Kuala lumpur: Three players recalled to the national squad are expected to inject new blood into the Speedy Tigers ahead of the 2025-26 Men's Hockey Nations Cup in Cape Town, South Africa, from June 11 to 20.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) National Team Management Committee Chairman Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak announced that goalkeeper Muhamad Zaimi Mat Deris, defender Muhamad Faris Harizan, and midfielder Muhammad Addy Jazmi Jamlus are among the names returning to the national squad for their first international assignment under new head coach Brendon Carolan. He expressed hope that the combination of veteran and recalled players will forge stronger chemistry and elevate the team's quality of play ahead of the prestigious tournament.
"This is the first tournament under the new coach, and several recalled players are joining the squad for this campaign. We hope the combination of returning and existing players can build a solid chemistry and deliver their best performance. We also hope the players will showcase a braver display and put up a fierce fight in every match they face," he said in a MHC statement today.
Meanwhile, Carolan stated that the selected line-up is ready to spearhead the nation's challenge in Cape Town, including young players who were given opportunities during an expanded training camp featuring 34 players. "Training has gone well with the expanded squad of 34 players. This allowed us to play competitive internal matches and expose the younger players in the team to the required standards. Our focus right now is entirely on our own performance and team standards. This includes improving our defensive quality as well as maintaining the motivation to make our families and Malaysian supporters proud," he said.
He added that the team's primary goal is to deliver their best performance to open up opportunities to reach the final in the tournament. For the competition in Cape Town, Malaysia is drawn in Group A alongside Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Scotland, with the target of finishing in the top two to qualify for the semifinals.
After the conclusion of the Nations Cup campaign, the Speedy Tigers will continue their team-building session in South Africa before returning to Kuala Lumpur on July 14 to prepare for the 2026 World Cup and the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.