Johor bahru: The National Juniors aim to make up for last year’s disappointment by getting on the podium in this year’s Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) International Hockey Tournament that will be held at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru from Oct 11-18. National head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin said that would require his players to perform to their best throughout the prestigious Under-21 tournament.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nor Saiful acknowledged that their main goal is not just result-based, but the overall improvement in terms of player performance. “Our focus is on team performance, discipline and consistency throughout the tournament. Our target is to get on the podium. It’s not easy, but it’s crucial to set lofty goals for the team to be positive and competitive,” he stated. He emphasized the importance of self-confidence, minimizing mistakes, and capitalizing on goal-scoring opportunities as keys to success.
Commenting on the squad, Nor Saiful explained that player selection was made based on their ability to adapt to the team’s style of play, their determination to succeed, and a high level of discipline on and off the field. This year’s squad includes five 21-year-old players – Muhammad Danish Aiman Khairil Anuar, Muhammad Addy Jazmi Jamlus, Muhammad Handzalah Abdul Hadi, Mohammad Harris Iskandar Osman, and Yashvindraa Singaravadivel. Additionally, nine players from last year’s edition have been retained, including Muhammad Aqil Danial Mat Ruslee, Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin, Muhammad Nabil Irfan Mohd Yusof, Andywalfian Jeffrynus, and Muhammad Adam Ashraf Mohd Johari.
Six countries are participating in SOJC 2025, with Malaysia viewing this as a crucial platform in their preparation for the Men’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in India next month. Malaysia’s campaign starts against Pakistan on Oct 11, followed by matches against Australia (Oct 12), New Zealand (Oct 14), defending champions Great Britain (Oct 15), and India (Oct 17). Malaysia won the inaugural tournament in 2011 and finished as runners-up in 2013. Last year, they finished sixth.