Rodhanizam wants Shello and Norsyafiq to be included in Asia Cup

PETALING JAYA: National men’s indoor hockey head coach Rodhanizam Mat Radzi, in an attempt to see Malaysia qualify for their maiden World Cup in Croatia next year, has appealed for the inclusion of Speedy Tigers Shello Silverius (pic) and Norsyafiq Sumantri in his side.

He is preparing the team for the Asia Cup in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan, from May 21-25.

Shello and Norsyafiq played a key role in helping Malaysia win their maiden indoor Asia Cup crown in Bangkok in 2022.

But that success did not get them a ticket for the 2023 World Cup as the qualifiers were based on the 2019 Asian Cup results where Iran and Kazakhstan finished champions and runners-up respectively.

This year though, the Asia Cup will serve as the qualifier and Rodhanizam already has the services of former Speedy Tigers Najmi Farizal Jazlan, Ashran Hamsani, who were part of the 2022 squad, and Aminuddin Zain.

Iran, who finished third in the 2023 World Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, will start as the favourites while Malaysia will have to battle hard to earn one of the two World Cup spots with regional rivals Indonesia, Thailand and hosts Kazakhstan.

Rodhanizam did not get Shello and Norsyafiq as they are in national field hockey head coach Sarjit Singh’s plans for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11 and the Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland, from May 31-June 9.

“We have a good chance of qualifying for the Indoor World Cup for the first time and I believe the services of Shello and Norsyafiq will make it a possibility,” said Rodhanizam.

“We have been speaking to Sarjit and also have made a request to the Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) to consider our plight as the duo will help the team greatly in achieving the top two target in Kazakhstan.

“Our team manager Shurizan (Mansor) has also been speaking to the national team management on the possibility of having the two players to strengthen our team.”

Rodhanizam has also spoken to the MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal on the matter but the final call is likely to be taken by Sarjit. MHC, following Malaysia’s success at the Hockey5s World Cup where they finished runners-up in Oman in January, have also been putting a lot of emphasis on indoor hockey.