Scottish experience will help to fast-track syawal into a speedy Tiger

JAYA: A golden opportunity of playing in the Scottish Premiership Hockey League last year changed the mindset of Syawal Abdul Razak, who has now emerged as one of the potential young players in the new look national senior team.

Midfielder Syawal had played under Wallace Tan in the 2021 Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India, where the team finished eighth and a year later, he featured in the Sultan of Johor Cup.

He was also part of the Pahang side who won the 2022 Malaysia Games gold in Kuala Lumpur but was unable to impress the national selectors to earn a call-up.

He started playing for Maybank in the Malaysia Hockey League but grabbed the chance to join fellow Junior World Cup teammate Fahmi Khalid to play for Uddingston in the Scottish Premiership last year.

Syawal, 23, had to miss playing for Pahang in the Razak Cup last year and played for three months at Uddingston where the club finished eighth out of 12 teams.

The experience made him a more mature player and caught the eye of national head coach Sarjit Singh, who selected him in his senior squad of 30.

“Fahmi was invited to play for Uddingston and he asked me to join him. It was a good experience as he managed to get used to the European style of play and their pace,” said Syawal.

“It was a good exposure for me although I was only there for three months. I was supposed to play there again this year but could not join them due to my studies at the UITM.

“Instead, I played in my second season with Maybank and I’m glad that I was selected for the national squad.

“If I get the opportunity, I hope to return to the Scottish league again to gain more experience.”

Syawal will be battling with several key players like Fitri Saari, Shello Silverius, Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi and other young players in midfield to make the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup squad but the Pekan-born player has remained positive.

“Although the competition is tough, I am looking forward to making the Azlan Shah Cup squad’s final 18 to earn my senior cap in Ipoh,” added Syawal.

If Syawal makes it to the Azlan Shah Cup squad, he will definitely have his experience of playing for Uddingston and Maybank to thank for realising his dream of becoming a Speedy Tiger.