Mohd Nor Faez ready to fight in U-21 National Hockey Tournament
Mohd Nor Faez, who donned the colours for Project 2013 team in the recent New Zealand and Australia tour, will be skipper of the Selangor in the forthcoming U-21 National Hockey Tournament, scheduled to be held at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru on June 14, 2011.
It is vital to mention here that Mohd Faez, as part of the Project 2013 displayed dazzling performance during the Oceania Trip and scored eight goals in the eight games. He was highest scorer of the Malaysian side whose performance impressed the selectors a lot. Amazingly, he scored all the goals through short-corners.
Mohd Faez, the 20-year-old Klang-based defender and short-corner specialist, will be captain of the Selangor side in the upcoming tournament.
Speaking to the media, Mohd Faez said that though he converted eight short-corners during the New Zealand, Australia tour, but he was not satisfied with his performance. He was of the view that he should have converted more goals in the tourney.
The newly appointed skipper of the Selangor further stated that he missed a lot of chances that could change the results of the series. He said, “I failed to convert from a number of penalty corners I took in the playing tour. I have to keep on working on my drag flicks to make sure it is more powerful and accurate.”
It is vital to mention here that he was part of the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) that clinched both the titles in the recent Malaysian Hockey League (MHL).
He opined that all the pressure would be on him to convert the short-corners in the forth-coming tournament, as he was considered one of the most experienced drag flickers in the team. He continued by saying that he was the only Project 2013 player in the team and they would have to give a berth at the semi-final stage.
Mohd Faez stated, “I am the only Project squad player in the Selangor team and it will be a challenge for us to reach the semi-finals."
Some eight squads are going to contest the U-21 National Hockey Tournament. Selangor is featured with Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor in the Pool-A while Pool-B is comprised of Kula Lumpur, Perak, Penang and title holder Malacca. In his views, Negeri and Johor will be tough teams for them in the event.
On the other hand, he is quite optimistic to show-off impressive game and assist his side through penalty-corner conversions into goals, to take his team to the top. Faez declared Kuala Lumpur as one of the favourites saying that they (Selangor) have not won the event for the last twenty years so it would be a an uphill task.
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