Latest news with #NorSaifulZaini
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Young Tigers need to get speedy and aggressive Down Under
PETALING JAYA: The national junior hockey team will look to adapt to the fast-paced and aggressive Australian style as they will play four matches against clubs in the country until Aug 14. The 22 players brought to Perth by head coach Nor Saiful Zaini for the tour is their third international match series in preparation for the Junior World Cup in India from Nov 28-Dec 10.
New Straits Times
28-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Junior hockey team need more matches before World Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: The national youth hockey team are racing against time in their bid to be ready for the men's Junior World Cup (JWC) in India from Nov 28-Dec 10. Coach Nor Saiful Zaini believes his squad need at least 60 matches to be tournament-ready, but they've played just 13 so far, with four months to go. As part of their preparations, the junior Tigers will head to Perth from Aug 3-15, where they'll play six matches — three each against the Western Australian junior and senior sides. They will then travel to China to take on Liaoning in another six-match series. Following that, Malaysia will play in the prestigious Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) in Johor from Oct 11-18 — a six-nation tournament featuring Britain (defending champions), Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland. Saiful will bring 22 of his 25 players to Perth, but is sweating on the fitness of two key men — Adam Ashraf Johari and Aqil Danial Mat Ruslee. Midfielder Adam, who played in the 2023 JWC in Bukit Jalil, is sidelined with a wrist injury, while defender Aqil, a mainstay during the Junior Asia Cup in Oman, is recovering from a knee injury. "The matches in Perth will give my players good exposure," said Saiful. Malaysia have been drawn in a tough Group E at the JWC alongside the Netherlands, England and Austria. In the 2023 edition, Malaysia finished 12th out of 16 teams.
New Straits Times
28-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Junior hockey team face rush job for World Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: The national youth hockey team are racing against time in their bid to be ready for the men's Junior World Cup (JWC) in India from Nov 28-Dec 10. Coach Nor Saiful Zaini believes his squad need at least 60 matches to be tournament-ready, but they've played just 13 so far, with four months to part of their preparations, the junior Tigers will head to Perth from Aug 3-15, where they'll play six matches — three each against the Western Australian junior and senior sides. They will then travel to China to take on Liaoning in another six-match that, Malaysia will play in the prestigious Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) in Johor from Oct 11-18 — a six-nation tournament featuring Britain (defending champions), Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland. Saiful will bring 22 of his 25 players to Perth, but is sweating on the fitness of two key men — Adam Ashraf Johari and Aqil Danial Mat Adam, who played in the 2023 JWC in Bukit Jalil, is sidelined with a wrist injury, while defender Aqil, a mainstay during the Junior Asia Cup in Oman, is recovering from a knee injury. "The matches in Perth will give my players good exposure," said have been drawn in a tough Group E at the JWC alongside the Netherlands, England and Austria. In the 2023 edition, Malaysia finished 12th out of 16 teams.
New Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Malaysia team learn more from Murugappa Gold Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: The national junior hockey team continued to gain match experience at the 96th All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup in Chennai recently. They lost to Indian Navy 4-1, edged Central Board of Direct Taxes 4-3, lost 2-0 to Indian Oil Corporation and drew 3-3 with Hockey Karnataka. The national juniors finished fourth in their group and failed to qualify for the semi-finals. The Malaysian team are preparing for the Under-21 Junior World Cup (JWC) in Chennai and Madurai, India, from Nov 28-Dec 10. Coach Nor Saiful Zaini said his boys gained valuable experience, playing against senior players in the Murugappa Gold Cup. "The team need to improve their fitness. We need to play 40 matches before the JWC. To date we have played 13 matches — four matches in the Murugappa Cup, six against Liaoning Province in China, one against the national senior team and two against club sides. "We will either go to China or Australia to play more matches in preparation for the JWC," said Saiful. Malaysia are drawn in Group E with the Netherlands, England and Austria in the JWC.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Exposure is key, says Malaysian junior hockey coach Nor Saiful Zaini ahead of MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup
In his first stint as the head coach of the Malaysian National junior men's hockey team, Nor Saiful Zaini is pragmatic of his team's chances in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup, which commenced here on Thursday and the FIH junior men's World Cup to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. '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.
