KUALA LUMPUR – Chile is well prepared for Malaysia’s penalty corner prowess when they play the Speedy Tigers in their opening fixture of the upcoming FIH Junior Hockey World Cup at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium.
Speaking to Scoop, head coach Matias Amoroso admits his admiration for Malaysia’s penalty corner techniques and asserts that his team is ready for a high-paced game when they take on the Asian giants on December 5.
“We have caught a glimpse of Malaysia’s gameplay, and we have been closely analysing their games. We are aware of their strength in penalty corners, which has been their primary scoring weapon.
“Therefore, we have been working diligently to enhance our defence, and we are prepared to counter their attacks in the opening fixture of our campaign,” said Amoroso.
Former Australian penalty corner specialist and World Cup winner, Ciriello, was hired by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) in March of this year to sharpen the national men’s and women’s teams’ penalty corners.
Anticipating a challenging match against Malaysia and being placed in the same group as the defending champions (Argentina), Amoroso emphasised the readiness of his players, despite their average age being 18 years old.
“Being in the same group as the home team and the defending champions makes it a very difficult group. The expectations are set on playing closely contested matches against these formidable opponents and advancing to the second phase of the championship in the best possible position.”
“It is currently winter back home. Although it rains in Malaysia, the humidity is a bit too high for us, but our players have adapted well to the conditions here.
“Hence, our ultimate objective is to improve on the positions obtained in the last World Cup and continue growing through our participation in this year’s tournament,” Amoroso added.
Chile finished in 14th place in the previous edition when the tournament was held in India.
Chile and Malaysia were in the same group at the Bhubaneswar edition in 2021, where the latter won 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, junior Speedy Tigers head coach Muhamad Amin Rahim commended La Rojas ‘gempak’ (remarkable) performances over the months.
The Chilean team comprises eight 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds, with the highest cap at 10 for four players.
A total of 18 players were selected by Amin for the 13th edition of the World Cup, with midfielder Muhammad Adam Ashraf being the youngest (17-years old) player in the squad.
The team that played in the Sultan of Johor Cup forms the core of the World Cup squad. Malaysia finished seventh out of eight teams in the tournament last month.
The World Cup will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur from December 5 to 16.
Malaysia is placed in Pool A alongside defending champions Argentina, Australia, and Chile. – December 1, 2023