KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has called on national goalkeeping coach S. Kumar to intensify efforts in improving and scouting for more goalkeepers in the coming months.
This directive comes after the Speedy Tigers, under the guidance of Sarjit Singh, conceded a total of 55 goals across their last three tournaments: the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, the Nations Cup, and the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy (ACT).
Malaysia finished fourth at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, seventh at the Nations Cup, and last in the six-team ACT tournament.
Speaking to Scoop, MHC coaching committee chairman Datuk Majid Manjit Abdullah said that since Kumar has now identified the weaknesses within the team, he needs to become more proactive in identifying players with the potential to challenge the current goalkeepers in the national squad.
Hafizuddin Othman is currently the first-choice goalkeeper under Sarjit.
“We want Kumar to do more because the form of our current goalkeepers are really poor, and they are simply not good enough. We were once known for having some of the best goalkeepers in the game, and seeing our current goalkeepers underperform is disappointing.
“Kumar, who was once regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, should leverage his expertise to train the goalkeepers to improve their game.
“Based on my observations over the last three tournaments, the goalkeepers have conceded simple goals due to individual errors.
“As a governing body, we are ready to provide Kumar with whatever he needs to raise the goalkeeping standards, and I believe he has already begun scouting for talent – as seen in Sukma, which recently took place in Sarawak.
“I hope that Kumar can develop at least five to ten more goalkeepers in the coming months so that we can build greater depth in the squad,” Majid said when contacted.
Kumar is a former national goalkeeper who had a 20-year career with the national team.
The Tampin-born ex-national player helped Malaysia win silver medals at the 2010 Asian Games (Guangzhou) and 2018 Asian Games (Jakarta-Palembang), and the 2017 Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The 46-year-old, who made 321 international appearances, was also named the Best Goalkeeper at the FIH World League Round Three in London after helping Malaysia finish fourth to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Kumar’s international retirement in 2020 saw him appointed as a coach for the national team by the MHC in the same year. – September 18, 2024