KUALA LUMPUR – National hockey head coach Sarjit Singh is under no obligation to prioritise players solely based on their high number of appearances for the new Speedy Tigers squad.
With international competitiveness in mind, the 61-year-old coach revealed that he has scouted 40 to 42 talents from the Malaysian Hockey League, preparing for training sessions commencing on March 19.
Penalty corner drag-flicker Muhammad Razie Abdul Rahim, captain Marhan Jalil, and forward Fitri Saari are among the current players who have more than 200 caps for the Speedy Tigers.
Sarjit stressed that he is prioritising quality over mere experience, and underlined the need for his team to excel at the international level.
“While I respect the senior players, there is no guarantee that players with more than 300 appearances will make my team. We need players capable of excelling internationally.
“Of course, any coach in the world would love to work with senior players, especially those with high caps. But times have changed. Players typically hit their prime between 24 and 28 years old.
“Nevertheless, I’m not going to overlook the capabilities of our senior players. If their fitness allows, they can be part of the team that I will be assembling.
“In football, we have players like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 38 years old and still able to run around with the ball.
“If our senior players have the same dedication to their fitness, I will include them in the team,” said Sarjit during a press conference at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium today.
Sarjit’s immediate assignment will be the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4 to 11, followed by the Nations Cup in Poland (May 31 to June 9) and the Asian Champions Trophy in Inner Mongolia, China (September 8 to 17). – March 4, 2024