Exposure is key, says Malaysian junior hockey coach Nor Saiful Zaini ahead of MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup
'We don't have any high hopes. Ours is an inexperienced and young bunch. It will be great if we make it to the knock-out stages of MCC-Murugappa tournament, and I will be delighted if we maintain the 12th place finish that we did in the previous edition of the World Cup in 2023,' Saiful told Sportstar here.
According to Saiful, the National team is running out of time. Since taking over in May this year, the 59-year-old is keen to give maximum exposure to the boys and make it the best possible team.
FILE PHOTO | Hockey India announces 33-Member squad for senior men's national coaching camp
'Before coming here, we had three months of strong preparation, playing against a top division club in Liaoning (China), coached by South Korea's top coach Kim Sang-ryul, at Dalian City. After Murugappa, we are going to Perth and compete in the Sultan of Johor Cup (from Oct. 10 to 18 at Johor Baru). And then may be train again in China,' said the three-time Olympian.
Playing against senior players in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup will not be easy, said Saiful, but expressed confidence that his boys will put up a fight.
Placed in Pool-E with the Netherlands, England and Austria in the FIH junior men's World Cup, Malaysia will find it tough and Saiful admitted it as much. 'England and Dutch are very strong teams. And some of the number two teams from other groups, are quite strong. We still try to finish 12th. We don't want to finish behind 16. It is going to be tough all the way, but I want my players to play modern hockey; that's my philosophy,' he said.
Having assisted other coaches of the Malaysian National junior team from 2016-20, Saiful knows what ails the country's hockey. 'We need time to build the team and require more exposure tours. In my six months (before the FIH junior men's World Cup), I can't do wonders. I want my boys to play their best,' he said.
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