Tai Beng Hai very keen in giving chances to youngsters in four-nation hockey tournament in Moscow
Mohammad Firhan Ashaari and Mohammad Izzat Mohammad Rahim, the two rising youngsters of Malaysian hockey team will be the part of national hockey squad in the four-nation hockey tournament which is going to be held in Moscow, Russia, from June 20-26. The
other three teams in the tournament will be Russia, Ukraine and South Africa.
Both the players were selected in the national senior men’s squad in the recently held Sultan Azlan Shah Men’s Hockey Cup tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. The coach of Malaysian national squad, Tai Beng Hai, seemed very happy and convinced regarding their performance
in the tournament. He stated that both of these two players performed well and displayed good quality talent, whenever they are given opportunities to play in the tournament for short spells.
“They need to be given more time to play for the national team and I will give them the opportunities in Moscow. I hope they will bring out their best in the tournament,” Tai Beng Hai, the coach of Malaysian national hockey side stated. He also added that
the upcoming four-nation tournament will be very important and provide good learning experience of international hockey to the young players in the team.
The 18-year-old, Terengganu-born sparkling young forward, Firhan Ashaari has represented his team in all of the six games that he played in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament. Firhan has represented Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS)-Thunderbolt in the recently
concluded Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and was adjudged as the best player of the tournament.
The 22-year-old midfielder Izzat made his way to the national side from the Malaysian squad, which was selected for the Junior World Cup Finals, held in Johor Baru in 2009. He also has represented Sapura in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL), which finished
in March this year. Along with these players, there are also a number of young guns like Mohammad Azammi Adabi, Faiz Helmi Jali, Mohammad Mohammad Fitri Abu Bakar, Shahrin Mohammad, Mohammad Azri Hassan and Mohammad Rashid Baharom who are hoping for their
selection for the tournament.
Out of 25 players who are participating in the training camp, 18 will be finalised for the upcoming four nation tournament in Moscow.
Meanwhile, the penalty-corner-specialist and defender, Mohammad Amin Rahim, has completely recuperated from his knee injury, which he had received in March during the MHL. The coach of the team looked very pleased on his availability for the team.
“We need his services in the four nation tournament,” Tai Beng Hai further added.
Malaysia captured the last spot in Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament and their penalty corner conversion rate was very poor as they could score only one goal from penalty corners in six matches.
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