KUALA LUMPUR — National hockey head coach Sarjit Singh recognises that Faizal Saari’s absence will have a short-term impact on the Speedy Tigers, requiring him to invest time in developing the team’s young forwards to bridge the gap.
Sarjit’s remarks follow Faizal’s announcement of his retirement from international hockey, having earned 302 caps and scored 176 goals for the Speedy Tigers.
His decision came after leading Terengganu to victory in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) and TNB Cup last week.
Speaking to Scoop, Sarjit said it was now time for his young players to take inspiration from Faizal’s success and shoulder the responsibility of bringing glory to the nation through consistent performances on the turf.
“Of course, it’s sad for me as a coach to see Faizal leave the national team, as we share a close bond. I coached him when I was the national junior head coach and later with Terengganu about a decade ago.
“He was one of my finest discoveries at junior level, and I’m proud to have witnessed his development into a record-breaking goal scorer for the country. With him no longer in the team, it will be a challenge for me in the next few months, as I have built my team around him.
“Faizal has been an influential player since I took over as head coach last year, scoring crucial goals for us in major tournaments. But life moves on, and I’m no stranger to such challenges—I’ve overcome them before, and I’ll do so again.
“What I need now is for the other players to emulate Faizal’s dedication, lifestyle, and discipline. That will make it easier for me to mould more forwards to step into his role.
“With continued training over the next few months, I’m confident we can develop more players like Faizal for the national team,” Sarjit said when met at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium today.
At the same time, Sarjit identified youngsters Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal and Naaveennash Panicker as potential replacements for Faizal, adding that both could reach new heights if they focused on improving their fitness and gameplay.
Azrai, who played for Tenaga Nasional in this season’s MHL, was the league’s second-highest scorer with 21 goals, while 20-year-old Naaveennash played a key role in TNB Thunderbolt’s fourth-place finish, assisting 13 of the team’s 26 goals.
“These two boys are the future of the national team, and they have great potential to fill Faizal’s shoes. They just need to stay focused on hockey, and they will continue to improve.
“Azrai has been scoring consistently, but if he adds more consistency to his overall gameplay, he’ll become even better. As for Naaveennash, I’m pleased with the work he has put into improving his upper body strength in recent months. If he sharpens his finishing, he will be a top player in the coming years,” Sarjit added.
Meanwhile, national team manager Datuk Ahmad Najmi Razak confirmed at a press conference today that 30 players had been selected based on their MHL performances, with captain Marhan Jalil, 35, the most senior member of the squad.
The national team will travel to Perth from April 18 to 30 for a series of friendlies, playing two matches against Western Australia and four against the Australian national team.
Najmi said the tour is part of Malaysia’s preparations for the Nations Cup, scheduled for June 15 to 21 in Kuala Lumpur.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has set a top-four target for the eight-team tournament, where world number 13 Malaysia will be grouped with France, South Korea, and Wales.
After the Nations Cup, the Speedy Tigers will shift their focus to the Asia Cup in Bihar, India, from August 27 to September 7. Winning the tournament would secure Malaysia’s spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Other senior team assignments include the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh (November) and the Thailand SEA Games (December).
The MHC also confirmed that Malaysia will send the senior squad for the SEA Games, as the youth team will be competing in the Junior World Cup in India. — February 26, 2025