KUALA LUMPUR – National hockey head coach Sarjit Singh is confident that the Speedy Tigers can overcome the challenging turf conditions in Poland and achieve their semi-final target at the upcoming Nations Cup.
Speaking to Scoop from Gniezno, Sarjit expressed dissatisfaction with the turf after two training sessions in Gniezno, Poland, where the tournament will be held from May 31 to June 9.
The gaffer said the turf was not up to the mark, citing that it was bumpy and uneven, unlike the blue pitches in Malaysia.
The tournament will feature nine teams participating in two pools – Austria, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, France, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Poland.
Sarjit selected 18 players from a pool of 30 from his revamped side who recently competed in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where Malaysia finished fourth.
The winner of the Nations Cup will qualify for the FIH Pro League.
Sarjit demanded his players focus on their performance rather than turf issues.
“It’s true that the turf is in bumpy condition and it’s not like what we have in Malaysia, but I don’t want my players to lose their focus because of this,” he said when contacted.
“My players are versatile, and I believe they are capable of overcoming these conditions with their performances. This is part of our challenge in this tournament. We have to give it our all if we hope to succeed.
Sarjit added that he was not disheartened by the team’s recent friendly match loss against New Zealand, as he views it as part of the learning process and necessary adaptation to the turf conditions.
“My players have adapted well here in Poland, and we hope to start our campaign well against Pakistan today,” he added.
Sarjit also said that all his players, including Hafizuddin Othman and Faizal Saari, have recovered from pre-tournament injuries and are match-fit.
Canada’s head coach, Patrick Tshutshani, shared similar concerns about the turf but remained hopeful that the organisers would resolve the issue before the tournament begins.
“The turf is indeed bumpy, and it caused some issues in our friendly matches against New Zealand and South Korea,” Tshutshani said.
“But we have learned how to adapt to the pitch. I hope the organisers can fix this issue before the tournament kicks off.
“All they have to do is pump more water on the turf to ensure it’s well-covered and the problem will be solved.”
Canada, ranked 20th in the world and known as the Red Caribou, will open their Nations Cup campaign against France.
They are grouped with France, Pakistan, and Malaysia in Pool B. – May 31, 2024