Sarjit’s Nations Cup plans could leave Shello and Norsyafiq out of big indoor assignment

PETALING JAYA: The Speedy Tigers’ plan to arrive early for the Nations Cup in Poland on May 23 may scupper the Malaysian men’s indoor squad’s hopes to use Shello Silverius (pic) and Norsyafiq Sumantri for the Indoor Asia Cup in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan, from May 21-25.

Midfielder Shello and forward Norsyafiq are expected to feature prominently in new field hockey head coach Sarjit Singh’s plans and should make the Sultan Azlan Cup (May 4-11) and the Nations Cup (May 31-Jun 9) squads.

Sarjit, while saying that the Indoor Asia Cup is also important for Malaysia, feels that the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh should be the priority if Shello and Norsyafiq are selected.

If the duo are included for the Nations Cup, they will not be available for the Indoor Asia Cup, which serves as the qualifier for the Indoor World Cup taking place in Croatia in February next year.

“We are all one team and the indoor side is also the Malaysian team. But our priority is to build towards the Asian Games and if both (Shello and Norsyafiq) players’ performances are good, they should play in field hockey,” said Sarjit.

“If they are selected to play for the Azlan Shah Cup, that is their priority. After that, we are going to Poland on May 23 and if the two are good, they will will play in that event also.

“We have arranged several friendlies in Poland. So we need to be there early to prepare for the Nations Cup.”

This is a clear indication that Shello and Norsyafiq may not be available for the Indoor Asia Cup where Malaysia must finish in the top two to qualify for the World Cup.

The presence of world No. 2 Iran, Kazkhastan, SEA Games champions Indonesia and another regional rival Thailand has prompted national indoor head coach Rodhanizam Mat Radzi to make a request to Sarjit and also the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) management to allow Shello and Norsyafiq to play in the Indoor Asia Cup.

The duo were vital cogs in the Malaysian side that won the 2022 Indoor Asian Cup for the first time, beating Iran in the final.

Players like Najmi Farizal Jazlan, Ashran Hamsani and Aminuddin Zain are the former Tigers who are in the indoor side while Firdaus Omar, Khaliq Hamirin, Izham Azhar and Nursyahmi Zulkifli, who did not make Sarjit’s squad of 30, have also joined Rodhanizam’s team.

The fear that Shello and Norsyafiq may risk injuries by playing two different formats and three tournaments in a month could be another reason the national indoor side may have to forget about their services for the Asian Cup.