Former National Junior Team Captain, Muhammad Faris Harizan is among four players from the 2023 Junior World Cup squad shortlisted into Coach Sarjit Singh’s core group of 30 players for the second phase of national senior men’s hockey team training.
The core group of 30 players includes a mix of young and experienced players. They will form the catalyst in Sarjit’s national team’s preparation for three international tournaments this year, beginning with the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (SAS) on May 4-11 in Ipoh.
The national team will also compete in the Six-Nation Cup in Gniezno, Poland (May 31- June 9), and the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia (from Sept 8-17).
National Team Management Committee Chairman, Dato’ Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak announced the names of the 30 players at a press conference today. They were shortlisted from the initial group of 46 players who attended the first phase of training from March 19 and concluded on March 30.
Apart from Faris, the others from the 2023 JWC squad are midfielders Alfarico Lance Liau Jr, Muhamad Adam Ashraf Mohd Johari, who turned 18 recently, and Mughni Mohamad Kamal.
Sarjit also included three other youngsters who did not feature for the national junior team. They are TNB Thunderbolts’ Naaveennash Panicker Thevendran (18), Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin (19), and Pahang’s Tengku Nasrul Ikmal Tengku Abd Rahim (22).
However, the inclusion of defender Muhammad Shafiq Hassan in the squad of 30 was not easy for the head coach and his assistants. Shafiq was not listed in the initial roll call of 46 players but was a replacement for T. Prabhu who pulled out at the eleventh hour.
“The second phase of training begins today. The squad will be trimmed to 18 players after the friendly match against New Zealand in Ipoh on May 1, three days before the start of the SAS Cup,” said Dato’ Ahmad Nazmi.
“The average age of all these 30 players is 25. We also have two back-up players who will be called up when needed. However, we will announce their names if they are needed in the team,” he added.
Dato’ Ahmad Najmi also expressed that the 16 players who did not get into the team should work hard to find their way into the national team in the future.
“It is not the end. There is always a second wave and opportunities are always there. My advice is “work hard, and don’t be disheartened,” he said.
Speaking about the selection process and expectations, Coach Sarjit said he would give all 30 players enough opportunities to gain experience in as many matches.
“We have an incredible talent pool. It was not easy to select 30 players. Take Shafiq for example. Although he was a last-minute replacement like every other player he worked hard,” said Sarjit, adding that discipline and the strong desire to represent the national team are among the key elements in the selection process.
“We have two international tournaments in one month – the SAS Cup and Six Nations in Poland. This means the players need all the exposure. As I said before, we need to assess them in 25-30 matches leading up to the 2026 Asian Games,” said Sarjit.
“There are several players who have been in and out of the national team before. I am extending them the opportunity to be mentally and physically ready for bigger challenges ahead. Today will be our first day of training, because earlier was the selection process.”
“We are building a team. We have not set any targets for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Our target is the Asian Games in 2026 and obviously our preparations are geared towards the Asian Games in the long run.”
“Having said this, I wish to see the players perform well in these three tournaments. There may be changes in the team from time to time but eventually everyone will get the opportunity.”
List of 30 players in the national training squad:
Goalkeepers: Muhammad Hafizuddin Othman (THT), Muhamad Zaimi Mat Deris (Maybank), Adrian Andy Albert (UiTM), Che Shahrul Azmi Che Saufi (Nurinsafi Sporting).
Defenders: Muhamad Faris Harizan (THT), Syarman Mat Tee (THT), Muhammad Arif Syafie Ishak (THT), Luqman Nul Hakim Ahmad Shukran (THT), Syed Mohamad Syafiq Syed Cholan (TNB), Muhamad Amirul Hamizan Azahar (TNB), Muhamad Najib Abu Hassan (TNB), Muhamad Marhan Mohd Jalil (TNB), Muhamad Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin (Maybank), Muhammad Shafiq Hassan (Maybank).
Midfielders: Mohd Fitri Saari (THT), Mughni Mohamad Kamal (TNB), Nik Muhamad Aiman Nik Rozemi (TNB), Shello Silverius (TNB), Alfarico Lance Liao Jr (Maybank), Muhamad Syawal Abdul Razak (Maybank), Adam Ashraf Mohd Johari (Nat Junior 2023), Naaveennash Panicker (TNB Thunderbolt).
Forwards: Faizal Saari (THT), Akhimullah Anuar Esook (THT), Muhamad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal (TNB), Norsyafiq Sumantri (TNB), Muhajir Abdu Rauf (Maybank), Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin (TNB Thunderbolt), Nur Rahull Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi (Nurinsafi Sporting), and Tengku Nasrul Ikmal Tengku Abd Rahim (Young Elephants Pahang).
