KUALA LUMPUR – The national men’s hockey team made history today when they won their first Sultan Azlan Shah Cup after defeating South Korea 3-2 in Ipoh.
Speaking after the match, national team head coach A. Arul Selvaraj said the team did not come out the gates strong despite scoring first.
“In the first and second quarter they were not performing, no shots at goal, nothing.
“So at half-time, there was no hockey talk, it was just a discussion about winning and believing in themselves,” he said.
Arul added that he did not want his men to let the fans down
“I told them that they had failed the fans in the first two quarters, and they needed to go out there and make our supporters proud.
“Even though we had some injuries, the medical team from the National Sports Institute did a great job to make sure we could go out there and play our hearts out,” he added.
Meanwhile, caretaker youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu congratulated the team for their historic win.
“I want to congratulate all the team members, the coaching staff – especially coach Arul – team manager Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, and Malaysian Hockey Confederation president Datuk Subahan Kamal.
“I could see the team’s potential at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup when it started. This is fantastic as it will give them confidence and retain their momentum.
“I also saw many young players in the team who played so well and with confidence. I saw these players at the recently concluded Malaysian Games.
“As a Perakian, I have been watching the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for 40 years since I was still playing hockey. To witness Malaysia lift the cup for the first time while I am the sports minister makes me truly happy,” he told The Vibes. – The Vibes, November 10, 2022
