Tenaga's Norsaiful channels energy into leading national junior team
PETALING JAYA: Three-time Olympian Norsaiful Zaini (pic) has returned to the national set-up to lead the junior hockey team ahead of their World Cup appearance later this year.
The decision was made by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) after former head coach I. Vikneswaran stepped down to focus on his responsibilities as president of the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Spalletti confident in Italy's quest for World Cup return
OSLO: Italy manager Luciano Spalletti is framing Friday's clash at Norway as a decisive moment in their 2026 World Cup qualification and says his side are fully equipped to deliver. Spalletti's side begin their qualifying campaign in Group I in Oslo against hosts off to a flying start with six points from two matches and nine goals scored. Four-time World Cup champions Italy have failed to reach the World Cup finals since 2014, and are only now beginning their qualifiers after competing in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, where they lost to Germany. "Let's be clear: in Norway, everything is on the line when it comes to whether or not we'll qualify for the World Cup," Spalletti told reporters. "We have a duty to fulfil this task that's been entrusted to us. We need to qualify because it's absolutely crucial for us. "As for us, we have everything we need to play our game. We have all the potential for a great match, and that's exactly what we intend to put into practice." Norway coach Stale Solbakken was also optimistic. "I'm not sure they're the favourites. For me, it's more of a 50–50 match on our home ground," he told reporters. "The most important thing for us is that we are ourselves." The 2026 World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from 11 June to 19 July next year.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Inter's Acerbi withdraws from Italy squad citing lack of respect
MUNICH, Germany: Inter Milan's veteran defender Francesco Acerbi withdrew from the Italy squad on Sunday, the day after his club's humbling defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, citing a lack of respect from manager Luciano Spalletti. Acerbi has not played for Italy since November 2023, but after his recent exploits with Inter - where he scored an equaliser in their semi-final with Barcelona - Spalletti named him in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The 37-year-old's announcement comes immediately following Inter's 5-0 loss in Munich on Saturday, but Acerbi, who spoke with Spalletti on Sunday morning, said this had nothing to do with his decision. "I felt that, in light of recent events, the conditions to continue this path peacefully do not exist today," Acerbi said in a social media post. "I don't seek alibis or favours, I demand respect. And if this respect is lacking on the part of those who should lead a group, then I prefer to step aside. "I've always given everything, but I don't stay where I'm no longer really wanted and it's clear that I'm not part of the manager's project." Acerbi did not clarify what this lack of respect referred to. Earlier, Spalletti spoke about the player's decision at a press conference on Sunday, before Acerbi's statement. "For me Acerbi has value, we knew he had some physical problems, he had been operated on, I had given space at the time to other defenders too," the coach said. In March, after Italy exited the Nations League at the quarter-final stage to Germany, when Spalletti was asked by a reporter if he would consider calling up Acerbi, the manager responded with a question of his own. "Do you know how old Acerbi is?" Spalletti asked. Italy begin their World Cup Group I qualifying campaign away to Norway on June 6, before hosting Moldova three days later, having failed to reach the last two tournaments. - Reuters
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Spalletti confident in Italy's quest for World Cup return
(Reuters) - Italy manager Luciano Spalletti is framing Friday's clash at Norway as a decisive moment in their 2026 World Cup qualification and says his side are fully equipped to deliver. Spalletti's side begin their qualifying campaign in Group I in Oslo against hosts off to a flying start with six points from two matches and nine goals scored. Four-time World Cup champions Italy have failed to reach the World Cup finals since 2014, and are only now beginning their qualifiers after competing in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, where they lost to Germany. "Let's be clear: in Norway, everything is on the line when it comes to whether or not we'll qualify for the World Cup," Spalletti told reporters. "We have a duty to fulfil this task that's been entrusted to us. We need to qualify because it's absolutely crucial for us. "As for us, we have everything we need to play our game. We have all the potential for a great match, and that's exactly what we intend to put into practice." Norway coach Stale Solbakken was also optimistic. "I'm not sure they're the favourites. For me, it's more of a 50–50 match on our home ground," he told reporters. "The most important thing for us is that we are ourselves." The 2026 World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from 11 June to 19 July next year. (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
