Goalkeepers coach S. Kumar has thrown down a challenge to the four goalkeepers in the national hockey team training squad to move up the ranks and fight for a regular place.
The former national custodian, 46-year-old veteran, who announced his retirement in 2020 from international hockey after making his national team debut in 1999, said nothing excites him more than seeing the goalkeepers giving their best in the chase to being the nation’s first choice custodian.
Muhammad Hafizuddin Othman (THT) is the most senior in the national training squad, is among them, followed by Muhamad Zaimi Mat Deris (Maybank), Adrian Andy Albert (UiTM), and Che Shahrul Azmi Che Saufi (Nurinsafi Sporting).
Pressed for comment, Kumar said: “They are all equally talented but if you are measuring in terms of experience Hafizuddin holds the edge. He plays regularly as the first choice, while Zaimi and Adrian also get their opportunities. Now that Shahrul has joined the senior team, the mentality and pressure the goalkeepers face will change as the battle for the No 1 spot hots up.”
“I had a talk with all of them before this, and I told them that anyone of them could be the first-choice goalkeeper. The gap between them is not far. They have the potential to be No 1 and it is just a matter of how well they perform in training and matches,” added Kumar, who has 321 caps to his name and helped Malaysia win silver medals at the Asian Games (Guangzhou 2010, Jakarta-Palembang 2018) and the 2017 Asia Cup in Dhaka.
Before his retirement Kumar represented Tenaga Nasional Berhad in the Malaysia Hockey League.
Hafizuddin, who is 32-years-old, has been Malaysia’s first choice custodian since 2020. With 107 international caps he holds the edge due to his experience and age but Kumar believes the other three goalkeepers are also physically in good condition and are young.
“The door is wide open as anyone who performs exceptionally well can wear the No 1 tag,” said Tampin-born Kumar, who studied at Tunku Besar Secondary School.
“I want them to move to the next level and make the most of the experience to be gained in tournaments and tours,” he expressed.
“Zaimi and Adrian are 27 while Shahrul is 23 and the youngest among them. We need to plan for the future. Most teams in the world have a long-term programme for goalkeepers, between eight and 10 years,” he said, adding that the Malaysian Hockey Confederation is also moving in the same direction.
The new-look Speedy Tigers are down for their first assignment at the 30th edition of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh (May 4-11), followed by the Six-Nations Cup in Poland (May 31- June 9), and the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia (from Sept 8-17).
“Shahrul was involved in hockey5s but his journey started at the 2021 Junior World Cup. When I was appointed as the juniors’ goalkeepers coach I trained him also. He is a talented and hardworking goalkeeper. He can be a regular goalkeeper but it all depends on how he performs in a pool of seniors. None of the goalkeepers are assured of the No 1 job at this moment,” said Kumar.