The Taiping-born player, who returned from a successful stint in the German League with Berliner to play his first match in the MHL Division One against Sapura three weeks ago, is undergoing rehabilitation for a left thigh hamstring injury at the National Sports Institute (NSI).
Tenaga coach Lailin Abu Hassan said: “I don’t think he will recover in time for the knockout stage, starting next week.
“I also do not want to take the risk to field him as this may further aggravate the injury. We will miss his services.”
Lailin, who took charge of the team after K. Rajan’s appointment as coach of the National Juniors, added that with a weakened forwardline, the burden will be heavier in their bid to win the overall title again.
“It’s going to be a challenge for me as the new coach to help Tenaga retain the title,’’ he said.
Lailin said that he would have to bank on former international forwards, among them M. Kaliswaran, Mohd Fairuz Ramli, Mohd Fairuz Hamsani and Mahinder Singh, to deliver the goods.
“I am also worried with the team’s poor defence,” said Lailin.
“They have conceded 19 goals in 10 matches. The defenders have to cut down their mistakes and play a tighter game.’’
He added that defenders Baljit Singh Charun and Zaharin Zakariah would also have to tread with caution in the first match of the knockout stage, the quarter-finals.
“Both of them are on one yellow and one green card and if they receive another green card, they will be suspended for one match,” said Lailin.
The Malaysian Hockey Fede-ration (MHF) competition committee will decide on the dates of the knockout competition and make the draw today.
In Divison One of the MHL, Tenaga finished third behind champions Ernst and Young and Sapura.
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