KUALA LUMPUR – The services of four senior national hockey players who have played in major tournaments are needed to guide younger players in the 2023 SEA Games campaign in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from May 5 to 17.
SEA Games squad head coach Muhammad Amin Rahim said the presence of the senior players is expected to strengthen the squad to collect the gold medals while maintaining the title of Southeast Asia’s strongest team.
The four are Muhamad Ramadan Rosli (midfielder), Muhamad Zaimi Mat Deris (goalkeeper) as well as Muhammad Najib Abu Hassan and Muhammad Amirul Hamizan Azahar (defenders).
“They will join the team after the Aidilfitri holidays. I hope that the presence of the senior players will help this team to win a gold medal for the country,” he said at the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil last night.
Meanwhile, team manager, I. Vikneswaran hoped that the experience of senior players would be a guiding force for the younger players in displaying excellent performances throughout the SEA Games campaign.
“The senior players are very important because they are the stabilising factor for the team. “This SEA Games squad is mostly young players so if anything happens, they (senior players) are there to guide.
“In terms of ability, this team is already capable of (achieving success) but we need to ensure it,” he said.
The national hockey squad has been dominating the event by holding the record of winning 16 gold medals since 1971.
The last time Malaysia won gold was in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. – Bernama, March 31, 2023
