Malacca eye Sukma gold after winning U-21 title

Malacca have set their eyes on capturing the Sukma (Malaysia Games) men's hockey title in Kuala Terengganu in June after their excellent outing in the national Under-21 tournament, which ended on Saturday.

Powered by seven Razak Cup players, Malacca trounced Penang 8-0 in the final at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

And the good news for Malacca is that 14 of the players in the team are eligible to feature in Sukma.

Malacca coach G. Ravindran said that they would take a one-week break before resuming training for the national Games.

“We won't have the services of two influential players, Nazmi (Kamaruddin) and B. Namasivayam. But I believe we still have a side with the ability to win the Sukma gold medal,” he said.

Nazmi was not only the top scorer in the national Under-21 competition with 10 goals but he was also named as the best player of the tournament.

National trainee Namasivayam scored a hat-trick in the final and was named the man-of-the-match.

Ravindran added that all the 14 players in their team for Sukma will also be featuring in the Under-19 Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) starting next month.

“The players will represent Malacca State Council and I am confident that we will also put up strong challenges in the league,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ravindran admitted that in the absence of 32 national junior trainees preparing for an eight-nation tournament beginning on Jan 17, the quality of play in the national Under-21 tournament was not up to the mark.

“Some of the players still lack basic skills. Proper development programmes should be carried out to teach them the right basics,” said Ravindran.

National junior coach V. Muralidharan agreed with Ravindran.

“Only three or four players played well and will be called up to join the national junior training squad after the eight-nation tournament,” said Muralidharan.