumpur to win their first Sukma (Malaysia Games) title in Kuantan in July.
Now, they are out to do the same with nine other Sukma team-mates when they meet KL again in the Razak Cup semi-finals in Kuantan today.
KL, the defending champions, edged Terengganu 2-1 in the semifinals in Malacca last year.
The fiery Faizal, 21, was once sent off in the Razak Cup in Kuantan two years ago for using foul language on an umpire.
But that angry side is well complemented by a huge appetite for goals. Faizal was the top scorer in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) this season, netting in 20 goals for Tenaga Nasional.
Although he suffered a hamstring injury during the MHL season, he still managed to score seven goals for Terengganu in the Razak Cup. The 19-year-old Fitri, who played together with Faizal in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Dublin in March, said their different characters did not stop them from combining well on the field.
“Faizal and I helped the Project 2013 squad win the elusive Junior Asia Cup in Malacca in May to qualify for next year’s Junior World Cup in New Delhi,” said Fitri.
Fitri said they want to avenge last year’s semi-final defeat to KL in the Razak Cup.
“We are in high spirits despite being a young squad with 11 players from the Sukma team.
“Kuantan have also been a good hunting ground for us and we hope to end KL’s domination in the tournament,” added Fitri, who has scored four goals in the Razak Cup.
“KL will start as favourites as they have quite a number of national players. They also have penalty corner specialist Mohd Razie (Abdul Rahim) so we cannot afford to give away penalty corners,” said Fitri.
The other semi-final will be between last year’s losing finalists Pahang and Negri Sembilan, last year’s Divsion Two champions.
In Division Two, Selangor take on Malacca in the final.