Faisal vows to keep temper in check

Junior World Cup trainee Faisal Saari has vowed never to hit another player again.

The 17-year-old Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS) player was red-carded for hitting fellow national junior trainee Harvinder Singh of Tenaga Nasional on the chest with a hockey stick during their MJHL Division One match on Sunday.

The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) technical committee have handed him a five-match suspension.

BPSS coach Yahya Atan (pic) said he was disappointed with Faisal’s action, more so as he was voted the best player in the National Under-16 tournament in Kuala Lumpur last year.

“As a national junior player, he should be setting a good example to others in the MJHL and not show his temper by hitting a player with a stick,” said Yahya.

“His action could affect his chances of making it to the Junior World Cup next year as the national coaches would not want such players in the team.

“But he has regretted his action and has promised never to repeat it.”

Yahya said the five-match ban would rule Faisal out of their remaining four league matches.

Faisal represented the national Under-16 team for a tournament in Germany last year. He also featured in the eight-nation invitational tournament in Kuala Lumpur last month.

BPSS have nine points from three wins and a defeat and are in third spot in the nine-team Division One league.

They face two tough matches this weekend – against double champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) on Friday and former overall champions Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on Sunday.

BJSS and Tenaga are both tied at the top of the standings with 12 points.

MBPJ, who won the overall title in 2006, are in fifth spot with four points from three matches.

Yahya hoped they would be able to overcome the two teams this weekend to stay in the running for a place in the quarter-finals.