National junior team assistant coach I. Vikneswaran has identified 19 players for the centralised training camp following the conclusion of the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL).
They have joined the current batch of 22 players who have been training since May 28. They are 20 and 21 years-old who are no longer eligible to play in the MJHL but eligible to feature in the Junior Asia Cup (JAC).
“The selection process will be done in a short period, perhaps next week, before we trim the team. There are a total of 41 players in the training camp,” said Vikneswaran, who is also the President of the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association.
“Some players are not feeling well (down with cough and cold), while others are on tour. Pahang players are in Australia now for friendly matches in preparation for the Malaysia Games (SUKMA). We will wait for them to return,” he added.
He stressed that 20-25 players would be selected to go on a tour of Australia from July 23-August 8. It is a crucial opportunity in their preparations for JAC 2024 that will be hosted by Bangladesh in December. The JAC will also serve as qualifiers for the 2025 Junior World Cup in India.
Young Tigers, a moniker given to the juniors, will play five matches against the Australian national Under-21 team (also known as the Burras), and two against the Queensland State team.
Vikneswaran, however, reiterated his point on the strict selection process and that there will not be special treatment or automatic choice for those youngsters in the national senior team who are eligible to feature in the national junior team set up.
He cited the case of 19-year-old Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin, who is currently on tour in Europe with Sarjit Singh’s Speedy Tigers and Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts’ player Naaveennash Panicker, who was dropped from the senior team training squad recently.
“Azimuddin is a senior team player and definitely adds value to the team. But you can’t just walk into the national junior team and say ‘I am a senior team player’,” said Vikneswaran.
“Naaveennash was in the senior team training squad but Sarjit has since left him out. But that does not mean he can walk into the junior team. You have to fight your way up.”
He added that players must adapt to the playing style of the junior team and have a good understanding.
“You don’t want that chemistry disturbed. This is sports. One day you may be playing your best and the next day you have to fight back as a sportsman and prove yourself. This is how we can keep players on their toes,” said Vikneswaran.