KUALA LUMPUR – The Sultan of Johor Cup will give the national junior hockey team an opportunity to test their mettle before participating in the men’s Junior World Cup later this year.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said that top teams will be playing in Johor, and it will give Malaysia an opportunity to gauge their level against their rivals before the Junior World Cup in December.
The Sultan of Johor Cup will take place from October 29 to November 4 and will feature Australia, India, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Malaysia.
From that list, only Britain will not be at the Junior World Cup.
“When you look at the list, most of the teams who are playing in Johor will be at the Junior World Cup. Those teams are here in Malaysia early to adapt to the climate and conditions,” Subahan said at a press conference to announce a partnership between the hockey body and Media Prima Radio to promote the Junior World Cup.
“This gives the coaches and the technical experts room to analyse the opponents because we don’t get an opportunity to play everybody, so I’m very happy that Johor Hockey is organising it.
“I want the coaches to use the Sultan of Johor Cup as a platform to rectify and improve our weaknesses. We should be able to make the needed changes to make sure we do well in the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Subahan said that he wants the national junior team to reach the quarter-finals in the upcoming Junior World Cup.
“The coaches will have their own target, but for me as the president, I have my own.
“We are in a difficult group with Australia, Argentina and Chile, so a quarter-finals spot is good,” he said. – October 23, 2023